The draw of national competition has been too strong to ignore for Penguin's Holly Bonde.
The 34-year-old Bonde was picked to represent Tasmanian Tigers in the Hockey One competition, joining West Devonport's Samantha Lawrence as players with a North-West connection in the squad.
The goalkeeper said the selection actually came as a surprise because she had struggled to play competitively since moving to the region in June 2018.
"I moved up with my husband for work with our three kids and played on and off when I could for Derwent in Hobart," she said.
"It was actually my husband that told me to try and get my name in for the Hockey One selection process, he could see it was burning a hole inside of me.
"I had trained a little bit up here with City Marians, but no actual games because both my husband and I are shift workers and we have limited support on the Coast, but I haven't ruled out playing in the region in the future.
"But it was a huge surprise when I made the final 20 and I couldn't quite believe it."
Bonde said it had not been easy to balance everything when it came to committing to the team, but she had been able to make it work with some help.
"When I got picked, I really wondered how we were going to do it because I would be driving 2000 kilometres a week after training three times a week and my parents live on the East Coast.
"So that added to the travel and work been amazing to make it possible for me to follow this dream."
Bonde has had experience playing in Tasmania squad and featured for the women's squad when it was known the Van Demons.
At the age of 34, Bonde is the second oldest player in the squad behind Nicole Geeves and she said it was a weird experience being one of the oldest members.
"I have come out of retirement for this and I have Tasmanian shirts that are older than some of the girls I'm playing with.
"I even played with a number of there parents when they were in the Tasmanian system."
I have come out of retirement for this and I have Tasmanian shirts that are older than some of the girls I'm playing with.
- Holly Bonde
Bonde was hopeful of being picked in the first fixture next weekend against the Adelaide Fire at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre on Saturday, which would fulfill a lifelong dream.
"I have yet to play a game for Tasmania on home soil, so making the team for next week will be amazing.
"So hopefully the selectors pick in my favour this week and I will finally get to play a top level game in Tasmania."
The Hockey One schedule runs until November across seven states and territories.
