Kookaburra’s announce eight debutants for FIH Pro League

Victorian Jed Snowden to follow in his family footsteps and fill the boots of Australia’s recently retired most capped goalkeeper, as Kookaburra’s announce eight debutants for FIH Pro League.

Victorian goalkeeper Jed Snowden was at work “stressing all day” before finally getting the email confirming he’s set for a dream Kookaburras debut when the FIH Pro League returns to Sydney next week.

Snowden, who will fill the boots of Australia’s recently retired most capped goalkeeper ever, Andrew Charter, is among eight first-timers in Kookaburras coach Mark Hager’s 22-player squad.

It also includes nine Olympians as the Kookaburras launch their title defence against Spain and the Olympic champion Netherlands.

“I feel incredibly lucky to get a home debut in front of friends and family,” said Snowden, whose uncle Neil Snowden played for the Kookaburras in the ’80s.

Jed Snowden has big shoes to fill. Picture: Andrew Castles.

“On the day I was expecting the email to see if I had been selected, I was at work with the boys and I was just stressing the whole time, not a lot of work was done!

“I was just over the moon when the email finally came in around midday and I saw I had made the full-time squad. It’s a massive opportunity.”

Cooper Burns, Liam Henderson, Connar Otterbach and Ben White are all in line to make their debut in green and gold, with West Australian Tom Harvie receiving his long-awaited call-up to join his experienced brother Jake and make his debut for Australia.

It’s a dream come true for the inseparable brothers who are following in the footsteps of their grandad, Gordon Pearce, who became a three-time Olympian playing alongside his four brothers for the Kookaburras between the 1950s and ’60s.

“Playing for the Kookaburras has always been a lifelong dream,” Tom said.

“Receiving the email that said I had been selected was a huge relief more than anything. There have certainly been some tough nights and some long conversations with Mum and Dad about whether I was going to get my opportunity or not.

Squad Announcement | Kookaburras coach Mark Hager has announced an exciting mix of powerful new talent and returning Olympians in his first 22-man squad for the FIH Pro League’s return to Sydney.

Head to https://t.co/JdQYjBU2Oi to read the full write up. pic.twitter.com/UvOx8RWmAw

— Kookaburras (@Kookaburras) January 27, 2025

“It was cool to be in the senior leadership group alongside Jake in the Perth Thundersticks in the Liberty Hockey One League last season and now for two brothers to play alongside each other for Australia is another level of rare.

“I’m so grateful and especially grateful I’m getting the opportunity to debut on home soil.”

The Kookaburras begin their campaign in Sydney against Spain on February 5 before taking on the Olympic gold medallists, the Netherlands, in a hotly anticipated rematch of the Paris Olympic quarter-final on February 6.

KOOKABURRAS: Davis Atkin, Jayden Atkinson, Josh Beltz, Cooper Burns, James Collins, Nathan Czinner, Nathan Ephraums, Anand Gupte, Jake Harvie, Tom Harvie, Jeremy Hayward, Liam Henderson, Tim Howard, Craig Marais, Mitchell Nicholson, Connar Otterbach, Lachlan Sharp, Jed Snowden, Jack Welsh, Corey Weyer, Ben White, Ky Willot.

Originally published as Kookaburra’s announce eight debutants for FIH Pro League