Hockeyroos and Kookaburras primed for Olympic qualifiers
Published Wed 09 Aug 2023
The Hockeyroos and Kookaburras will attempt to secure their spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games when the Oceania Cup begins in Whangarei, New Zealand tomorrow (Thursday 10 August).
The 3-match series (featuring double headers on each match day) between the Trans-Tasman rivals is the first chance for Australia’s iconic women’s and men’s hockey teams to qualify for Paris.
With the reward of an Olympic berth on the line, these matches are the most important on the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras 2023 calendar.
The Oceania Cup will be shown LIVE and free on 7plus.
Hockeyroos
The Hockeyroos enter the Oceania Cup ranked number two in the world following impressive performances in the FIH Pro League 2022-23 Season. These included two narrow wins over New Zealand in Christchurch back in April.
Hockeyroos Head Coach Katrina Powell says her team enters the highly anticipated series against the Black Sticks confident of achieving the desired result.
“If we go about our processes and the way we want to play…and worry less about what New Zealand is doing, it should see us well placed to qualify for the Olympics,” said Powell.
“Performing well is about our connections and the way we play together. We have tried any number of combinations throughout the year, which has been really pleasing seeing the great depth we have.”
“To settle with a final group of 18 and build those combinations is what we have been working on in the final training sessions before we play on Thursday.”
“The Black Sticks are going to come out hard and fast at us and really take it to us, so we need to be able to absorb that pressure and push back a little bit because that’s the only way we’ll get to see our game plan come out.”
Powell has been forced to make one change to the originally selected team, with goalkeeper Zoe Newman replacing Aleisha Power, who has been ruled out with an ankle injury.
The series will be of added significance for midfielder Steph Kershaw who is set to play her 100th international in the third and final match on Sunday.
Having debuted in 2015, Kershaw has shown extraordinary resilience, having endured two knee reconstructions on the way to reaching the milestone.
“Off the field Steph Kershaw is a fantastic person to have around the group,” said Powell.
“On the field, she is a super talent and a super athlete…when you put that combination together it’s pretty unstoppable. Credit to Steph on being about to reach 100 games for her country.”
Striker Grace Stewart returns to the team after missing the European leg of the FIH Pro League.
The 26 year old will be competing in her first Oceania Cup and is fully aware of what the Hockeyroos are up against and what is needed to succeed.
“I was really disappointed to miss the European leg of the tour but the girls put in some really good performances over there,” said Stewart.
“It’s definitely a pressure situation with three games and Olympic qualification on the end of it. For us it is about sticking to our process, not getting caught up on the outcome and making sure we score more goals than them.”
“The rivalry with the Black Sticks has built over the last couple of years. We know each other pretty well and it’s always a fast and fiery game when we’re out there, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
The Black Sticks Women prevailed on goal difference at the last Oceania Cup in Rockhampton in 2019.
Kookaburras
The Kookaburras enter the Oceania Cup having won every edition of the competition since it began in 1999.
With success comes expectation and Kookaburras Head Coach Colin Batch says his team is as prepared as it can be against a Black Sticks outfit that will be determined to end the Australians’ dominance.
“The guys are excited about playing and there is a lot of energy among the group,” said Batch.
“Both teams know what we’re here for, so it’s going to be really competitive. Australia and New Zealand matches are always spirited encounters and we don’t expect anything different.”
“There is a lot hanging on this series. We need to remain calm with what we are doing. It’s a three-test series so we might have a bad 10 minutes but over the series we hope to do well.”
“New Zealand have some changes and have brought in some very experienced players and have a really good line up, but we certainly match that with what we’ve got.”
In regards to personnel, there are two changes to the Kookaburras team from the one that was initially named.
Defensive midfielder Jayden Atkinson and goalkeeper Ben Rennie have been added in place of Lachlan Sharp and Andrew Charter who are out due to injury.
Thursday’s opening match will be Josh Beltz’s 100th Kookaburras appearance, while Flynn Ogilvie will play game 150.
“Josh has changed positions since he first started and is really versatile, so full marks to him,” said Batch.
“He has made a really good contribution to the group over the last couple of years, including at the Olympics.”
“Flynn is a real driver for us in the midfield. He’s a very smart player, so to reach 150 games is a great milestone for him.”
Experienced midfielder Aran Zalewski, who missed the Kookaburras European tour, returns for this series.
The Western Australian has been part of four successful Oceania Cup teams in the past, but says the Kookaburras’ successful record has not been mentioned among the group.
“Our sole focus is the Oceania Cup this year,” said Zalewski.
“We have a new group and some guys who have never played in the Oceania Cup before. For us the focus will be on each match.”
The Kookaburras struggled for consistency in their FIH Pro League campaign, something Zalewski says the team is eager to recapture, especially with the importance of performing across three games in four days.
“Consistency is critical for every team…and making sure we are sticking to the process and staying focussed on what’s important right now and not getting ahead of ourselves in terms of each outcome, each match and the whole series,” said Zalewski.
“We’re trying to get more granule on how we approach each game and each situation…I think that’s how we will get our consistency. If we apply that for 60 minutes hopefully that ends in the result that we want.”
“The matches we play against New Zealand at the major tournaments are always really tight and fierce, so we are expecting nothing less from our rivals across the ditch.”
The losers of the Oceania Cup would have a second and final chance to qualify for the Olympics by competing in the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers taking place from 13-21 January 2024.
2023 Oceania Cup - New Zealand v Australia
Whangarei, New Zealand
10-13 August 2023
Broadcast: LIVE and free on 7plus
Match Schedule
Thursday 10 August
3:05pm AEST (5:05pm local) Black Sticks Women v Hockeyroos
5:05pm AEST (7:05pm local) Black Sticks Men v Kookaburras
Saturday 12 August
12:05pm AEST (2:05pm local) Black Sticks Men v Kookaburras
2:05pm AEST (4:05pm local) Black Sticks Women v Hockeyroos
Sunday 13 August
12:05pm AEST (2:05pm local) Black Sticks Men v Kookaburras
2:05pm AEST (4:05pm local) Black Sticks Women v Hockeyroos
