The Kookaburras' beat India 2-1 in the final to win the first Hockey Australia Men's Challenge but some may be looking anxiously over their shoulders later in the year.

A last minute goal from NSW striker Michael McCann secured a thrilling victory for Australia and maintained their drive towards Olympic qualification.

Coach Barry Dancer was delighted with the improved performance, which came just a day after the national team was embarrassingly thrashed 7-2 by Australia A in a "dead rubber" match.

"Being able to respond to being beaten, and going behind today, is a step forward this team has made and a lesson we must take forward into the future," said Dancer.

But several of that Australia A side have made a strong impression, no more so than South Australian striker Grant Schubert.

He scored a hat trick against the senior Australian side on Saturday and followed up with two goals in the final five minutes to give Australia A a 2-1 win over Pakistan in the play-off for third place.

"His (Schubert's) goal scoring ability and the energy with which he has played has been very noticeable, and he was not alone in that," said Dancer.

He saw the Australia A results as proof that Hockey Australia's development system was working.

"If you look at the results and performances of the A team over the four matches, they have given nothing away to anybody.

"I think they have surprised a lot of people, and I have been very pleasantly surprised at the level they have performed."

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