Seven WAIS Athletes in Hockeyroos 2010 Squad
Three new Hockeyroos will be given an opportunity to stake their claim for World Cup & Commonwealth Games selection after being named in the 2010 Hockeyroos National Squad today.
In addition to being selected in the Hockeyroos national squad Kate Hubble (WA), Kate Jenner (NSW) and Jayde Taylor (WAIS) will receive their opportunity to impress sooner rather than later after also being selected in a 21 player Hockeyroos squad to tour Europe throughout June and July.
WAIS has seven athletes selected in the 2010 National squad, with Taylor joined by AIS-WAIS colleagues Hope Munro, Fiona Boyce, Shelly Liddelow, Kobie McGurk, Ashleigh Nelson and Kim Walker.
The squad will depart for Europe this Saturday and play Germany, England, India and Ireland throughout the month long tour.
The Europe tour will form a crucial platform for the Hockeyroos’ bid towards the World Cup (Argentina August 29 – September 11) and the Commonwealth Games (October 3-14).
Having left several senior players such as Sarah O’Connor and Toni Cronk at home and with other senior players such as Stacia Joseph and Hope Munro unavailable due to injury, Hockeyroos coach Frank Murray said the Europe tour was the perfect tournament to give an opportunity to the younger players such as Hubble, Taylor and Jenner.
“We have left some senior players out of the squad, but it is a good opportunity for the younger players to step up,” said Murray.
Murray said all three new players deserved their place in the team after good performances at the Australian Hockey League which concluded on Saturday 5 June in Adelaide.
“All three players put in a good performance at the AHL and they will add a bit of freshness to the group. Kate Jenner was part of the Junior World Cup team last year and she played quite well there and has been in our sights for a while. Both she and Jayde Taylor were part of the Australia A team which played some matches against New Zealand and Korea earlier this year, with both players putting in solid performances,” said Murray.
Murray said that all players who were not selected in the squad are still in contention for the World Cup and Commonwealth Games, and that this European tour would be used purely as a preparation for these major events.
“Obviously winning will be important however this tour will be more about getting our structures and combinations right,” said Murray.
Murray also said that the Europe tour will also be a good opportunity for the team to practice their structures given that financially not the entire team is centralised in Perth.
“Players such as Anna Flanagan, Amy Korner and Georgia Nanscawen are not based in Perth which can make it difficult as a coach, so this will be a good opportunity to get everyone together and perfect the game plan,” said Murray.
Development squad members Jade Close (NSW) and Kary Chau (VIC) are on standby for selection depending on whether or not several players with injury issues will be cleared by the medical staff prior to leaving this Saturday.
2010 National Squad
Nicole Arrold (ACT), Teneal Attard (QLD), Jane Bennett (QLD), Madonna Blyth (QLD), Fiona Boyce (WA), Alison Bruce (NSW), Toni Cronk (NSW), Casey Eastham (NSW), Anna Flanagan (ACT), Kate Hollywood (NSW), Kate Hubble (WA), Emily Hurtz (NSW), Kate Jenner (NSW), Fiona Johnson (NSW), Stacia Joseph (VIC), Amy Korner (QLD), Heather Langham (NT), Shelly Liddelow (WA), Rachael Lynch (VIC), Kobie McGurk (WA), Hope Munro (WA), Georgia Nanscawen (VIC), Ashleigh Nelson (WA), Sarah O’Connor (VIC), Megan Rivers (NSW), Jayde Taylor (WA), Kim Walker (WA)
– Hockey Australia
