The new look Hockeyroos will take on Germany in a two test international series at the Perth Hockey Stadium on 4 and 6 July. Coach Frank Murray will be testing some new young recruits against the world class Germans.
The series will be the Hockeyroos first in Australia since the Beijing Olympics and will see many new Hockeyroos in action with the matches preceding the Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy - Women 2009 tournament by less than a week. The Champions Trophy, to be held in Sydney, features the top six nations in world hockey and is the premier international hockey tournament for the year.
After both sides failed to win a medal at the Beijing Olympics, the teams will be eager for improved results and are looking to climb the world ranking as they set their sights on the BDO World Cup in Argentina next year.
Big crowds are likely with the Perth public expected to replicate their support for the Kookaburras in the recent Summer Series.
The Hockeyroos were recently victorious at the Spar Cup against India, Argentina and hosts South Africa giving younger members of the team invaluable experience. On the other hand Germany has recently lost two matches to Netherlands and will be keen to get some wins on the board.
Australia has an impressive record against Germany winning 40, drawing 15 and losing just 15 matches. However Germany has won three of the last five encounters over the last 4 years which includes all matches at the Champions Trophy.
The Hockeyroos will be looking to the experience of players such as Nicole Arrold and emerging stars Casey Eastham, Kate Hollywood and captain Madonna Blyth to inspire the new crop of players in a squad that includes teenagers Georgia Nanscawen (17 years), and Emily Hurtz (19 years) and recent debutantes Stacia Joseph, Heather Langham and Alison Bruce. Airlie Ogilvie, Kate Denning and Fiona Boyce will be in green and gold for the first time.
Coach Frank Murray will be experimenting in the German series to give these young players experience and find the right mix.
While as world no. 3 and European Champions Germany will be a stern test with a line-up including three members of the 2008 World Hockey All Stars - Fanny Rinne, Tina Bachmann and 1999 World Player of the Year, Natascha Keller.
Coach Michael Behrmann has claimed that the team do not have an ideal preparation deadline but are very excited to be travelling across the world to Australia with some remembering the Sydney Olympics. Veterans Rinnie and Keller (close to 300 caps) will lead a relatively young group however many players remain from the 2008 Olympic team.
Source: Hockey Australia
