The Hockeyroos are primed and absolutely match, boasting a full-strength 2024 squad travelling to Europe for the penultimate check earlier than the Paris 2024 Olympics in July.
Watch each Hockeyroos & Kookaburras FIH Professional League match stay and free on 7plus
It’s the dream state of affairs for Hockeyroos coach Katrina Powell, who can put each squad member by means of worldwide competitors earlier than the all-important Olympic choice deadline approaches.
“It’s definitely nice to journey with the entire squad and supply them with I suppose their final minute alternative earlier than Olympic choice, but in addition it’s a implausible alternative for us to play in opposition to a few groups that we’ll face on the Paris Olympics as properly.”
“We count on groups to carry a couple of issues again and never go all out to indicate what they’re doing however all of the athletes will probably be going all out to indicate what they’ll do contemplating every nation is in the identical place as we’re, so I believe there’ll be a number of thrilling video games to return within the Professional League in Europe.”
With solely two months remaining till the most important occasion of the yr, Powell is delighted to have WA star defender Penny Squibb able to return to competitors, following a troublesome season that noticed her sidelined whereas she rehabbed an harm.
“It’s actually nice to see her again. Penny’s been working actually, actually exhausting and she or he’s trying actually good at coaching.”
“She’s one among our extra constructive for the time being, which often Penny is! However as you possibly can think about, being again at coaching after an harm, coaching is a thrill, which isn’t one thing you possibly can all the time say and she or he brings a brand new vitality to the group for the time being as properly.”
Penny is on the cusp of a particular milestone that’s been a very long time coming. Her fiftieth worldwide cap with the Hockeyroos awaits in simply two matches.
Tatum and Grace Stewart additionally return to the road up after each had been pressured to observe the Hockeyroos on the Perth Worldwide Competition of Hockey from the grandstand whereas they managed accidents.
“The previous few months have been a fairly exhausting rehab,” Tatum admits. “I’m actually excited to be again with the group and again on the turf enjoying and particularly to have Penny proper subsequent to me on the again, we’ve been rehabbing collectively and I’m actually trying ahead to enjoying along with her once more.”
Tatum concedes the harm has allowed her to achieve an added perspective earlier than some of the essential campaigns in her profession.
“It’s actually made me sit again and mirror on what I can do little issues every day so I’ll take that very same strategy into this leg of the FIH Professional League.”
“Clearly, it’s vital in your particular person choice however we are able to’t get the job performed in Paris if everyone doesn’t do their greatest each second every day, in order that’s all we’re attempting to do now simply deal with the current after which choice will probably be what it is going to be.”
The dynamic trio of Mackay’s Claire Colwill, WA’s Karri Somerville and Naracoote’s Hattie Shand are additionally in line to deliver up 50 internationals for Australia.
Powell agrees having one other 4 gamers attain 50 caps marks a pivotal second of their squad as extra of the youthful expertise attain their first milestone of significance.
“I believe when you hit 50 you’re not a beginner anymore,” Katrina says.
“You’ve received sufficient video games below your belt, you are taking a bit of bit extra management inside the group and also you get challenged to indicate a bit of bit extra, and it’s actually pleasing to see so most of the athletes hitting that milestone which have come a good distance within the final couple of years and so they’re creating very well.”
The Hockeyroos are making a cost for the medal placings in Season 5 of the FIH Professional League.
They sit simply two factors shy of Argentina, in 4th place within the standings.
They face Argentina of their second match, in the future after taking up hosts Belgium on Could 29. In London, they’ll face Nice Britain and Germany.
Full FIH Professional League Fixtures
Hockeyroos Squad for the 2024 FIH Professional League Collection in Antwerp & London, Could 29 – June 13
| Identify | D.O.B. | Hometown, State | Caps (Objectives) | Junior Hockey Membership |
| Alice Arnott | 25/02/98 | Willow Tree, NSW | 11 (2) | Tamworth HC |
| Jocelyn Bartram (gk) | 04/05/93 | Albury, NSW | 100 (0) | Wombats HC |
| Maddison Brooks | 23/09/04 | Hobart, TAS | 28 (6) | OHA HC |
| Jane Claxton | 26/10/92 | Adelaide, SA | 240 (37) | Burnside HC |
| Claire Colwill | 19/09/03 | Mackay, QLD | 49 (5) | St Josephs Major Faculty |
| Rebecca Greiner | 13/06/99 | Bundaberg, QLD | 66 (8) | All Blacks HC |
| Greta Hayes | 17/10/96 | Sydney, NSW | 40 (2) | St George Randwick, UNSW |
| Stephanie Kershaw | 19/04/95 | Townsville, QLD | 108 (27) | Wests HC |
| Amy Lawton | 19/01/02 | Emerald, VIC | 72 (4) | Southern United HC |
| Rosie Malone | 08/01/98 | Burleigh, QLD | 106 (44) | Burleigh HC |
| Kaitlin Nobbs | 24/09/97 | Newington, NSW | 127 (14) | Curtin Trinity Pirates |
| Brooke Peris | 16/01/93 | Darwin, NT | 201 (63) | Nightcliff Tigers HC |
| Aleisha Energy | 01/01/97 | Northam, WA | 29 (0) | Northam Hockey Affiliation |
| Hattie Shand | 11/01/00 | Naracoorte, SA | 45 (0) | Adelaide HC |
| Lucy Sharman | 24/05/03 | Kalangadoo, SA | 12 (0) | Adelaide HC |
| Karri Somerville | 07/04/99 | Kensington, WA | 45 (0) | Victoria Park HC |
| Penny Squibb | 09/02/93 | Tambellup, WA | 48 (6) | Tambellup HC |
| Grace Stewart | 28/04/97 | Gerringong, NSW | 121 (60) | Gerringong HC |
| Tatum Stewart | 22/02/02 | Toowoomba, QLD | 24 (5) | Rangeville Bulldogs HC |
| Renee Taylor | 28/09/96 | Everton Park, QLD | 126 (23) | Industrial, Waverley HC |
| Mariah Williams | 31/05/95 | Parkes, NSW | 126 (35) | Newcastle Souths, Parkes Rovers |
| Grace Younger | 23/08/02 | Grafton, NSW | 27 (0) | Royals HC |
