Slattery Named in Jillaroos Squad
Hockey Australia has announced the Jillaroos squad for next month’s tour to Japan. The U21 women’s team will play four matches against Japan ‘A’ in preparation for the Junior World Cup at the end of July.
AIS-WAIS athlete Kathryn Slattery was included in the Jillaroos squad and will travel with the group as the only Western Australian in the squad.
National Junior Coach Craig Victory has called upon the services of 11 of the squad that won gold at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney at the start of the year. Recent Hockeyroos debutants Brooke Peris (NT) and Mariah Williams (NSW) will make the trip on the back of successful first senior appearances against Korea in Perth last month.
With seven Jillaroos squad members named in the Hockeyroos’ squad for the tour to Europe and the FIH Hockey World League the opportunity is there for a number of athletes to play their way into Victory’s consideration ahead of the Junior World Cup.
Announcing the squad, Victory said, “Having the seven girls compete in Europe with the Hockeyroos is a huge win for the junior program and it allows us to look at all members of our squad in further international competition before the Junior World Cup. We think we’ve got good depth to our junior set-up and the trip to Japan gives them the chance to show what they can do on the world stage. Plus, those that compete for the Hockeyroos in Europe will return to our group having gained exceptional experience at the World League.”
“We’re grateful for the support of the Australian Junior Commonwealth Games Squad Program in helping make this trip possible and the outstanding support that Hockey Australia continues to receive from the State Institutes and State Academies of Sport. These programs are integral to delivering high quality coaching and a daily training environment for members of the National Junior Squad. On this occasion, generously, the SIS/SAS network has also provided funding to ensure that their junior athletes have the best possible preparation and competition leading into the Junior World Cup.”
The Jillaroos’ opponents will be a Japan ‘A’ side comprising their junior squad plus a number of members of the senior Japanese team, which is currently ranked ninth in the world.
Victory added, “These will be four high quality games that allow us to work on our structure and important on-and-off-field elements.”
Australia’s women finished fifth at the last Junior World Cup four years ago in Boston, beating this year’s hosts Germany in a playoff.
– Hockey Australia
