ONE of the Border’s brightest talents on the hockey field will add another accolade to his glittering resume this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The former Corowa United star will captain the ACT Lakers as they chase Australian Hockey League glory in Perth this week.
Monte played for the Albury-Wodonga Spitfires this season, winning the club best-and-fairest as the team improved on a dismal season in 2015 to win a total of six games.
The 35-year-old said being given the opportunity to captain the side was exciting.
Like anyone from our area, if you want to play at a high level to have to travel the miles.
- Andrew Monte
“It’s an honour to captain any state team,” he said.
“I’m getting pretty old now, to get it at 35 is pretty special.
“I think they needed a bit of experience in there, I’ve played a lot of hockey over the years so I’ll certainly be able to provide that.”
The road to the top has certainly been a long one for Monte.
Regularly returning to the Border to assist with the Spitfires and United, Monte has also found time to play for Footscray in years gone by.
His efforts at right back won him back-to-back Victorian Premier League best-and-fairest medals in 2013 and 2014.
He first won the VPL’s top honour in 2003.
With opportunities to pursue an on-field career few and far between in regional areas, Monte said he’d spent countless hours on the highway.
“Like anyone from our area, if you want to play at a high level you have to travel the miles,” he said.
“We’d been travelling to Canberra reasonably regularly for the Capital League, and still being able to play at that high level of hockey really keeps me going.
“It’s an incredibly competitive sport, that’s what I really like about it.”
With so much experience across a number of different competitions behind him, Monte said he still enjoyed returning to the Border to help teach the next generation of Border hockey stars.
“I like giving back to some of the players at local level,” he said.
“It’s been good to get around and coach some of the Spitfires players, help them realise their potential.
“There are opportunities out there for them if they’re willing to pursue them.
“Jeremy Payne is one of those players who has worked really hard, he came to the Lakers as a train-on player but unfortunately didn’t make the final cut.”
The National League has an international flavour to it this year.
The Indian Junior National team is competing, as well as the Malaysia Tigers, Malaysia Blue and the New Zealand Futures.
Queensland took out the league championship in 2015, and will be out to defend their crown at the week long tournament, which starts in Perth on Thursday.
The Lakers’ first match is against the Western Australian Thundersticks.
Australian under 21 Kookaburras players Frazer Gerrard, Ryan Proctor and Ash Thomas will joing Monte with the Lakers.
