Hockeyroos: Shattered Rosie Malone speaks out after Olympic team controversy
Striker Rosie Malone has spoken out after her shock omission from the Hockeyroos Olympic team that led to claims of a broken culture within the squad.
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A shattered Rosie Malone has broken her silence on her shock omission from the Hockeyroos Olympic squad.
The star striker took to Instagram with a tearful video — filmed in May before she learned of her Paris axing — accompanied by a post revealing for months she’d been fighting feelings of not being “good enough” and addressing her selection heartbreak.
“This clip was filmed back in May for a project on elite sport. At the time, I had no idea my Olympic spot was in jeopardy,” Malone wrote.
“When I watched it back a few days ago, I realised I saw a girl sitting there feeling like no matter what she did, what she achieved, what she gave back to sport and to the people around her, for some of them, nothing was ever going to be good enough.
“What defines good enough? I honestly don’t even know anymore.
“If I could turn back the clock even just a few short months I would say to my younger self: ‘Those who truly know you see your value and what you bring. Don’t waste energy trying to make those who don’t, happy. If someone is trying to change things about you, or the way you do things, and your instincts scream ‘no’ … trust your instincts. Have courage. Stay fearlessly authentic. And remember … The wind blows strongest at the top of the mountain’.”️
Malone, whose appeal against her non-selection was thrown out by the National Sports Tribunal, listed the different measures she’d taken to meet the Hockeyroos’ expectations.
“I’ve kept my head down, worked hard and done everything my coaches asked me to do this year, even to the point of changing my natural game ‘for the good of the team’,” she wrote.
“I’m not injured, not pregnant, not battling with any other issues stopping me from performing on and off field
“I have good relationships with my teammates and always bring joy and energy to the team.
“I was Hockeyroos’ highest goal scorer in 2023, I’ve scored four international goals this year making me equal second in the team, with the highest player having five goals (and) played in 21 out of the 22 international games for the Hockeyroos this year.
“Since becoming a Hockeyroo in 2018, I’ve played at every tournament bar one (minor injury) (and) I’m consistently in the top group for fitness testing.”
Malone, who can still appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, is on leave but will be welcomed back to the Hockeyroos fold and is set to play for Australia A against the Olympic team in prep matches next week.
She signed off her post with well wishes to her teammates.
“Despite what’s happened, I really do wish my teammates every success at the Games. I believe we can medal and I hope they have an amazing experience,” she wrote.
On Monday, 20 of the 22 Hockeyroos high performance squad members co-signed a public statement refuting claims of a broken culture inside the camp — only Malone and reserve goalkeeper Aleisha Power did not endorse the statement which, in part, 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.”
Hockeyroos coach Katrina Powell said Malone still had a place at the Hockeyroos.
“The group putting out a statement today that talks about their strong values means that no one’s ever excluded from our group or not included in what we have to do,” Powell said.
“So, if Rosie chooses to come back into our group, we will welcome her with open arms.”
All not Rosie as Hockeyroos make public stand over culture claims
All but two of Australia’s 22 Hockeyroos have signed off on a public statement refuting claims of a broken culture within the camp in the wake of the controversial omission of striker Rosie Malone from the Paris Olympic squad.
And national team coach Katrina Powell says, despite Malone’s decision to fight against her axing, the 26-year-old will be welcomed back “with open arms” if she chooses to return to Hockey Australia’s high performance unit in Perth.
All 16 players selected to go to Paris and two of the three Olympic reserves put their names on the statement, as did excluded duo Greta Hayes and Lucy Sharman in a show of solidarity that followed a National Sports Tribunal decision to throw out Malone’s appeal.
Apart from Malone, reserve goalkeeper Aleisha Power declined to co-sign the statement.
“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,” the statement, released on the Hockeyroos’ social channels on Monday night, read.
“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.”
On behalf of current Hockeyroos. pic.twitter.com/KDXzdomi2S
— Hockeyroos (@Hockeyroos) July 1, 2024
CODE Sports’ requests to speak with players over the phone were denied by Hockey Australia but Powell fielded media questions in Perth today.
She said a line had not been drawn through Malone’s name when it came to Australian selection as it was her right to pursue a further appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“The group putting out a statement today that talks about their strong values means that no one’s ever excluded from our group or not included in what we have to do,” Powell said.
“So, if Rosie chooses to come back into our group, we will welcome her with open arms.
“It’s a process that she’s afforded and that she has taken that right to appeal.
“We respect that right ... and, yeah, we will welcome her back.
“We’re the Hockeyroos, we don’t own it.
“The group will be the first to say that they are just here for this period of time.
“The Hockeyroos has a long legacy of fantastic women that have played for Australia and that will continue on beyond this group.”
Powell would not comment on how Malone reacted to the decision, other than to say “it went as expected”.
“You know, these athletes sacrifice a lot to be part of an Olympic sport,” she said.
“You know, it’s not just hockey. It’s four years, I suppose, at this point, it’s been three years, but it’s a long journey, a long journey of sacrifices, of hard work.
“We’ve got a really strong depth of talented players in Australia.
“So beyond our squad even there are athletes that will be disappointed at missing out on playing an Olympic games.”
Asked if she feared Malone’s exclusion from the Olympic team would become a sideshow, Powell was defiant.
“It’s out of our camp already, It’s out of our consideration,” Powell said.
“It’s not something that factors into our training.
“This group is being celebrated ... as being part of an Olympic team that’s going to represent Australia at the Paris Olympic Games.
“That is all we’re focused on at the moment and what a great group of people to take into an Olympics, couldn’t ask for a better group, better team of athletes, but better people.”
Code Sports understands Malone’s appeal made claims of alleged bias in her non-selection, but Powell said the decision was made “purely (on) hockey playing ability, talent, combination (and) versatility of the team.”
“Look, we are aiming to have the best team possible in Paris and we believe that we’ve picked the best 16 players to get that done.
“We’re giving ourselves the best chance to be successful in Paris with the 16 that we’ve selected.”
It’s understood a key reason Malone was not picked was her inflexibility as a specialist striker. Squads for most international competitions are around 20 but, with 16 and three reserves, Powell opted for multi-positional players, with the likes of midfielder Steph Kershaw able to pinch hit as a forward.
Malone was granted leave following the furore but is set to return to Perth on the weekend, before playing match simulations for an Australia A outfit against the Olympic squad.
It’s understood Malone wants to show support for her teammates but could also use the games as an opportunity to put on a show for selectors in a bid to convince them her omission was a mistake.
HOCKEYROOS WHO SIGNED THE STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY:Alice Arnott, Jocelyn Bartram, Maddison Brooks, Jane Claxton, Claire Colwill, Rebecca Greiner, Greta Hayes, Stephanie Kershaw, Amy Lawton, Kaitlin Nobbs, Brooke Peris, Hattie Shand, Lucy Sharman, Karri Somerville, Penny Squibb, Grace Stewart, Tatum Stewart, Renee Taylor, Mariah Williams, Grace Young
‘LIKE A GOOD BOTTLE OF RED’: OCKENDEN BETTER WITH AGE
Record-breaking Kookaburras marathon man Eddie Ockenden will become the first Australian hockey player to compete at five Olympiads amid confirmation of the men’s and women’s squads for the green and gold assault in Paris.
Speedy midfielder Ky Willott was just 7 when Ockenden stepped out in Beijing and the 23-year-old, and he, along with rejuvenated defender Corey Weyer and WA pocket rocket Jake Harvie are the only two debut Olympians, with coach Colin Batch opting for nearly 3000 games of international experience among his 16.
“Eddie is an incredible athlete, an incredible person, he’s like a good bottle of red wine isn’t he? He just keeps getting better and better,” Batch said.
“Heading towards his fifth Olympics is a marvellous achievement and I know he wants a bigger goal and that’s not just being in the team, he wants success in Paris.”
Ockenden was the youngest player on the Kookaburras 2008 Olympic bronze medal squad and now, 445 internationals later, he will be the second oldest — by a couple of months veteran shot-stopper and fellow 37-year-old Andrew Charter.
“It’s always a really exciting feeling knowing that you’re going to go to the Olympics,” Ockenden, who will notch his 450th cap in Paris, said.
“Every Olympic campaign has had its own differences and its own feeling.
“You want to take some lessons from the past and try and improve and use your experience to your advantage.
“But going to the Olympics is the coolest thing that we can do as hockey players.”
Hockeyroos coach Katrina Powell has opted for a mix of youth and experience in her Paris squad, with six of her 16 off to their first Olympics, bookended by 21-year-old defensive midfielder Grace Young and 31-year-old goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram.
Four players will appear at a third Olympiad, led by tough-as-nails 247-cap SA native Jane Claxton and livewire forward Brooke Peris (208 games), cousin of Indigenous Olympic trailblazer and former Australian Senator Nova Peris.
“I feel like we have a really solid mixture of experience with the girls that are coming through who are fresh and vibrant and they just bring so much flair to our game,” Peris said.
“Our senior members are structured and we’re disciplined and the girls that are coming in for their first or second Olympics are just so incredible to watch.
“I’m very grateful that I get to be part of this team and we’re just ready to go.”
The selection period didn’t come without controversy. Popular striker Rosie Malone lodged an appeal with the National Sports Tribunal after she was left out of the squad. That appeal failed and she is not in the squad.
Powell said the squad was named after a rigorous selection process.
“It’s exciting to be celebrating this moment,” Powell said.
“This is our best 16 players who we believe will give us the best chance of being successful in Paris.
“They provide flexibility and the versatility that’s required for the structure of an Olympic Games.
“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.”
Originally published as Hockeyroos: Shattered Rosie Malone speaks out after Olympic team controversy
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