Naomi Spark was on fire for the NSW 45s as they claimed silver at the National Women's Masters Championships played at the Gold Coast.
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The Flames' gun was a real strike weapon for the blues, finishing the highest goalscorer for the tournament for the 45s division.
It was a bit of a silver lining after her NSW side were beaten by Queensland 1-nil in their final game to fall just short of the gold.
Spark was a big part of their success. Relishing the chance to play predominantly as a striker after in previous years playing a mix of striker and attacking midfield, she slotted 10 goals for the tournament.
Five of those were from field, four penalty corners, and one a stroke.
"I was extremely happy about that," Spark said.
She had gone into the championships with, pardon the pun, a goal to score as many goals as she could.
She couldn't have started in any better fashion, netting five in their 8-nil win over ACT to start the tournament.
The game saw Spark come up against a familiar face with Flames team-mate Robyn Evans suiting up in the blue and gold.
After being selected as a shadow for the NSW side she was picked up by ACT, and "had a blinder" for them, Spark said. She also managed to find the back of the net scoring off a penalty corner in their second game against Victoria.
The fifth time "on and off" Spark has gone away to the masters, the way she performed was all the more satisfying after suffering a Grade 2 tear of her left hamstring mid-year.
It kept her off the pitch for four-five weeks and at the time she did worry it might be the end of her hopes of playing at the masters.
"At the time that we trialed I was carrying with the injury and was very concerned whether I was going to come out of it in time," she said.
Fortunately she did.
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"Coming out the other side of that I was really motivated that to see the local comp out followed by this at the Gold Coast," she said.
"What kept me strong was knowing that I was going to have a particular job as a striker."
"And getting back for the local finals."
This season Spark also dabbled in a bit of AFL.
"I'd never played AFL in my life," she said.
"My daughter (Ruby) came home and said she had made contact with the Roos coach which led to a training run."
Spark wasn't intending to play herself but ended up having a run at training.
"One thing led to another and before I knew it I was donning a Roos jersey," she said.
In saying that she "thoroughly enjoyed" it, and believes it helped with her hockey.
"I have to say I think AFL contributed to going away to for the hockey campaign. It was an additional mode of running and fitness," she said.
