Last opportunity for Kookaburras to push for Olympic selection
Published Thu 20 May 2021
The upcoming four match test series against New Zealand will be a major determinant to who will represent Australia in the men’s hockey tournament at the Tokyo Olympics.
Kookaburras Head Coach Colin Batch has selected a 22-player squad for the Sentinel Homes Trans-Tasman Series to be played in New Zealand’s Palmerston North from 27 May - 1 June.
With only 16 players making the cut for the Olympic team, spots are on the line as the Kookaburras not only compete against New Zealand but also their teammates to try and cement their ticket to Tokyo.
Batch said the high-pressure environment for players to perform, coupled with being the Kookaburras’ first international matches in almost 15 months is an ideal stage to assess where each player and the team collectively is at.
“In every training session and intra-squad match we have had since COVID there has been that expectation that players will bring their best and push each other to improve,” said Batch.
“This has been the case while we haven’t been able to have any international competition, but now the time is finally here where we get to test ourselves against official opposition.
“Despite guys competing for spots, they know that it is a team first mentality and that is part of what we look for in assessing performance.
“It is not only what they do individually but what they do to better their teammate alongside them.”
“At the Olympics we need players who can perform at a high level consistently, and with four matches in six days this series against New Zealand is going to be no different.”
The Kookaburras squad will depart Perth on Friday ahead of the opening match of the series on Thursday 27 May.
The final Kookaburras team for the Tokyo Olympics will be announced on 14 June in Perth.
The Sentinel Homes Trans-Tasman Series will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport and the Sky Sport Next YouTube Channel.
Kookaburras squad for Sentinel Homes Trans-Tasman Series v New Zealand
|
Name |
Date of Birth |
State |
Caps (Goals) |
|
Jacob Anderson |
22/03/1997 |
Mackay, QLD |
23 (9) |
|
Daniel Beale |
12/02/1993 |
Brisbane, QLD |
177 (28) |
|
Josh Beltz |
24/04/1995 |
Hobart, TAS |
41 (3) |
|
Tim Brand |
29/11/1998 |
Chatswood, NSW |
40 (16) |
|
Andrew Charter (gk) |
30/03/1987 |
Canberra, ACT |
181 (0) |
|
Tom Craig |
3/09/1995 |
Lane Cove, NSW |
101 (29) |
|
Matthew Dawson |
7/04/1994 |
Killarney Vale, NSW |
140 (12) |
|
Nathan Ephraums |
9/06/1999 |
Keysborough, VIC |
4 (0) |
|
Blake Govers |
6/07/1996 |
Wollongong, NSW |
98 (85) |
|
Jake Harvie |
5/03/1998 |
Dardanup, WA |
70 (3) |
|
Jeremy Hayward |
3/03/1993 |
Darwin, NT |
156 (65) |
|
Tim Howard |
23/06/1996 |
Wakerley, QLD |
61 (1) |
|
Tyler Lovell (gk) |
23/05/1987 |
Perth, WA |
145 (0) |
|
Dylan Martin |
12/01/1998 |
Wagga Wagga, NSW |
- |
|
Trent Mitton |
26/11/1990 |
Perth, WA |
173 (79) |
|
Eddie Ockenden |
3/04/1987 |
Hobart, TAS |
366 (71) |
|
Flynn Ogilvie |
17/09/1993 |
Wollongong, NSW |
109 (21) |
|
Lachlan Sharp |
2/07/1997 |
Lithgow, NSW |
49 (11) |
|
Josh Simmonds |
4/10/1995 |
Melbourne, VIC |
19 (1) |
|
Jake Whetton |
16/06/1991 |
Brisbane, QLD |
203 (64) |
|
Tom Wickham |
26/05/1990 |
Perth, WA |
54 (24) |
|
Aran Zalewski |
21/03/1991 |
Margaret River, WA |
191 (25) |
Sentinel Homes Trans-Tasman Series
New Zealand v Australia
Massey University turf, Palmerston North
Thursday 27 May 2021
5.30pm (3.30pm AEST) Kookaburras v Vantage Black Sticks Men
7.30pm (5.30pm AEST) Hockeyroos v Vantage Black Sticks Women
Friday 28 May 2021
5.30pm (3.30pm AEST) Kookaburras v Vantage Black Sticks Men
7.30pm (5.30pm AEST) Hockeyroos v Vantage Black Sticks Women
Sunday 30 May 2021
1.00pm (11.00am AEST) Hockeyroos v Vantage Black Sticks Women
3.00pm (1.00pm AEST) Kookaburras v Vantage Black Sticks Men
Tuesday 1 June 2021
5.30pm (3.30pm AEST) Hockeyroos v Vantage Black Sticks Women
7.30pm (5.30pm AEST) Kookaburras v Vantage Black Sticks Men
Broadcast: LIVE on Sky Sport 2 and the Sky Sport Next YouTube Channel.
