Warrnambool's Callum Bridge training with state men's team

The 17-year-old has just been named a Hockey Victoria men's country team train-on member and his school has also nominated him for the Australian Olympic Change-Maker program.

READ MORE:

Bridge, a goal keeper whose home club is Technique, said he was ecstatic about making the train-on group at such a young age.

"I didn't think I'd get anywhere near it, I was doing it for the experience," he said.

He had thought going to the trial was a good opportunity to get prepared for the years to come.

Bridge wasn't the only south-west based hockey player to get some good news this week.

Hamilton's Emma Robertson was named as a train-on member for the women's country side.

Warrnambool's Cale Rout was again named in the country men's team.

Rout is South West Academy of Sport's hockey assistant coach and Bridge and Robertson are SWAS athletes.

Bridge explained Rout had been a great mentor.

"In the gym, he's basically the coach I go to which is really good because he's a hockey player and knows what a hockey player needs," he said.

As a train-on member Bridge has the opportunity to hit the track with the men's side which is playing in a national competition in Cairns in August.

"I can sit in with them on team talks and can learn off older, more experienced keepers," he said.

He said they were two goal keepers in the selected team and he may get a call-up if one of those players gets injured.

The youngster has three training sessions ahead of him in Shepparton, Bendigo and Geelong.

Bridge is otherwise playing with Werribee in Vic League 1 this year - the state's second highest competition.

Meanwhile, the Brauer College year 11 was one of two students from the school nominated for the change-maker program.

It recognises students demonstrating the Olympic spirit - friendship, sportsmanship and striving for excellence - both on and off the field.

He's got to put a video together explaining what he does for hockey in his community and school.

He could end up being invited to attend the National Change-Maker Summit where student get to work alongside Olympians and make recommendations to the Australian Olympic Committee.

Apart from coaching junior teams, Bridge has been driving change at his school.

He had been trying for years to get a hockey academy going and it has come to fruition this year with one lunchtime session per week.

Bridge is helping a teacher mentor a group of students.

"We're just coaching a group of kids from school, just learning the basic skills, basic rules and some are learning some more complex skills," he said.

Warrnambool District Hockey Association round one is this weekend with matches on Friday night and Saturday.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.