hockey tasmania.org.au

TASSIE Tiger hockey striker Geoff Cock is packing his bags and heading west.

He hopes the move will secure him a place in the Australian men's hockey team to become Tasmania's next Olympian.

Cock, who plays for Derwent, is one of the leading goalscorers in the southern men's competition.

The talented player is prepared to make the sacrifices to achieve his dream of playing in the 2012 Olympics.

"It means I have to leave my home and friends and try to break into AIS in Perth, but that is where the centre of Australian hockey is and I have to be near the national coaches to continue to improve my game and take the next step to achieving national selection," Cock said.

He had a taste of international hockey on a two-week trip to China last September with the Australian Development Squad.

The team, coached by Larry McIntosh of NSW, was based in Dalian and played a number of matches against the Chinese national team.

Early last year he was selected in the Australian Development hockey team to play India twice in Brisbane.

Formerly from Burnie, Cock has been a Tasmanian representative since under-15 and has risen steadily through the ranks, topping it off with selection in the Australian under-21 team.

The 23-year-old moved to Hobart five years ago to start an apprenticeship as a carpenter and has been a key member of the National Hockey League Tassie Tigers team since then.

"It has been difficult combining work and meeting the highest standards of hockey I can get to in Tasmania," he said.

"I am, however, fortunate to have a TIS scholarship, which will enable me to devote more time to training and skills improvement.

"The TIS is very supportive of my bid to move to Perth in order to try to get an AIS scholarship."

He moves to Perth next month.