Hockey Australia has named a 22-woman core for Olympics campaign

It’s been a long couple of decades since the Hockeyroos have tasted gold success at the Olympics, but preparations are full steam ahead to get the newly-announced squad firing for Paris.

Veteran Brooke Peris brings a wealth of experience to the Hockeyroos' high performance squad.

Hockey Australia has named a 22-woman core charged with plotting the end of the Hockeyroos’ 24-year Olympic medal drought.

From January 3, the newly-unveiled squad will finally be reunited at HA’s high performance unit in Perth after a Federal funding boost in the lead up to Paris helped offset savage cuts brought about by the Tokyo Olympic quarterfinal shock at the hands of India.

While still only resourced to centralise a modified squad of 22 players in the high performance program — compared to the 27 of the fully-funded Kookaburras — the days of Australia’s elite Hockeyroos being forced to train in their home states are gone and the reunion presents the opportunity to build chemistry and connections on the pitch vital for coach Katrina Powell’s unit.

“The fact that the squad will again be centralised at hockey’s high performance home in Perth is also very fortunate,” Powell said.

“The opportunity to have all the athletes together is something that the team and I are very excited about.”

Maddison Brooks is a rising star. Picture: Richard Jupe

Powell will lean on unflappable hardwoman Jane Claxton and veteran striker Brooke Peris to bring the experience of over 400 international caps between them as the Aussies hunt their first Olympic medal since 2000’s golden triumph in Sydney — where Powell scored four times.

But she’s also got one eye on the future with seven players aged 23 or younger, including uncapped SA defender Lucy Sharman and 19-year-old Tasmanian prodigy Maddison Brooks, who are both currently in Chile as part of the Jillaroos’ FIH Junior World Cup campaign.

Kaitlin Nobbs, fresh off being named Hockey One’s player of the tournament, and Steph Kershaw, one of the finest players on the planet, stand out in a midfield group that oozes class, prolific goal machines Grace Stewart and Rosie Malone bring the firepower upfront, while marauding young gun Amy Lawton’s imposing presence grows with every moment she spends on the pitch.

“There has been some really standout performances throughout the year, from the FIH Pro

League, pair of Test series against China and India, successful Oceania Cup Olympic qualifiers and the recent Hockey One league,” Powell said.

“Essentially, this has enabled the national selection panel to select a squad with a really good mix of youth and experience, which is favourable leading into an Olympic year.”

Goal machine Rosie Malone. Picture: Simon Watts

More than half the squad hails from NSW (7) and Brisbane (6), with 13 of the 22 players with either Pride or Blaze origins. WA and SA have three representatives each, while Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory each have one.

Maddison Fitzpatrick, a key member of the Hockey One champion Brisbane Blaze’s run to this year’s title, is a shock omission from the 22, having last year appeared in all three major tournaments, claiming Commonwealth Games silver and World Cup bronze,

Highly-rated stopper Zoe Newman is a victim of the women’s condensed squad — the Kookaburras were able to name three custodians in veteran great Andrew Charter, No.2 Johan Durst and Hockey One’s best keeper Ash Thomas. But, with five fewer funded positions, Powell has opted for two shot stoppers in Jocelyn Bartram and Aleisha Power.

It’s more heartbreak for luckless midfielder Courtney Schonell, who has been struck down by a major knee injury. The luckless 23-year-old, who has already fought back from a serious knee injury that kept her out of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, was not listed in the squad but will be supported in her recovery from her latest ailment.

The Hockeyroos will fire their first shot on the path to Paris begins with FIH Pro League legs in India (February 4-18) and then Belgium (May 30-June 2) and then England, (June 8-13).

Originally published as Hockey Australia has named a 22-woman core for Olympics campaign