A 20-player Kookaburras squad has been chosen for FIH Pro League matches towards the Netherlands and Belgium to be performed in Europe from 8-20 June.
Kookaburras Head Coach Colin Batch has made 9 modifications to the squad that competed in the FIH Pro League ‘mini tournament’ in Christchurch on the finish of April.
Overall impressed by what he noticed from the group who performed in Christchurch, Batch is keen to see what degree different gamers are at throughout the European tour as he appears to establish his finest staff for the all-important Oceania Cup, which doubles as Olympic qualifiers, in August.
Included in the squad for Europe are 5 established Kookaburras who’ve been primarily based overseas over the previous two months.
Tim Brand, Tom Craig, Matt Dawson, Blake Govers and Jeremy Hayward have been taking part in membership hockey in Europe and can be a part of up with the Kookaburras travelling social gathering for the FIH Pro League sequence.
The quintet, who’ve a mixed 715 worldwide matches of expertise between them, final performed for the Kookaburras in the Pro League ‘mini tournament’ in Hobart in late February.
The different notable inclusions are goalkeeper Ash Thomas, who will make his Kookaburras debut, Canberra primarily based Davis Atkin who performed three Pro League matches in India earlier this 12 months, plus Jacob Anderson and Dylan Martin.
One notable absentee is star midfielder Aran Zalewski. The 30 12 months previous 240 sport veteran will stay in Perth after not too long ago changing into a father for the primary time.
“One of the things we wanted in the Christchurch Pro League series was a consolidation of our way of play and improvement…and we saw that in the group who played there, so I was pleased with that side of it,” mentioned Batch.
“This will be a build up for the Oceania Cup to make sure we have the best 18 players for those games. Right at this minute I’m not sure who that is, which is why we have extended opportunities for players to find out exactly where everyone is at.”
“I need to discover out precisely the place the 5 gamers who’ve been taking part in in Europe are at and have evaluation of them.
“Then we can compare them with the ones who have been playing in the last couple of Pro League mini tournaments, so this has been a good and interesting opportunity for us to extend the depth of the squad.”
“There are some disappointed guys who played well in New Zealand but aren’t in the European tour, but they are certainly in contention for future section.”
“Aran (Zalewski) will attend to home duties for a while helping to take care of his new baby daughter Margot. It’s a nice thing for him to do and I fully support it.”
“Ash (Thomas) has been around the group for some time without getting an opportunity. He played in the Junior World Cup in 2016, so we’re giving him an opportunity now and that comes off the back of him performing well in the Hockey One League last year. This opportunity for him is consistent with us opening up selection at this time.”
Batch will get no higher gauge at the place his gamers and sport fashion are at than by taking over the world primary (Netherlands) and two (Belgium) ranked males’s hockey nations.
“We want to continue refining our way of play. Every time you play against European teams they challenge you in different ways so we get to learn more about our players that way,” mentioned Batch.
“First and foremost, we need to see if our way of play stacks up against quality European opposition.”
“It’s always a good challenge playing the Netherlands and Belgium, especially on their home patch.”
In addition to the Pro League matches, the tour will embrace a match towards Ireland on 7 June earlier than concluding with two internationals towards France in Paris on 23 and 25 June, a 12 months out from the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The Kookaburras squad is scheduled to depart for Europe on 2 June.
The Kookaburras’ FIH Pro League matches shall be broadcast LIVE on FOX Sports and Kayo.
Kookaburras squad – FIH Pro League 2022-23 Season Europe Series
Name | Age | Hometown, State | Caps (Goals) | Junior Hockey Club |
Jacob Anderson | 25 | Mackay, QLD | 54 (19) | Brothers HC |
Davis Atkin | 22 | Canberra, ACT | 3 (0) | Western Districts HC |
Daniel Beale | 30 | Brisbane, QLD | 223 (33) | Commercial HC, Bulimba HC |
Josh Beltz | 27 | Hobart, TAS | 93 (5) | Diamondbacks HC |
Tim Brand | 24 | Chatswood, NSW | 73 (28) | Ryde Hunters Hill HC |
Andrew Charter (gk) | 36 | Canberra, ACT | 222 (0) | Central HC |
James Collins | 23 | Perth, WA | 14 (0) | Victoria Park HC |
Tom Craig | 27 | Lane Cove, NSW | 115 (37) | Ryde Hunters Hill HC |
Matthew Dawson | 28 | Killarney Vale, NSW | 183 (13) | Norths Newcastle |
Nathan Ephraums | 23 | Keysborough, VIC | 47 (25) | Southern United HC |
Blake Govers | 26 | Wollongong, NSW | 140 (129) | Uni of Wollongong, Albion Park HC |
Jake Harvie | 24 | Dardanup, WA | 111 (5) | Boyanup Junior HC |
Jeremy Hayward | 29 | Darwin, NT | 204 (102) | Waratahs HC |
Tim Howard | 26 | Wakerley, QLD | 115 (2) | Eastern Suburbs HC |
Dylan Martin | 25 | Wagga Wagga, NSW | 28 (0) | Cavaliers HC |
Eddie Ockenden | 35 | Hobart, TAS | 420 (72) | North West Grads HC |
Lachlan Sharp | 25 | Lithgow, NSW | 79 (14) | Zigzag HC, Ryde Hunters Hill HC |
Ash Thomas (gk) | 27 | Baulkham Hills, NSW | – | Baulkham Hills HC |
Jake Whetton | 31 | Brisbane, QLD | 253 (72) | Eastern Suburbs HC |
Ky Willott | 21 | Newcastle, NSW | 26 (7) | Norths HC |
FIH Pro League 2022-23 Season Eindhoven and Antwerp – Hockeyroos & Kookaburras Match Schedule
8 June 2023 – Netherlands v Hockeyroos (Women) 7:40pm native time
9 June 2023 – Netherlands v Kookaburras (Men) 7:40pm native time
11 June 2023 – Netherlands v Hockeyroos (Women) 3:10pm native time
12 June 2023 – Netherlands v Kookaburras (Men) 7:40pm native time
16 June 2023 – Belgium v Hockeyroos (Women) 8:40pm native time
17 June 2023 – Belgium v Kookaburras (Men) 4:40pm native time
19 June 2023 – Belgium v Hockeyroos (Women) 8:40pm native time
20 June 2023 – Belgium v Kookaburras (Men) 8:40pm native time
