Blake Govers arrived in Wimbledon earlier this month with a reputation he is keen to justify.
At 18, the Australian has room to grow as a player and has already shown unerring quality in front of goal that belies his years.
He scored 42 goals in the Australian league and cup last year and feels he can replicate this form with the Dons.
“I am hopeful I can transfer my form from Australia to the English game and score a few goals for Wimbledon,” explained Govers.
“The English game is different to the Australian one. It is more considered and slower in the build-up play but I think I should be able to adapt to it.”
SETTLING IN: Wimbledon new boy Blake Govers is all smiles (Courtesy of Wimbledon Hockey Club, with thanks)
After making the 10,000 mile trip from Wollongong to London, Govers’ first challenge was to acclimatise to the British winter.
He says that while a warm jumper is all he has needed to deal with colder climes, it has been the help of the club and his new teammates that has made him feel truly at home.
He said: “Wimbledon have been awesome with me and treated me really well.
“The players have all been really friendly and welcoming which has made it easier.
“I feel settled here and I’m happy at the club and playing my hockey.”
Govers has also been helping train the club’s younger members and has found the experience hugely worthwhile.
He said: “You get out what you put into these sorts of things. It has been really rewarding to see the kids learning and looking up to you.
“When I was a kid I was taught by Kookaburra players and really looked up to them.
“The club is great in that they have former GB players helping the youngsters and you can see how much they love it. It’s rewarding to give something back.”
This budding relationship between club and player is starting to show signs of bringing rewards on the pitch as well.
Govers has scored in each of his two games, the 5-4 defeat of Canterbury and last weekend’s 3-3 draw with leaders Surbiton, and he hopes to keep up that form for the remainder of the campaign.
“It was good to get my first goal at Canterbury. It was my first and only chance at a penalty corner flick and it went in,” said Govers.
“I haven’t set a target for the number of goals for the season, all I want to focus on is getting a few more in the remainder of the season.”
While his short-term goals remain fairly modest, his long-term dreams are anything but.
He said: “The goal is to get into the Australian Olympic set up. Rio 2016 is a small possibility but it is more likely that I will make 2018.
“I have trained with the Kookaburra set up before and the ambition at the moment is to get my fist Australian cap and see where I can go from there.”
Feature image courtesy of Blake Govers, with thanks
