Six WAIS athletes selected in Jillaroos and Burras squads named for 2023 World Cup Qualifying Event

Six WAIS scholarship holders have been selected in the Jillaroos and Burras squads for the Oceania Junior World Cup 2023 Qualifiers to be held at the National Hockey Centre, Canberra, 8-11 December.

Teams of 18 athletes have been selected for the three matches against New Zealand’s Women’s and Men’s U21 teams.

The Jillaroos and Burras teams for the qualifiers feature both athletes who are eligible to compete at the 2023 Junior World Cup and athletes who will age out of the Under 21 age level at the end of this year.

Jolie Sertorio and Neasa Flynn have been named in the Jillaroos squad, under Stacia Strain National Junior Women’s Coach.

“We have run a really robust selection process. It’s a very talented squad which includes some members of the National Development Squad,” said Strain.

“We have picked what we believe is in the best Under 21 side right now…obviously with an eye to the Junior World Cup but also rewarding girls who have performed well this year.

“We want to make sure we reward those players who do age out by giving them the deserved opportunity to play in these matches.”

For the Burras, Hamish Adamson, Brodee Foster, Max Freedman and Cambell Geddes will take to the pitch.

Similarly, National Junior Men’s Coach Jay Stacy will also use this tournament to assess the depth of Australian hockey at this age group.

“We learnt and grew a lot as a group through the Johor tournament. For the ones who were in Johor, these matches against New Zealand will be about implementation from the feedback and what they experienced,” said Stacy.

“For the players who weren’t in Johor, this is about exposing them to international hockey, seeing how they go and giving them an opportunity.”

Oceania Junior World Cup 2023 Qualifiers Match Schedule
Thursday 8 December 2022
1.00pm AWST – Jillaroos v New Zealand
3.30pm AWST – Burras v New Zealand

Saturday 10 December 2022
10.00am AWST – Burras v New Zealand
12.30pm AWST – Jillaroos v New Zealand

Sunday 11 December 2022
9.00am AWST – Burras v New Zealand
11.30am AWST – Jillaroos v New Zealand