Path to Paris: How Hockeyroos Olympians Rosie Malone and Grace Stewart went from sworn enemies to the best of friends

Olympians Rosie Malone and Grace Stewart admit they once hated each other. Now best mates, the Hockeyroos “package deal” are plotting a path to Paris gold.

Hockeyroos stars Grace Stewart and Rosie Malone, then and now.

Once sworn enemies, the beautiful friendship between Aussie goal machines Rosie Malone and Grace Stewart has blossomed into an innate on-field understanding that looms as a key in the Hockeyroos’ Olympic medal hopes.

The bitter teen rivals drawn across State of Origin lines now come as a “package deal”, creating a rare synergy in leading the Aussie strike force as they prepare for a high intensity tune up in Europe before it gets really serious in Paris.

“She’s a NSW girl, I’m a Queensland girl, so, when we were 12-13-14, we were arch enemies, strikers on the opposite states who hated each other,” Malone laughed.

“Then, when we were 15 or 16, we were forced to room together on our first Aussie schoolgirls trip. Grace will tell you that she thought I was the biggest weirdo with all these plaits in my hair but we haven’t looked back since.

“Now we room together on every single Hockeyroos trip and she is one of my best friends, which is a beautiful part of team sport.”

Rosie Malone and Grace Stewart as opposing teens.

Rosie Malone and Grace Stewart as teen teammates.

Stewart confirmed their friendship “pretty much played out like that” — and it’s translated on the international stage with a combined 104 goals shared across 226 appearances in the green and gold.

“She was the crazy little kid from Queensland and I watched her from afar for NSW and looked at her and thought ‘God, who is this girl?’,” Stewart laughed.

“Yeah, we were forced to room together in that first Australian team and then we’ve pretty much been best friends ever since, which is pretty crazy.

“Rosie’s a bit of spark, both on and off the field, for sure, she’s definitely a pocket rocket who brings a lot of energy.

“She’s always cracking jokes but she also laughs the loudest at her own jokes, so then everyone laughs with her — but I don’t know if she’s funny or we’re just laughing at her.”

Rosie Malone is the Hockeyroos' resident pocket rocket.

Grace Stewart in action at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: AFP

It might seem a little crazy to Stewart, given the maroon and blue rivalry and the early teenage frostiness that came with it but, from the perspective of a strike pairing on the international stage, it makes for a unique combination where one knows the other’s every move.

Making their living in the same position adds a wrinkle: they’ve had to compete against each other for coveted spots in international squads — and will be doing the same in the lead up to Paris.

Not that it’s ever really caused a problem between them, given that, apart from an uncanny nose for goal, each possesses polar opposite playing traits. Stewart is a long, agile 175cm who covers huge ground in quick time and uses strength and reach to impact. The 158cm Malone is a relentless, compact close-to-the-ground threat with a low centre of gravity.

“We do try to sell ourselves as a package deal but it doesn’t always work that way,” Stewart said.

“We’ve definitely experienced that where we’re fighting for spots but I think we know that we help each other and that’s what makes us so good on the field together.

Rosie Malone always has time for the hockey fans.

“We love playing alongside each other, but the relationship we have makes it easier for us to give each other hard feedback and we’re able to enjoy each other’s success, even if one of us doesn’t get picked.

“It’s pretty special to be playing for your country alongside your best friend so we’re both just super grateful every time we do get selected to run out there together.”

Stewart, who turned 27 last Sunday (April 28), is among the most experienced Hockeyroos, in line for her third Games after Rio and Tokyo call ups, the latter alongside Malone, 26, at her maiden Olympiad.

“My knees are feeling like they’re a veteran’s but it’s a weird feeling, it was only just my birthday and I turned 27 but I don’t feel like I’m that old in the team,” Stewart said.

“I guess I definitely have a lot of experience and while every Olympics is different and they all have their own challenges, I’m really looking forward to it.”

It’s been a tough few weeks for Stewart. Malone said she has missed linking up with her mate, with the long-levered attacking weapon forced to watch from the sidelines during the recently completed Perth International Festival of Hockey while she nursed a niggle in one of those aforementioned knees.

Grace Stewart is attempting to become a three-time Olympian. Picture: Getty Images

“I have some bone stress in my knee that I had to have a couple of weeks off to let it settle but I’m back up and running now, back training and should hopefully be, pending selection, good to go to Europe with the team,” Stewart said.

That Euro trip involves eight FIH Pro League games from May 30-June 13, in Antwerp, then London, against Belgium (No.5), Argentina (No.2), Great Britain (combined) and Germany (No.3).

Performances in the tournament will go a long way to deciding if the pair is reunited up front in Paris — Olympic squads consist of just 16 players (plus three reserves), meaning six members of Hockey Australia’s 22-woman high performance squad face a heartbreaking reality.

“We’ve obviously got another selection coming and we’re very much looking forward to some more challenges in Europe, trying some new things and, of course, building into Paris as it edges even closer for us,” Malone said.

“We always want to do well in Pro League and win as many games as we can but, in an Olympic year, the main focus is obviously Paris.”

Originally published as Path to Paris: How Hockeyroos Olympians Rosie Malone and Grace Stewart went from sworn enemies to the best of friends