Hockeyroos veteran Brooke Peris plays 200th game against China
Hockeyroos superstar Brooke Peris has joined a very exclusive club playing her 200th game for the country. Read her reaction to the milestone.
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Territorian Brooke Peris has joined a very exclusive club after she ran out for her 200th Hockeyroos appearance against China, made all the more special by her side’s comeback draw.
The most capped Indigenous player in Australian hockey has been part of plenty of success since debuting in 2013 against Japan.
The Nightcliff Tigers junior has been to two Olympics, won silver at the Commonwealth Games and is regarded as someone who turns up whenever her side needs her.
The emotions were high heading into her 200th match, which happened to come in Perth where her international career began, with friends and family in the stands to spur her on.
“Before the game I was really nice and calm and then the girls presented me with a video and I got very emotional,” she said.
“I was very overwhelmed and I cried the whole time and I did pull myself back together and come out and play and I enjoyed today and I really appreciate what the girls did for me today.
“It feels really unreal to think that I debuted and then I’m here 200 caps later and something about it just fits right and I’m happy and I’m really overjoyed.
“It was fun that my family and friends were here, that we get to wear this uniform on this particular day and we’ve come so far as a team, it’s something I’m very proud of.”
Peris has been a huge ambassador for the game, particularly for Territorians, and has been a feature of her side through two Olympics.
She was named the NT Sportsperson of the Year in 2014, shortly after her first match for the national outfit, and played a major role in the return of the Territory Stingers in 2023.
The special night was capped off with a comeback draw against China, in a match that was always going to be a hard-fought battle.
The sides were deadlocked at the first break, however a sensational two minutes led to back-to-back field goals for China as they figured out the Hockeyroos’ defence.
Australia fought back and a great ball by Renee Taylor to Rosie Malone forced a penalty corner and Greta Hayes took her position, and eventually found the net with a powerful strike.
In the final quarter with the side still down it was Queensland’s Steph Kershaw who scraped the ball through China’s defence and into the back of the net.
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