Cricket legend on Hockeyroos appeal panel, another backroom figure quits

Australian cricket legend Belinda Clark is one of three people who will decide on the fate of appeals from two key Hockeyroos players who were sensationally dropped from the squad last year, while a third figure connected to the team has quit her role.

Clark is on that appeal panel with former ARL judiciary chair Alan Sullivan QC and former Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Fiona de Jong, who will receive final submissions from parties in the dispute on Friday.

Belinda Clark. Credit: Paul Harris

Former Hockeyroos captain Georgina Morgan and current FIH goalkeeper of the year Rachael Lynch were sensationally dropped from the Hockeyroos squad in December last year and are fighting to have their axings overturned.

This came as former and current players and staff aired concerns about an alleged destructive culture within the sporting body, and player problems with non-playing staff.

Those concerns have sparked an independent review into the Hockeyroos set up, the results of which are expected soon.

Hockey Australia high performance director Toni Cumpston and assistant coach Steph Andrews have resigned from their roles this year. A third person - selector and former captain Sharon Buchanan - was the latest to step down from her position.

“Hockey Australia can confirm Sharon Buchanan OAM has retired from her role as the Board Appointed Independent Selector for the Hockeyroos,” a HA spokesman said. “Sharon always intended to finish as a selector last year after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Despite the role being extended due to the postponement of the Games, Sharon’s current personal circumstances meant she could not continue. Hockey Australia will announce a replacement soon.”

In October 2020 the team’s co-captains Emily Chalker, Jodie Kenny and Morgan quit their roles. Kenny also retired immediately.

The upheaval comes months out from the rescheduled Tokyo Olympic Games where the Hockeyroos will be in medal-winning contention as the No.4 ranked team in the world.

However, the preparations of Lynch and Morgan have been interrupted given their appeals have been pending for nearly three months.

The pair has been given access to facilities to keep training in WA after first requesting they be allowed to continue training with the squad.

“The matter will be heard by the tribunal as soon as possible after 26 February,” the HA spokesman said.

The review into the Hockeyroos culture is being run by Bruce Collins QC, AFL commissioner Gabrielle Trainor and former Matildas player and FIFA Council member Moya Dodd.

The Australian Sports Commission also expanded the scope of the review to include both cultural and governance issues, a spokesman said, after it was initially focused on alleged bullying and cultural problems.

Sport Integrity Australia has also set up an independent and confidential process for athletes and others to lodge formal complaints about Hockeyroos culture, bullying and governance problems. Along with the additions of Collins, Dodd and Trainor, these were implemented as extra steps in ensuring an independent process.

Players had considered strike action around the time the review was announced.