Maddison Brooks plays for OHA 36 hours before of Olympic hockey squad announcement
Paris is calling for Tassie’s teenage hockey sensation Maddison Brooks, but that hasn’t stopped her from making a cheeky trip back home to Hobart. Why she was picked over big name stars.
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Teenage star Maddison Brooks will be the first Tasmanian Hockeyroo to attend an Olympic Games since Kim Walker in 2008.
Brooks is now within touching distance after being selected as a travelling reserve on Monday.
Brooks was selected over Olympians Rosie Malone and Greta Hayes, largely due to her flexibility to fulfil multiple roles and will be preparing to have an impact if injury or illness strikes.
While Walker relocated to Western Australia, even playing for the WA Diamonds in the Australian Hockey League, Brooks has maintained her strong links with the state that has launched her international career.
Brooks turned out for her local club OHA in the women’s Premier League against ladder leaders University, barely 36 hours before the announcement is made in Perth.
Not only did the nineteen-year-old take to the field, but she delivered a best on ground performance as the Ships clinched a 4-2 victory to end University’s eight game winning streak.
Brooks’ international hockey career has exploded since debuting for Australia in the 2023 FIH Pro League in Hobart, quickly amassing a record of 32 appearances and 6 goals.
But Olympic selection will be challenging with Australian coach Katrina Powell having a fully fit squad to choose from and squad’s restricted to sixteen athletes, two players less than all other international hockey tournaments.
“I’m definitely proud to be from Tassie and its important for me to stay connected with my OHA teammates and hockey friends back home,” Brooks said.
“The level of hockey is continuing to improve and it’s great to see where the local competition is heading, plus its always nice to come home and see everyone.”
“It was nice to be back playing with the Ships in what was a hard-fought match, with a tough midfield battle.”
“I’m looking forward to getting back to Tasmania when the Olympics and international commitments end to chase success with the Tassie Tigers in the Hockey One League, because I think we’re going to surprise a lot of teams.”
Elsewhere, Tasmanian pair Eddie Ockenden and Joshua Beltz were retained after playing huge roles in the Kookaburras silver-medal winning Tokyo campaign, with Ockenden set to attend his fifth Olympics.
In doing so, the 37-year-old would equal former rower Anthony Edwards as Tasmania’s longest serving Olympian.
Fellow Kookaburras squad members Jack Welch and Hayden Beltz were considered after some involvement in Australia’s recent FIH Pro League title success, but missed selection in an experienced sixteen player squad.
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