My first Hockey game in Melbourne

Visited the Netball and Hockey Centre in Royal Park, out of curiosity to see a local league hockey game. First thing that cousin and me noticed was the sturdy phyisique of the players, even the women. We are so used to hockey players back home being skinny, gangly fellows. The venue was the same that hosted the hockey events during the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Although Australia's national teams are world-beaters there is rarely any national press coverage in comparison to other sports. Was amazed at the astroturf and stadium facilities ... since I in contrast played all my inter-school and inter-college tournaments in Mumbai on grass where the ball bounced dodgily over the uneven school and college grounds. Made a mental note to come back in a months time when there's a tournament featuring the top regional teams. If memory serves me right, Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming flick 'Chak De India' which is a hockey version of 'Bend it like Beckham', was shot here. SRK plays coach of an Indian womens hockey team playing a tournament in Melbourne that in typical YashRaj Films tradition emerges victorious against all odds (ya rite!) ...only in Bollywood.