Wells reflects on her brilliant career

HOCKEY

By LIAM DURKIN

HOCKEYROO Ash Wells announced her retirement recently.

The Morwell resident called time on a career that saw her play more than 100 Test matches for the national team.

Wells had arguably the most high-pressured and underappreciated position in the team, standing on the last line of defence as goalkeeper for over a decade.

She had to do this all the while being confronted with some of the world’s best strikers and midfielders charging at her at full speed and flinging the ball around in all directions.

If ever there was a test of being able to handle real pressure, when the stakes are so high international tournaments are on the line, Wells surely passed it.

For the Moe-born Wells, this battle-hardened toughness may well have been carved out when she began her days playing for Churchill Hockey Club.

As Wells recalls, Churchill provided the first step in what was to become an international journey.

“I started playing in Churchill when I was about four or five-years-old, played down here for a while and made my first state team when I was 11,” she said.

“My family were a huge influence and it was really cool to be able to play here and grow up

through the ranks.”

Playing on the grass fields of Churchill, Wells progressed to make a variety of state teams, sometimes even gaining selection in Under-18 and Under-21 squads during the same year.

A maiden national team selection came in the Under-16 team, and with it, her first international experience travelling to South Africa. Wells represented the appropriately named Jillaroos in the 2009 Junior World Cup held in the US city of Boston.

From there, she worked her way up to the senior national squad, needing to show even more trademark Valley tenacity after initially being overlooked.

The challenge of making it to the top level was compounded by her position, as after all – there is only room for one goalkeeper on the field.

Amazingly, the course of history may have changed had Wells not realised her true calling

at Churchill.

“I tried goalkeeping for a little, I wasn’t really loving it, I loved the game, but I didn’t love goalkeeping I more loved the field play,” she said.

“Then I realised I was quite good at it (goalkeeping) so I thought I better stick with it.

“Once I stuck with it I realised I did love it and ended up really wanting to push for it, you just find that competitive side in you that keeps you going.”

Debuting with the national team in 2011, Wells was part of a number of significant events with the Hockeyroos, including two Olympic campaigns and a World Cup in 2014.

Wells pointed to the latter as the high point in her 123 appearances.

“World Cup is probably the biggest highlight for a few reasons,” she said.

“Not only the fact we got a Silver medal and it was a huge outcome for us, that was pretty exciting, but it was also the first time I’ve played in front of such a huge crowd, the stands were absolutely packed in a home game against the Netherlands.

“That was a huge game for me to be able to step out onto the field and play in front of that many people … I’ll never forget something like that, sometimes you don’t even get opportunities like that in an Olympic Games.”

For Wells, to go from playing on the rough grass fields of Churchill to a 15,000 seat stadium in The Hague for a World Cup final must have vindicated years of work.

The Hockeyroos climbed to second in the world rankings during Wells’ time, providing another moment she looked back on with pride in helping a somewhat minor sport in Australia stand on a national stage up against traditional hockey powerhouses Argentina and The Netherlands where players are household names.

As well as team success, Wells recalled a few instances that left her satisfied on a personal

level.

“It’s funny because it’s probably a nothing game but I remember a practise match in Singapore against Holland. I was feeling really run-down and I didn’t think I’d perform very well and then it turned out to be one of the best games of my career,” she said.

“For me that was a really special moment, to play against the world’s best and have some of the best drag flickers in the world coming at me.

“I was just really confident with everything I did in that game. It doesn’t mean a lot in terms of World Cups, Comm Games and Olympics but for me that was a really special moment to know that I could take it to the world’s best.”

With Wells constantly in the hot seat, the goalkeeper said the ability to think on your feet

was vital.

“You have a lot to organise before you get to a situation where someone is coming at you, but there are times where it is a bit of panic mode and you have to sort things out very quickly and also focus on what you have to do, so that is the biggest key – at the end of the day you have to save the shot, she said.

“My key advice for keepers is there is more to the game than just being able to stop the ball.

“You have to be really reliable in your calling, in your communication with the group, if you have a really strong connection with the group you can get some really good results from not just making a save but also preventing that from happening.

“I’ve always thought that’s the next level of goalkeeping, if you focus on that you can have a huge impact on the game not just your ability to save the ball.”

Wells proved to be a popular teammate throughout her time with the Hockeyroos, taking on the role of court jester alongside partner in crime and fellow keeper Rachael Lynch.

The pair would often be seen taking selfies or pulling funny faces into the GoPro during training sessions.

Ever the team player, Wells said she was always keen to provide an enjoyable environment for those around her even if at times she was the one confined to the sidelines.

“I think being a goalkeeper you have to have a lot of different roles in the group, when you aren’t playing you still have to bring something to the group,” she said.

“I like to be up and about the girls, for me it was almost like ‘what can I do to help the girls get out of their own heads and get the best out of them?’ Sometimes that means bringing a good vibe and if that’s me that has to do it then I’m happy to have that role in the group.

“I’m a pretty easy-going person, I like having a bit of a joke here and there and most of the girls are pretty good with that.

“It makes it easier, you are there every day with each other so to have a bit of fun doesn’t

hurt.”

Wells and Lynch formed a tight bond during their careers, playing a combined 345 matches

for Australia.

While some might expect the two to be fierce rivals, Wells said it was quite the opposite.

“It is a unique relationship we have, being in the same position and competing for the same

spot,” she said.

“Some people might say I was unlucky to get a career with Rach Lynch, she was voted world’s best goalkeeper, but I see it as potentially I might not have been the goalkeeper that I am today if I wasn’t with her, maybe being with her is what pushed me to be better.

“I’m really grateful for the time we got to spend together in the net, we did push each other really hard and we are really good friends and we have a lot of respect for each other. Really

proud of everything she’s achieved.”

Fittingly, Lynch has also retired, and like all great duos they have packed up and rode off into

the sunset together.

The departures

could be a double-blow for Hockey Australia, and much like McGrath and Warne, there appears to be a task on their hands to find suitable successors.

When asked to name the best player she came up against, Wells ranked Dutch all-time leading scorer Maartje Paumen top of the list.

“I always got a lot of pride when I saved drag flicks from Paumen, for me that was almost the test of where I sat in my ability, if I was able to save a drag flick from her I always use to get up and about,” she said.

“I always prided myself on being really good at saving drag flicks. Any drag flick save for me was my favourite. I always found those were the best saves only because I found that it was a moment that I could really show my skillset of you didn’t have to be this aggressive, attacking keeper, you could also be a really calm keeper and make some really key saves.

“From our perspective, one of my favourite players to play with would be Jodie Kenny, she is just a really good player to play with, you feel a connection out on the field, she is easy to play with, easy to call, she is absolutely skillful.”

Moving forward, Wells has plans to stay involved in the game through coaching, and hopes the sport can grow more in prominence.

“I think hockey has always had this slow burn where people will often watch the Olympics and know what the Hockeyroos are but it would be great to see it grow a little bit more,” she said.

“I think over time there has been more interest in it rather than just knowing who the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras are, I think people have started to pick up the stick and play for themselves which is really good.

“I’m trying to do some coaching down Melbourne at the moment with the VIS keepers which are the up-and-coming girls from Victoria, I’m also hoping to do some coaching at a club level to see what is around.

“I’m really keen to stay involved in some level, if I can get some coaching positions while I’m still relevant and still in the game just fresh retired I think it’s important that I pass that on.

“I think there is potential in some of the girls from Victoria so hopefully we can get them up through the ranks and get to experience what I did.

“With Comm Games and World Cup coming up soon it is going to be a huge test for the girls so I’ll keep my eye on how they go. We have a little Hockeyroos alumni which is really cool.

“I’m looking out for the girls and hopefully they do their best and pull it together but I’m sure they will, they always find a way.”

Reflecting on her career, Wells wished to thank some important people.

“Mostly for me it would be my family, you don’t get to this position without their huge support, my parents were absolutely amazing, mum and dad put in huge amount of hours driving me to Melbourne,” she said.

“That impacted on my brothers and sisters, often times they missed out so I could be the athlete that I was, so it was a huge pressure on them, I can’t imagine it is the greatest life when mum and dad are always off watching you play at tournaments but they just managed to get it together and make it work and be really helpful.

“More recently my fiancé James has been a huge support. I’m incredibly grateful for his help during my journey.

“I’ve had time to think about what I’ve done through my career, I think I’m pretty happy with

my decision to step away.

“There was a time where I thought I wasn’t going to get to 100 caps, to achieve one of my goals of getting to 100 caps I was pretty proud of the fact I got there, for a goalkeeper to get over 100 caps is quite special, you’re almost playing half the games as what a field player plays so it was a pretty special moment to play 100 games for Australia.”

After spending more than a decade saving goals for Australia and being denied the chance to every score one herself, Wells hinted she might have to sneak forward this season if she suits up for a game in the Latrobe Valley Hockey Association.

“Not in the pads, but potentially I might have a few games on the field,” she said.

“It is always more fun scoring goals than saving goals.”