Rockhampton’s Jackson Willie to represent Australia at 2023 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup

Jackson Willie reveals why his most recent national hockey selection has special significance, and explains how Rockhampton’s Olympic stars helped inspire his success.

Jackson Willie playing for Australia in the Trans-Tasman Challenge after which the national team for the 2023 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup was finalised.

Jackson Willie considers his latest hockey selection the “biggest achievement” of his playing career to date, but it also has a special personal meaning.

The Rockhampton product’s parents - Cameron and Amanda - will be in the crowd to watch him represent Australia at the 2023 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in South Africa.

Willie is the only Queenslander in the 12-member open men’s team that will contest the international tournament from February 5 to 11 in Pretoria.

“This is by far the biggest achievement but I’m most looking forward to sharing the experience with Mum and Dad because they’ve never seen me play live for Australia before,” he said.

“That is the most exciting thing for me, especially after all the hours they invested me in as a junior.”

Willie first picked up a hockey stick at age three, playing in the backyard of his Rockhampton home.

He joined Wanderers at age five, and played all bar one season with the club before leaving the Beef Capital for Brisbane at age 18.

He was a regular in Queensland underage and senior teams in both indoor and outdoor, among his highlights selection in the under-21 Australian Country and open men’s Australian Country outdoor teams in successive years (2020 and 2021).

Jackson Willie, pictured at age 18 preparing for another national indoor championships.

Willie has been part of the Australian indoor men’s squad for the past five years and can’t wait for his World Cup debut.

The Australians fly to Europe on January 19 for a pre-preparation tour before opening their Cup campaign against South Africa on February 5.

Willie said he wanted to do his family, his hometown, his state and his country proud.

“Every team will be tough. I don’t think there will be an easy game,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to playing different countries and experiencing different styles of indoor hockey.”

Willie is a striker in both formats of the game, and his goal-scoring prowess is second to none.

He said he had always dreamt of playing for Australia, and was honoured to carry on Rockhampton’s proud tradition of producing hockey talent.

“As a young kid, that’s what you want to do, you want to get to the highest honours and represent your country, especially coming from Rockhampton with players like Jamie Dwyer, Mark Knowles and Matty Gohdes.

“You’re inspired to be like them. I know it’s in a different format but representing your country is representing your country.

“My time playing hockey in Rockhampton was very important. It really set me up and has got me to where I am today.”