Future stars identified with announcement of Talent Squads

This year’s Hockey Australia Women’s and Men’s Future (Under 18) Talent Squads have been announced, the players selected hoping to become the next crop of Australian hockey stars.

Female and male squads of 33 athletes were selected based on performances at the recent Australian Under 18 Hockey Championships in Launceston.

Former Kookaburra and Hockey Australia National Athlete Pathway Program (NAPP) Technical Lead Mark Knowles said selection was tough based on the quality of hockey played across the tournament and particularly after a host of scintillating finals matches.

“Selection was really difficult. In both genders we saw a good range of players and what you get to see over tournament hockey is how players grow with consistency in their own game and also with their teams,” said Knowles.

“We saw players being able to play multiple positions which was one of the selectable skills we looked at.”

“The challenge for the group of selectors was looking at the players consistently and seeing the level of players against the better players and the better teams.

“We also considered physical, technical and tactical acumen, coachability and how they conduct themselves around the grounds. All of these things are important at this age and important as a Hockeyroo and a Kookaburra.”

Selection into the Future Talent Squad opens up significant doors and opportunities for players as they are seen as prospective Hockeyroos or Kookaburras for the 2024 Olympics but more predominantly the ensuing Commonwealth Games and Olympics including the 2032 Games that could be held in Brisbane.

The rewards for the 66 athletes selected include:

• the opportunity to be mentored by current Hockeyroos and Kookaburras
• taking part in a series of online education sessions
• having access to more specialised and targeted training and development through their institutes, academies or development programs
• participating in a five-day training camp in either late September this year or January 2022.

“This group is so important to us because we are in the pathway system and we are looking for players to represent Australia for the next decade,” said Knowles.

“It is about giving them an understanding and bringing them into what would be a normal high performance training environment.”

In addition, the announcement of the Future Talent Squads is also about uncovering up and coming coaches of this age group who may have not have previously had an opportunity to being involved with at an elite level.

“Working with our Member Associations, we will be looking throughout the states and territories for coaches who aren’t fully employed coaches but who show talent and interest in being involved in our pathway system and are keen to progress their coaching,” said Knowles.

“Hockey Australia Pathways Manager Ian Rutledge and I are really keen to expose more coaches to higher level hockey.”

2021-2022 Hockey Australia Women’s Future Talent Squad

Name (State/Territory)
Lauren Yee (ACT)
Chelsea Holmes (NSW State)
Makayla Jones (NSW State)
Alana Kavanagh (NSW State)
Sorita Pho (NSW State)
Layla Riley (NSW State)
Georgie Smithers (NSW State)
Kendelle Tait (NSW State)
Sydney Auld (NT)
Jordan Bliss (GK) (QLD)
Claire Colwell (QLD)
Hannah Cullum-Sanders (QLD)
Madeline Kenny (QLD)
Kyra Livermore (QLD)
Georgina West (QLD)
Lily Cazzolato (SA)
Emily Cochrane (GK) (SA)
Lucy Sharman (SA)
Maddison Brooks (TAS)
Taylor Brooks (TAS)
Camila Vaughan (GK) (TAS)
Dacia Koelmeyer (VIC)
Josie Lawton (VIC)
Tess Palubiski (VIC)
Juliette Sheriff (VIC)
Evie Stansby (VIC)
Zali Ward (VIC)
Ella Du Preez (WA)
Nicole Enslin (WA)
Maddison Fenwick (WA)
Summer Greenway (GK) (WA)
Elyssa Melville (WA)
Saysha Pillay (WA)

2021-2022 Hockey Australia Men’s Future Talent Squad

Name    State/Territory
Dylan Brick (ACT)
Joshua Carter (ACT)
Aiden Dooley (ACT)
Max Robson (GK) (ACT)
Aidan Smith (ACT)
Rhys Cropper (NSW State)
Dylan Downey (NSW State)
Tyler Gaddes (NSW State)
Kian Johnson (NSW State)
Koby Johnstone (NSW State)
Toby Mallon (NSW State)
Ryan Oschadleus (GK) (NSW State)
Samuel Wright-Smith (NSW State)
Noah Fahy (NT)
Ryley Bobart (QLD)
Diarmid Chappell (QLD)
Zac McCoombes (QLD)
Ryan Wilcox (QLD)
Mitchell Dell (SA)
Max Larkin (GK) (TAS)
Oliver Pritchard (TAS)
Liam Henderson (VIC)
Sam Lowndes (VIC)
Oliver Marshall (VIC)
Nye Roberts (VIC)
Scott Sturrock (VIC)
Angus Adamson (WA)
Hamish Adamson (WA) (pictured above with Mark Knowles)
Luke Anderson (WA)
Hunter Banyard (GK) (WA)
Max Baynam (WA)
Max Freedman (WA)
Thomas Keating (WA)