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Young Hockeyroos ready to roll

The Hockeyroos are out in the quarter-final stage (Photo: Peter McCalpine)
Roar Guru
22nd November, 2015
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The Hockeyroos named their squad for the World League Final starting in Rosario, Argentina on the December 5. With an eye to the future they named some young players so they can take a look at them leading into Olympic Games selection.

Defender Renee Taylor, 19, and forward Gabrielle Nance, 21, have been given the chance to impress and keep their names in front of national selectors’ eyes.

Taylor has just five caps leading into this tournament with her last appearance being against China in April. Nance has returned for national duties after making her debut against New Zealand, before collecting the silver medal in the Champions Trophy.

Other youngsters named in the squad of 18 for Rosario are Madison Fitzpatrick, six caps, Georgina Morgan, 17 caps, and Mariah Williams, 24 caps.

Facing stiff opposition in their Pool B games, Australia will play China, ranked fifth, Argentina, third, and Great Britain, sixth, to start the competition. They will also have their eyes on the Pool A side of the draw which consists of Netherlands, first, New Zealand, fourth, Korea, eighth, and Germany, ninth.

Notable players not playing for various reasons are Anna Flanaghan, Teneal Attard and Georgie Parker who have been left out and join the injured Casey Sablowski and Kellie White who are still recovering.

The Hockeyroos were able to qualify for the World League Final through finishing third at the World League Semi in Antwerp in July. They also secured Olympic qualification with that result.

Experienced players Madonna Blyth (311 caps), Ashleigh Nelson (185) and Georgia Nanscawen (163) will need to lead the way for their younger teammates. Jodie Kenny will notch up her 150th game when they take on China on December 5, and will be a key player after being named Australian Women’s Player of the Year.

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“We’re taking a team that can be competitive enough to be playing in finals,” Hockeyroos head coach Adam Commens said.

“As with the other top nations we’ve decided to use the tournament to give an opportunity to some of our younger up-and-coming players. We want to understand how they handle the crowd noise and the intensity of tournament hockey with six matches in nine days.

“As a result, we’ve left out some more experienced players. We know what the likes of Anna Flanagan and Teneal Attard are capable of under those conditions. But if we don’t expose the younger ones to it then we might not get many more opportunities to do so before having to make our decision on an Olympic team.”

Fox Sports will be showing the Hockeyroos as they push for glory in the World League Final.
Remember to send your support to the team on social media using #Roovolution #HWL2015 #MakeYourMark.

Squad
Madonna Blyth (Queensland), Edwina Bone (ACT), Kirstin Dwyer (Queensland), Madison Fitzpatrick (NSW), Jodie Kenny (Queensland), Rachael Lynch (VIC), Karri McMahon (SA), Georgina Morgan (NSW), Gabrielle Nance (NSW), Georgia Nanscawen (VIC), Ashleigh Nelson (WA), Brooke Peris (NT), Kathryn Slattery (WA), Emily Smith (NSW), Renee Taylor (Queensland), Ashlee Wells (VIC), Mariah Williams (NSW).

Fixtures (all times AEDT)
Sunday December 6, 8:45am – Hockeyroos v China (Pool B)
Monday December 7, 11am – Hockeyroos v Argentina (Pool B)
Wednesday December 9, 4:15am – Hockeyroos v Great Britain (Pool B)
Friday December 11, tbc – Quarter-final
Sunday December 13, tbc – Semi-final
Monday December 14, tbc – Medal matches.

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