The Australian goalkeeper prefers to concentrate more on the present.

A year ago he was focused about guarding goal for a Melbourne club.

"Twelve months later I'm playing in a winning Champions Trophy final in front of a home crowd," he said.

"It's unbelievable.

"I try to get that message across to the kids.

"Other people might make state teams but that doesn't mean you should give up.

"Everyone has their own path."

Bazeley's path yesterday led him to the Albert Park hockey field, where he ran clinics for Warrnambool District Hockey Association's junior and senior players.

Being from Echuca, he is conscious to get out to regional centres as much as he can.

"I understand there's problems for regional clubs to attract quality coaches," he said. "Growing up I always had to go to Melbourne for my coaching.

"I'm always willing to get out to places like this."

He lit up when asked about Australia's Champions Trophy win over Germany in Melbourne last Sunday.

"It was an amazing experience because it was my first time and to do it in front of a home crowd was even more special," he said.

"The support I receivedwas overwhelming and quite foreign to me, so I had to block it out and just focus on my own performance.

"As the tournament went on and I got a couple of games under my belt, it got better." The Kookaburras have a short break before resuming training in Perth on January 4.

Until then players are expected to work on their strength and conditioning.

Their training in the new year will be preparation for the 2010 World Cup in New Delhi.

While co-captain and International Hockey Federation men's player of the year Jamie Dwyer told The Standard on Thursday that he is focused on a triumph in India, that thought hasn't crossed Bazeley's mind.

The 25-year-old ? who explained he was a baby of the Kookaburras ? was not confident he would hold his spot in the team.

"I'm trying not to think about it," he said. "I'm just going to put my head down and do my best and see what happens."

The World Cup starts February 28.