The 16-year-old has returned home from the 2017 Pacific School Games in Adelaide, run from December 3-9. 

And she may have missed out on a Pacific School Games gold medal after a tense shoot-out, but the Red Bend Catholic College student has still impressed enough to gain Australian selection last week.

Draper lined up as a striker and impressed for the NSW 16 years and under schools team which lost just one game – the grand final against Queensland – during their campaign.

While the Year 12 student is no stranger to representative and national hockey, she was delighted to earn selection in the national outfit for the first time.

Her silver medal is also her second national medal she’s earned since picking up the hockey stick at the tender age of three. Her last medal – a gold – was with the NSW under 13s girls side in Brisbane.

Draper said she was happy with how she and her NSW girls 16 years team played.

“I felt like it was a good tournament,” she said.

“I was a little nervous at the start but I felt like I played good, I really enjoyed it.”

Aside from a 2-all draw with Western Australia and close 1-0 result over eventual gold medallists Queensland, NSW was dominant through the round games. 

Draper’s side beat Victoria 3-1, South Australia 9-1, trounced ACT 12-0, crushed India 14-0 and outclassed Tasmania in a 7-0 result.

It set up a meeting with Queensland in the decider.

Things were looking good when Lithgow’s Hannah Kable from All Saints’ College in Bathurst scored the opener for NSW in the grand final from a penalty corner play.

One team-mate sent in a drag-flick from the top of the area, which Kable then deflected into the goal.

But Queensland found a leveller and with no further change to the 1-all scoreline, the match went into a shoot-out.

Each side scored five goals but it was NSW who missed their sixth shot.

“Yes we kept going...they got the last one in and we didn’t,” Draper said.

She enjoyed the games against Queensland, describing them as a very competitive side.

“It was always going to be hard to beat them,” she said.

“There’s that rivalry between NSW and Queensland, it was always going to be a big game.” 

Draper scored 14 goals in total during the Games, with the ACT game being her best, claiming four goals.

But that wasn’t the highlight of her tournament – Draper said it was the round game against Queensland that’s the most memorable.

“Because we won it,” she laughed.

“It’s the first time Queensland has been beaten.

“They may have won the grand final but it was the time [during the tournament] where we did get up on them.”

Draper was left speechless following the conclusion of the Pacific School Games’ closing ceremony when the Australian team was announced.

“I was honestly shocked...there were 18 girls named and I was one of them,” she said.

The side has been selected to tour South Africa over 17 days from June 28 to July 14 next year.

The tour will include six training sessions, two practice games and three games against the South African under 18s side.

Players will visit Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Robben Island and will have the opportunity to take part in sightseeing activities, such as safari and mountain tours.

“I’m just looking forward to the experience and playing for Australia...It’ll be my first time overseas,” Draper said.

“I hate planes, I’m so scared of that but I’ll be excited once I’m there.

“It’ll be pretty interesting, I’m very excited to get my uniform,” she laughed.

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