‘Absolutely criminal’: Rosie Malone’s Hockeyroos Olympic snub confirmed

Australia’s hockey teams for the Olympics have been named, and both players and fans have been rocked by a shock omission.

Australia’s teams for the Paris Olympics have been named, and the exclusion of one of the world’s best hockey players, Rosie Malone, has left plenty of people stunned.

The 26-year-old was in the final five for the International Hockey Federation (FIH) player of the year award last December, but has been left out of the Hockeyroos’ side for the Olympics.

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Former ABC presenter Tracey Holmes broke the news last week, which was met with shock from fans.

News Corp reported Malone was “devastated” by the decision and that she “was not told why she was left out of the team during her phone call” with Hockeyroos coach Katrina Powell.

Malone, who has 33 goals in 114 games for the Hockeyroos, has scored just one goal in 15 matches in the FIH Pro League this season.

The report added players who had played the final two matches of the Pro League season against England and Germany were told they would be part of the Olympic campaign, with Malone the only member of the team excluded.

While Malone had launched a last-ditch appeal to the National Sports Tribunal to overturn the snub, it was reportedly dismissed last Friday.

Rosie Malone was short-listed as a player of the year last year. Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images

However, it may not yet be over, as the announcement from Hockey Australia on Monday had a note which read: “The Australian Olympic Team for women’s hockey is subject to an ongoing appeal by a non-nominated athlete. Any updates will be communicated in line with that process.”

As both the 16-player men’s and women’s squads were named for the Olympics, Malone’s name was not even among the three reserves being brought along for the Games.

It was a shock call from Hockeyroos coach Katrina Powell, given Malone has featured in all but one of Australia’s international games this year.

One former teammate of Malone’s spoke to the Sydney Morning Herald last week.

“Players within the team are shocked,” the teammate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said.

“She’s coming off one of the best years we’ve had from a Hockeyroo.”

Fans were equally baffled by the decision.

Sports podcaster @AbbieHerWay said: “I am genuinely shocked by this.”

One fan commented: “The Rosie Malone non-selection is insane, she is rightfully appealing.”

Another posted: “Absolutely criminal that Rosie Malone wasn’t selected in the Hockeyroos squad. Wtf were they thinking?”

Yet another added: “Congratulations. But I’m shocked that Rosie Malone has been omitted. She is by far the fastest player in the team and a goal scorer. I think this will be a much regretted decision.”

Malone was part of the team at Tokyo. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images

The plot thickened as a statement “written by current Hockeyroos” on the Hockeyroos’ Instagram page read: “As current members of the Hockeyroos we believe that we are building a professional, welcoming and understanding culture that supports each other throughout the highs and lows of a high-performance environment.

“We hold our Hockeyroos values in high regard and believe we live these out as humans, players and teammates to the best of our ability. We will continue to live and grow these values within our squad culture as we continue towards Paris and beyond.

“The Hockeyroos legacy holds a special place in all of our hearts and we acknowledge and respect those that came before us and those that will come after us.”

Fans were baffled by the statement.

One fan wrote: “And @HockeyAustralia turn the comments off! What does this statement even mean? Is it aimed @rosiemalone98? What the hell is going on?”

Another said: “What does this even mean?”

Powell’s 16-player team for Paris included six first-time Olympians, with three off to a third Games, and she backed the “rigorous” selection process.

“This is our best 16 players who we believe will give us the best chance of being successful in Paris,” Powell said.

“There’s good versatility in there, they provide flexibility and the versatility that’s required for the structure of an Olympic Games.

“We certainly like to play with speed, skill and variety and this group provides it.

“We’ve got world-class players spread throughout our whole group, in all of the lines surrounded by talent and then we have some dogged determination in there as well, so it’s a really great mix.”

Rosie Malone. Photo: Simon Watts/www.bwmedia.co.nz @bwmedianz

The Hockeyroos won gold in 1988, 1996 and 2000 but have missed the podium since, including a crushing quarter-final loss to India in Tokyo after going unbeaten through the pool games.

Over in the men’s team, Kookaburras legend Eddie Ockenden has been selected for a record fifth Olympics.

Ockenden, now 37, made his Olympics debut in Beijing as a 23-year-old and will be the second-oldest player in the Australian line-up, shaded only by goalkeeper Andrew Charter, who is also 37.

The Hockeyroos have been drawn in Pool B with Argentina, Great Britain, Spain, USA and South Africa, while the Kookaburras, coming off a silver medal winning performance in Tokyo, will take on Belgium, India, Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland in their pool games.

Australian hockey squads for Paris

HOCKEYROOS: Alice Arnott, Jocelyn Bartram (gk), Jane Claxton, Claire Colwill, Rebecca Greiner, Stephanie Kershaw, Amy Lawton, Kaitlin Nobbs, Brooke Peris, Karri Somerville, Penny Squibb, Grace Stewart. Tatum Stewart, Renee Taylor, Mariah Williams, Grace Young.

Reserves: Maddison Brooks, Aleisha Power, Hattie Shand.

KOOKABURRAS: Josh Beltz, Tim Brand, Andrew Charter (gk), Tom Craig, Matt Dawson, Blake Govers, Jake Harvie, Jeremy Hayward, Eddie Ockenden, Flynn Ogilvie, Lachlan Sharp, Corey Weyer, Jake Whetton, Tom Wickham, Ky Willott, Aran Zalewski.

Reserves: Johan Durst, Nathan Ephraums, Tim Howard.

With NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Absolutely criminal’: Rosie Malone’s Hockeyroos Olympic snub confirmed