Setup of Hockeyroos 2023 squad with an eye on Paris

An initial 17 athletes have been named in next year’s Hockeyroos squad as Head Coach Katrina Powell looks to utilise and make the most of the increasing pool of Australian women’s hockey talent.

All 17 athletes selected were a core part of this year’s Hockeyroos squad that won a silver medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the Women’s World Cup.

A further 20 players have been selected to attend a Visiting Athlete Agreement Selection Camp in Sydney in January 2023.

The remaining five spots for the final Hockeyroos squad of 22 players will be announced following the selection camp.

With Powell moulding a team to finish on the podium at the Paris 2024 Olympics, she is eager to reiterate that opportunities for international matches next year will also come to those outside the squad.

Exciting young Queensland striker Hannah Cullum-Sanders, who made her mark when given her chance from outside the squad earlier this year and has kept her spot, is a case in point.

Powell said today’s announcement was just a starting point for selection.

“We will be selecting a wide range of athletes to play for the Hockeyroos in 2023, which could be from outside the senior squad and include players from the National Development Squad,” said Powell.

“In this initial selection we wanted to firm up those positions in the squad that we know are part of our direction in 2023.”

“Obviously a squad of 22 is a small number to work with so we need to make sure the remaining five selections we make are the right ones, but we will also use a greater number of athletes next year.”

“We have a lot of matches in 2023 and want to expose a number of athletes to make sure we are picking the best team for the Oceania Cup in August and then the right squad for Paris the following year.”

Powell said the return of the Hockey One League provided an excellent indicator when assessing players for selection, particularly given the Hockeyroos have not played an international since their Commonwealth Games silver.

“It was fantastic to see the Hockey One League back up and running and to see the best players in the country compete against each other,” said Powell.
 

“It reminded the selection panel about the depth of talent we have in Australia and why getting into the final 22 will be so difficult…but also why we want to see more players on the international stage in 2023.”

Powell said the Hockeyroos (currently third in the world rankings) enter 2023 buoyed by the progress they have made in the last 12 months.

This optimism is coupled with the realisation and understanding they have only set a foundation of what they know they are capable of.

“I was really pleased with our year because we showed we are in the mix,” said Powell.

“It also confirmed that we are not where we want to be yet. It’s a starting point but we know we have teams ahead of us and we know we are in a mix of countries who are also looking to improve and chase down the top countries.

“We need to keep improving and developing our game to make sure we are on the podium in Paris.”

Hockey Australia CEO David Pryles said the future is bright for Australian women’s hockey at the top level.

“The past 12 months have shown the positive direction both on and off the field the Hockeyroos are heading in and the potential in our elite level women’s program,” said Pryles.

“There is a lot to be excited about with what Triny, the coaching staff and the National Athlete Player Pathways coaches are doing to help produce quality hockey talent with greater depth across the board.

“With our return to the FIH Pro League, a series against India in May in Adelaide plus the Oceania Cup in August, we look forward to seeing the Hockeyroos in action plenty of times in 2023.”

*Five players to be added
Athletes invited to attend Visiting Athlete Agreement Selection Camp

Alice Arnott (NSW), Hannah Astbury (QLD), Maddison Brooks (TAS), Savannah Fitzpatrick (QLD), Morgan Gallagher (QLD), Greta Hayes (NSW), Rene Hunter (NSW), Carly James (VIC), Line Malan (WA), Ambrosia Malone (QLD), Pippa Morgan (WA), Zoe Newman (NSW), Meg Pearce (QLD), Courtney Schonell (NSW), Maddison Smith (NSW), Tatum Stewart (QLD), Shanea Tonkin (WA), Abby Wilson (NSW), Georgia Wilson (WA), Grace Young (NSW)