Australian Country Squads
Since the inception of annual Australian Country Championships, representative ‘teams’ have been named at the conclusion of the event and in the ‘early years’ completed a tour on a biennial basis. Since 2003 the process has become more formalised with men’s and women’s teams being formally selected, announced and scheduled for a representative tour.
Initially, these teams competed in the biennial Arafura Games and, in the intervening year, toured internationally – New Zealand (2004) and Fiji (2006). Following the 2007 Arafura Games, Hockey Australia determined that an international tour would replace the Arafura Games, providing country hockey players with the opportunity to tour internationally each year.
Self-funded (assisted by whatever sponsorship we are able to attract) these tours provide Country players with a unique opportunity to represent Australian Country Hockey internationally. Positions within the teams are eagerly sought after and valued by those who earn them. As national Country representatives the players and teams staff attract acknowledgment from their peers and domestic associations who share in their achievements. In addition to players, the country teams also provide a unique opportunity to coaches, managers, medical staff, statisticians and umpires.
In 2008 the Australian teams toured Singapore, competing successfully against the Singapore men’s and women’s national teams. Later in 2008, Australian Country teams fulfilled Hockey Australia’s obligation to Oceania Hockey by representing Australia at the inaugural Pacific Cup in Fiji. Following that initial involvement in Oceania and in keeping with plans to provide a pathway for country players, Under 21 teams have been selected to fulfil that commitment. At the Australian Country Championships there are now four country teams selected Senior and U21 for both men and women.
With the introduction of the World League competition, the Oceania Pacific Cup has become a Round 1 biennial event (Australian and New Zealand progress automatically to Round 2) at which the country U21 teams compete and in the ‘off year’ compete in an international event scheduled in Fiji thus maintaining the development role in the region.
Since 2008 the senior country teams have toured internationally to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, New Zealand competing in a variety of events and games against various national teams.
Nominations for these teams are called for prior to the Championships and a rigorous and transparent selection process is undertaken during the Championships to ensure quality representative teams are selected. The teams are announced as part of the presentation ceremony at the conclusion of the Championships.
Squads are nominated and selected from the Country Australian Championships each year. The 2018/19 squads were selected at the 2018 Australian Country Championships in Berri. Congratulations to all those selected.
Australian Country Selection Policy
Australian Country Squads
Senior Men’s Team:
Ethan Anderson (VIC), Sam Basile (QLD), Brayden Dalton (WA), Grant Dilger (QLD), Noah Erdeljac (VIC), Ky Fisher (WA), Lachlan Hansford (VIC), Tim Hardy (NSW), Curtis James (QLD), Liam Kerr-Nelson (VIC), Joshua McPaul (QLD), Corey Piggin (QLD), David Reid (NSW), Cale Rout (VIC), Gus Schofield (NSW), Liam Sweeney (WA), Jack Tosana (WA), Tyler Willott (NSW)
Manager: Brian Wild, Coach: Robert Laffin, Assistant Coach: Stuart Hyslop, Physio: Phil Turner
Senior Women’s Team
Clare Bosman (NSW), Priya Bourke (NSW), Cassidy Brazeau (QLD), Sophie Collings (VIC), Karina Curtis (QLD), Holly Gilbar (QLD), Shona Haynes (WA), Courtney Hogan (NSW), Amelia Leard (NSW), Caitlyn Low (NSW), Lauren Newman (WA), Tamika Potter (NSW), Amy Smith (ADF), Meg Snelling (WA), Maddy Spano (SA), Aleesha Spyve (QLD), Emma White (NSW), Samantha White (NSW)
Manager: Leanne Andaloro, Coach: Wayne Gaynor, Assistant Coach: Tammy Handsford, Physio: Sarah Bradbrook
Under-21 Men’s Team
Riley Burgess (SA), Brayden Caldow (VIC), Zane Drennan (NSW), Toby Edlington (SA), Raine Fisher (WA), Oliver Garfield (SA), Jake Whitford (VIC), Jack Hawthorne (QLD), Jack Hill (QLD), Lachlan Howard (NSW), Jayden Schram (VIC), Tom Searl (NSW), Cooper Smith (NSW), Nicholas Southern (SA), Lachlan Stokes (SA), Sam Systa (QLD), Fletcher Taylor (WA), Ewan Wightman (VIC)
Manager: Jeff Sly, Coach: Jamie Pain, Assistant Coach: Phillip Southern, Physio: Daniel Westphal
Under-21 Women’s Team
Emma Bellingham (QLD), Lani Blackman (QLD), Sienna Campese (QLD), Charli Corbin (NSW), Hayley Crowhurst (SA), Madeline Denny (QLD), Hayley Fischer (NSW), Imogen Fowles (NSW), Lucy Frame (NSW), Sophie Hallam (WA), Molly Klix (VIC), Brooke Pilcher (ADF), Rylee Pontt (VIC), Mischa Rodier (WA), Tess Rowling (WA), Meghan Searl (NSW), Kahlua Smart (VIC), Lara Watts (NSW)
Manager: Madeleine Palacios, Coach: Tenille Yandle, Assistant Coach: Daniel Knapp, Physio: Laura Wade