But for Phillip Frost, taking to the Warrnambool hockey pitch yesterday with his mates was the perfect way to unwind.

Frost competed with his Geelong-based team Penguins On Tour in the Warrnambool and District Hockey Association's South West Games competition.

The event was a return to grassroots hockey for the former Warrnambool man. Last week he helped Australia win silver at the International Masters Hockey Tournament in Hong Kong.

He competed in the over-45 side at the Masters and said while he loved representing the country, he enjoyed coming back to his former club each year.

"It's a lot more social and is more about having fun," Frost said.

The weekend's tournament was a change of pace for Frost. A week before the Masters, he helped Victoria score victory over NSW in the Australian Championships.

"Thankfully we had no injuries. We didn't have much time between events."

At the Masters, Australia beat Austria to make it to the grand final, where the green and gold fell 2-1 to England.

"We were a bit tired," Frost said.

"England has just started itsseason and we have just finished. Plus we also had weary legs from the Australian titles."

More than 200 players from as far as Melbourne, Geelong, Portland, Hamilton and Mount Gambier took to the field at the Warrnambool competition.

Frost began his hockey career at the association's Albert Park base 33 years ago. He said the city's pitch had changed dramatically since the mid 1970s.

"When I first started there was three grass grounds. There's still those grounds but the (astro) turf has made really big difference.

"The young kids' skills have developed out of sight ," he said. They have been able to pick up new tricks really easy"