President calls for unity as ex-Hockeyroo blasts response

Hockey Australia president Melanie Woosnam has called on the Hockeyroos to "unify" with the governing body ahead of next year's Tokyo Games but Rio Olympian Georgie Parker says HA needs to do more for players and turn its focus onto the team's staff.

Player unrest has continued in the Hockeyroos team.Credit: Getty Images

Hockeyroos players, Woosnam and other HA staff met on Tuesday for crisis talks following a report in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald on letters sent in 2017 and 2018 which alleged a poor culture within the team and issues around selection following shock calls to drop star goalkeeper Rachael Lynch and former captain Georgina Morgan recently.

HA has announced an independent inquiry into those claims while also looking at whether there has been any bullying between players.

Woosnam told 2GB radio on Tuesday she hoped the inquiry could be launched as soon as Wednesday.

But while Woosnam has called for solidarity with HA and within the national team, former Hockeyroo Georgie Parker stood up for players on Twitter on Tuesday, sharing Tuesday's article and stating the "toxic" culture did not stem from the players.

"Please read. My friends are hurting and besides repeatedly asking for help, it is repeatedly being ignored. @HockeyAustralia is not taking care of its players, and this toxic culture they're trying to blame on their players, is coming from the staff," Parker tweeted.

Parker was asked if she wanted to comment further on her tweet but she couldn't be reached before deadline.

Woosnam said she left the meeting with players feeling "optimistic".

"I came out of that meeting feeling quite optimistic and positive about the ability to engage directly, face to face, as following COVID we haven't much of these athletes face to face," Woosnam told 2GB on Tuesday.

"We had some good conversations with the athletes, they have raised some concerns which will be directed to the inquiry which we hope to launch as soon as tomorrow."

Woosnam also said she told players that the issues raised in 2018 were addressed by the board.

"We responded in a letter with several action items, we added a second assistant coach to provide more support around the HC and athletes," Woosnam said.

"We established an athlete wellbeing engagement framework, we launched a high-performance review and put other mechanisms in place in terms of athlete support and wellbeing, with the mental health referral network, a clinical psychologist and a little while later we added a people and culture person.

"We are focused on moving forward."

With the Olympics fast approaching, Woosnam said there was plenty left to work on and she accepted both Lynch and Morgan had avenues to appeal their omissions from the side, which both are exploring.

"I wouldn't say we resolved everything," Woosnam said.

"What we were happy to do was draw a line in the sand and talk about the fact we can't change what has happened in the past, all we can do is focus on the future.

"We can learn from the past and things that have occurred but more importantly we need to come together and unify as a group. We need to have solidarity as an organisation and playing group and work out how we can move forward and give this group the best chance of success in Tokyo next year."