FREMANTLE Cockburn Hockey Club have added some star power to go with their glitzy new facility by signing former Kookaburra Tim Deavin as a player-coach.
The ex-Kookaburras defender, who represented the national team more than 130 times, will lead the Magpies’ Premier Grade team this season, the first in their new home at Lakelands Hockey and Sporting Facility.
Deavin’s resume is as decorated as any in the West Australian hockey scene, having helped Australia to three Champions Trophy victories in 2010, 2011 and 2016, a World Cup victory in 2014 and a bronze medal at the London Olympics in 2012.
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READ NOWAfter helping Hale Hockey Club finish runners-up in the Premier Grade last season, the 35 year-old said he was excited for a fresh challenge.
“I’m really excited about the move, especially coming to a club that has so much history and I’ve got a lot of friends who play here as well,” he said.
The 2020 season will be the club’s first full one at their new $6.5 million home in South Lake, and Deavin said he could not wait to play on the world class turf.
“There’s nothing better than coming to a nice facility. The turf is really nice to play on, it’s quick, it suits my playing style.”
Deavin said he was hoping to build on the club’s top half finish from a year ago and look to consolidate the club’s playing base.
“It’s about going one better than we did last year, the team finished 5th so it’s about trying to make that next step.
“Make sure we qualify for finals and help build the clubs’ depth through the grades, try and recruit some young local talent and build the actual numbers within the club,” he said.
Men’s vice-president Matt Allan said they were overjoyed to have Deavin involved in the dual role.
“He’s just come back from playing state for WA indoor and he is about to fly out to go and play for five weeks in the Malaysian Premier League, so he’s still very much involved at the high end of the game,” Allan said. “We have no doubt he’ll put in some top performances at Fremantle Cockburn.”
Registrations for the upcoming season will be open on the club’s website in mid-February.