With the Olympic cycle calendar starting to build up, it's interesting to see Leon Hayward get included in the Kookaburras squad for the Super 9 series (which is not so recent as it was a while ago now!). Leon, who was a standout for the U21's in the last Junior World Cup held in Malaysia and Indonesia four years ago now (the next will be coming round the corner quite quickly!), seems to have been a fringe choice with coach Ric Charlesworth looking to include other more mature goalkeeping choices, given Australia's more realistic and sensible approach of bringing their goalkeepers in later rather than expecting too much of young talent and burning it out. Leon has been involved with the Australian indoor squad, graduating from his U21 days, so would have quite easily adapted to this smaller squad sized outdoor style of our game (which worryingly may be pushed as the format for the Olympics as they look to crowd please!). And with experience with Australia A, I don't think it will be too long for him to wait to get his chance at an Olympic campaign.
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