The Hockeyroos will continue to blend youth with experience in their bid to win gold at the BDO FIH World Cup, with the Australian squad selected.
Held from 30 August-11 September in Rosario, Argentina, the Hockeyroos will be trying to win their third World Cup gold medal, with their last gold victory coming in 1998.
If they win gold at the tournament, it will be the first time in history that both the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos have won the World Cup in the same year.
In an indication of the youthful nature of the Hockeyroos squad, the likes of Teneal Attard, Madonna Blyth, Kate Hollywood and Kobie McGurk are already veterans of the team at only 24 and 25 years of age.
While the squad has experience in the likes of Nicole Arrold and Kim Walker, both who competed at the 2006 World Cup, Kate Jenner and Jayde Taylor have also been named in the squad despite both having played less than 10 games each.
Remarkably, both players only made their international debuts over a month ago during the Hockeyroos month long tour of Europe.
However both players impressed coach Frank Murray who said they both deserved their place in the team.
ÔÇ£Both Jenner and Taylor did well on the tour of Europe and earned their spots. Taylor brings a bit of intellect and composure to our defence and Jenner brings a bit of youthfulness and energy,ÔÇØ said Murray.
Further strengthening the squad, Murray said he had no hesitation in selecting Kate Hollywood and Casey Eastham who were in some doubt for selection due to recent injuries.
ÔÇ£Both players will be fine for the BDO FIH World Cup. Eastham has been very good at training and has overcome her knee injury, she is moving really well. Hollywood (broke her hand during the tour of Europe) is as fit as I have ever seen her. She is raring to go to the point where we are actually holding her back so she doesn't over do it,ÔÇØ said Murray.
While the Hockeyroos would have been further strengthened by the likes of Stacia Joseph who is overcoming an osteitis pubis injury and Hope Munro who recently announced she was taking a break from international hockey, Murray said that the team's recent form indicates they have every reason to be confident leading into the tournament.
ÔÇ£Our results over the past 12 months have been good in that we have beaten England, Germany and Argentina, so we know we are capable of beating all of these teams at the World Cup. We have only played the Netherlands once in the past year but we came away with the win so we will take confidence from that.
We first need to make it through the pool stage but barring any major injuries winning the gold medal or a medal is not beyond us,ÔÇØ said Murray.
A noteable inclusion is that of 18 year old Melbourne VCE student Georgia Nanscawen, who will continue to balance her duties with the Hockeyroos with her school studies.
Murray acknowledged the likes of other young players such as Fiona Boyce, Anna Flanagan and Emily Hurtz who were close to selection, indicating that they all had bright futures ahead of them.
ÔÇ£In some cases as it was with Emily Hurtz as a striker it was a case of experience versus youth. But we just felt that someone like Shelly Liddelow adds a bit more fire power to our penalty corners,ÔÇØ said Murray.
Team Australia: Nicole Arrold (ACT), Teneal Attard (QLD), Madonna Blyth (QLD), Alison Bruce (NSW), Toni Cronk (NSW), Casey Eastham (NSW), Kate Hollywood (NSW), Kate Jenner (NSW), Fiona Johnson (NSW), Amy Korner (QLD), Shelly Liddelow (WA), Rachael Lynch (VIC), Kobie McGurk (WA), Georgia Nanscawen (VIC), Ashleigh Nelson (WA), Megan Rivers (NSW), Jayde Taylor (WA), Kim Walker (WA).
Source: Hockey Australia
