News for 01 June 2017
All the news for Thursday 1 June 2017
Dragons set to fire up special 10th edition of the EHL FINAL4
The Euro Hockey League's tenth season reaches it grand finale next weekend with KHC Dragons hosting the FINAL4 in Brasschaat, Belgium for the first time on June 3 and 4.
They will take on Rot-Weiss Köln on Saturday while Wimbledon are bidding to become the first English club to reach the GRAND FINAL when they take on Dutch giants HC Oranje-Rood.
It promises to be another sparkling edition of the world's best club hockey competition as they battle it out for the Alain Danet Trophy.
The hosts were recently crowned the Belgian champions for a third successive season and feature an array of international stars including Olympic silver medalists Felix Denayer, Florent van Aubel and FIH Rising Star for 2016 Arthur van Doren.
They beat Racing Club de Bruxelles and Racing Club de France to reach this stage of the competition where they will hope to win the title for the first time following a silver medal and two bronze finishes in the past.
For van Doren, he says there would be no better place or time to win the competition having been part of the club since he was five years old. He has been part of the famous d-Side crowd with potentially 4,800 home supporters cheering on the side and has been a pivotal part of the club and country’s recent success.
“I love this beautiful hockey club!” he says. “It is a club with great ambition and pride with an amazing atmosphere around the pitch during games which makes playing so much more fun. I am very proud to have contributed to the club’s rich history.”
He is looking forward to the challenge of Germany’s Rot-Weiss, a side Dragons have beaten in both of their previous meetings, including a famous 4-4 FINAL4 encounter in 2013.
But they have two of the EHL’s all-time top goalscorers in their ranks in Marco Miltkau and Christopher Zeller, adding to a side that also features the brilliance of Christopher Rühr, Mats Grambusch and Timur Oruz who returns from injury.
They topped the regular season in Germany and only lost their national final 3-2 last Sunday in a dramatic tie against Mannheimer HC.
As such, van Doren knows the challenge in front of Dragons.
“In the EHL, Rot-Weiss Köln is a very talented team with some world class players. It will be a tough battle, one we are very much looking forward to.
“We are expecting a big D-side crowd to scream us to victory and can't wait to play. It would be awesome to take the EHL title in front of the home crowd. It won't be easy but you have to set goals high!”
The second semi-final sees HC Oranje-Rood meet England’s Wimbledon. For the Dutch side, it is their first season since an amalgamation between Oranje-Zwart and EMHC, coming together to make a super club in Eindhoven that played host to the KO16 in April.
They are a team of superstars with former FIH Player of the Year Robert van der Horst joined by Bob de Voogd, Jelle Galema and ace drag-flicker Mink van der Weerden who all won the EHL under the former name in 2015.
In addition, Pakistani stars Rashid Mehmood and Muhammad Rizwan are ones to watch as is Austria playmaker Benjamin Stanzl who won the EHL with Harvestehuder THC in 2014.
They did have a setback in the Dutch Hoofdklasse this season, their reign as national champs coming to an end as eventual champions SV Kampong beat them to a playoff place.
But de Voogd says that is now out of their system as they look to challenge of Wimbledon.
“It was hard to get over the disappointment of missing out on the play-offs. After four finals in a row, it hurts to know our title has gone.
“But we have kept up our intensity in training and now the feeling is very positive and we're eager to start next Saturday.”
They face a new challenge in Wimbledon, the English side who are competing only in their second season of the EHL but became the first club from the country to reach the FINAL4 since Reading in 2011.
“In the last weeks, we looked closely at the Wimbledon team,” de Voogd added. “They have a strong collective defence and are dangerous on the fast break. Also, they have some players we have to watch individually.
“Knowing their qualities will help us but playing our own game will be just as important for us. It's going to be close but we do have the quality to get to the final on Sunday.”
From Wimbledon’s side, they beat UHC Hamburg – the EHL’s most decorated side in the KO16 – before beating another German side in Mannheimer HC in the KO8 to show their quality.
And Spanish star Borja Llorens, a new arrival this season from Real Club de Polo de Barcelona this season, says that confidence is high that they can continue their EHL journey.
“We worked very hard to get to Eindhoven in the best possible shape to face what was going to be two very important games, and we did it. The team is well aware that this opportunity is unique and we want to take full advantage of it. I have no doubts that we will perform at our highest level.”
It promises to be another memorable weekend in the EHL’s 10-year history, bringing together some of the world’s best players in their club colours.
Fans can watch every game live via the EHL website while there will be further broadcasts available in the Netherlands, Australia, South Africa and Germany among other regions.
Tournament information:
EHL FINAL4
When: June 3-4, 2017
Where: KHC Dragons, Gemeentepark 12, 2930 Brasschaat, Belgium
Event website: http://ehlhockey.tv/
Match schedule: http://ehlhockey.tv/season/20162017/
Social media
Twitter: @ehlhockeytv
Facebook: Euro Hockey League
Instagram: ehlhockeytv
Hashtags: #EHL #FINAL4
Live stream: all games will be streamed live on http://ehlhockey.tv/. In Belgium, the Eleven Sports Network will live stream games which may lead to a geo-block if in this area.
Near-live highlights: goal clips will be posted to the EHL website; there will also be video clips pushed through to the EHL’s social media channels
Tickets: for ticket sales, this is the main link http://ehlhockey.tv/tickets/
Euro Hockey League media release
England announce squad for World League Semi-Final
England line up at Lee Valley
England have announced their 18-man squad that will contest the Men’s Hero Hockey World League Semi-Final and battle for World Cup qualification starting in London on the 15 June.
Head coach Bobby Crutchley has named an experienced side with no fewer than 8 members of the squad having made over 100 international appearances. Only three players will be making their first appearances at a senior major international event.
The hosts face world number one side Argentina in Pool B on Saturday 18 June and tickets are selling fast for the weekend while China, Malaysia and Korea make up the group. You can secure your seat at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre here!
The World League Semi-final provides the opportunity of a dual prize with places at the prestigious end-of-year Hockey World League, plus the chance to gain automatic qualification for the 2018 World Cup and all up for grabs.
A new captaincy trio of George Pinner, Ian Sloan and Phil Roper will lead the side following their appointment while outgoing skipper Barry Middleton who will add to his 379 international appearances during the tournament at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Meanwhile Adam Dixon and Harry Martin return to the squad for the first time in this cycle after competing in the Netherlands for HC Rotterdam while Tom Carson misses out through injury.
The group go into the campaign full of confidence with twelve of the players included having won the Azlan Shah Cup with Great Britain in early May, defeating world number two side Australia in a thrilling final.
Goalkeepers:
George Pinner (C), Harry Gibson
Defenders:
Henry Weir, Brendan Creed, Michael Hoare, Liam Sanford, Ollie Willars
Midfield:
Ian Sloan (C), David Ames, Adam Dixon, David Goodfield, Barry Middleton, Harry Martin, David Condon
Forwards:
Phil Roper (C), Sam Ward, Mark Gleghorne, Chris Griffiths
England Hockey Board Media release:
15 June – China (8pm)
17 June – Malaysia (4pm)
18 June – Argentina (4pm)
20 June – Korea (8pm)
England Hockey Board Media release
Indian hockey eves to train in Shillaroo ahead of HWL semis
Johannesburg will be at 1,750 meters and Shillaroo is at 2,500 meters.
The Indian eves will assemble at the SAI centre in Shillaroo for a 24-day camp starting June 1 to kick start its preparations for the Women's Hockey World League (HWL) Semi-Finals to be held in Johannesburg next month.
The camp will feature all 33 core probables, which includes fresh faces selected based on their performance at the recently-concluded Hockey India seventh Senior Women National Hockey Championship.
Hockey Madhya Pradesh's Swati will be the third goalkeeper in the camp besides regulars Savita and Rajani Etimarpu, while Navdeep Kaur, Hlunte Lalhlunmawii of Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy, Ritu of Hockey Haryana and Jyoti Dahiya of Association of Indian Universities will join defenders Deep Grace Ekka, P Sushila Chanu, Sunita Lakra, Gurjit Kaur, Rashmita Minz and Nikki Pradhan.
Karishma Yadav of Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy, Nilanjali Rai of Hockey Madhya Pradesh, K Ngaihpari of Hockey Mizoram and Neha of Railway Sports Promotion Board will be the new inclusions among the existing midfielders.
India is grouped in Pool B along with USA, South Africa, Chile and Argentina in the Hockey World League Semi-Final to be held from July 8 to 23.
Pool A features England, Germany, Japan, Poland and Ireland.
"The idea of having the National Camp in Shillaroo was to get used to playing in a high altitude environment.
Johannesburg will be at 1750 meters and Shillaroo is at 2500 meters so hosting our camp in Shillaroo will help us prepare better," said women's team chief coach Sjoerd Marijne.
"For now we train with a core group of 33 women and the 18 member team will be selected after the selection trials."
The Indian women's team started the new Olympic season on a high note with a series of wins starting with the Asian Champions Trophy last year. They also beat Belarus 5-0 in a series earlier this year and won the World League Round 2 in Canada.
However, the Indian girls also suffered a morale- shattering 0-5 defeat against New Zealand who are ranked fifth in the world.
"Learning from the mistakes we made in New Zealand, we will need to work on handling higher speed, be stronger in our man-to-man marking and we also need to improve on ball possession," Marijne said.
"Though we lost matches in New Zealand, it gives us confidence for the way we played some of the matches. New Zealand is one of the best teams in the world at the moment and we needed this match experience to see what level we need to be at in order to win matches against higher-ranked teams," he added.
In Shillaroo, the team will be focusing on improving their defence structure, speed and fitness.
"Besides, the emphasis will be on converting penalty corners, working on different goal scoring variations and also practice shoot outs," the coach said.
Core Group:
Goal keepers: Savita, Rajani Etimarpu and Swati.
Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka, P Sushila Chanu, Sunita Lakra, Gurjit Kaur, Rashmita Minz, Navdeep Kaur, Hlunte Lalhlunmawii, Ritu, Nikki Pradhan and Jyoti Dahiya.
Midfielders: Monika, Namita Toppo, Karishma Yadav, Udita, Nilanjali Rai, K Ngaihpari,Neha, Ritu Rani, Lilima Minz and Renuka Yadav.
Forwards: Rani, Navjot Kaur, Sonika, Preeti Dubey, Poonam Rani, Vandana Katariya, Anupa Barla, Reena Khokhar, Jyoti Gupta and Navneet Kaur.
The Tribune
Indian hockey’s new gospel: Speed more important criteria than skill
Hockey India's high performance director David John has made sprint the priority for the players to make the cut for the 2020 Junior World Cup.
by Mihir Vasavda
The players will be made to cover distances of 10m and 40m. PTI
On Thursday, 53 junior players will report at the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) centre in Bangalore for the hockey team’s selection trials. But skill won’t be the sole criteria for them to sneak into the core group. Rather, the focus will be on speed. Hockey India’s high performance director David John has made sprint the priority for the players to make the cut for the 2020 Junior World Cup. It’s a departure from the past, when physical fitness of the players was often compromised, especially among the juniors.
However, for four days starting Thursday, John’s task will be to identify the fastest players, primarily midfielders and forwards, who may not necessarily be the most skillful. The players will be made to cover distances of 10m and 40m. A timing of 1.75 seconds for 10m will be considered ‘excellent’ and anything between 1.86 seconds to 1.95 seconds will be counted as ‘average.’
For 40m sprints, a timing of under 5.30 seconds will all but guarantee a berth in the junior team while 5.51 to 5.70 seconds will be seen as average. “As per our selection criteria we will look at three areas: sprints is the first followed by skill while ability to play the game is the third,” John told The Indian Express. “So someone can be extremely fast but not very skillful and still make the team. At the same time, someone who has less speed but is extremely skillful and has the ability to read the game well can also make the team.”
The timings, John said, have been decided keeping in mind the world average. Among the seniors, the fastest players at the moment is believed to be Australia’s Tom Craig, who covers 40m in approximately 4.05 seconds according to John. Among the Indian players, SV Sunil is the quickest, clocking 4.10 seconds while Kothajit Singh is a close second with best timing of 4.12 seconds.
Different criteria
Time trials have been made mandatory for junior women and sub-junior men and women teams as well. The criteria and timing differs for every position. For instance, strikers will need to be quickest as they have to fall back while defending and then burst forward in high intensity during counter-attacks. Few people understand an Indian player’s physique and habits as well as John does. The Australian was the team’s exercise physiologist and scientific adviser prior to London Olympics. His training methods and diet plans instigated a turnaround in the team’s approach towards fitness as Indian players shunned their a lethargic style that relied heavily on skills to become among the fittest hockey nations.
The rising fitness levels saw an improvement in the results as well. Although India are still not able to beat big teams in major tournaments, the team has become far more competitive internationally. The rankings have also gone up from 12 five years ago to sixth at present. The Junior World Cup win last year, too, was seen as a result of the team’s superior fitness condition. Not that the skills don’t matter. They do. But Indian junior team was by far the fittest among all the teams (at the World Cup), which is why they won,” John said.
The Australian added that the change in format of the game from two halves of 35 minutes to four quarters of 15 has made the game faster. “Speed in midfield and forward line is now essential. Most midfielders and strikers are only spending three to four minutes on the field on a given time,” John said. “But in those few minutes, they happen to work at very high speed before being rotated. So we need to look at our fastest players and those who can repeat their fast efforts over two and three minutes. It’s very essential to be able to compete successfully internationally at senior and junior level.”
Indian Express
Video umpiring - seeing the bigger picture
Video Umpires have been a positive step for hockey Photo: Carol Metchette
When a crucial decision can be the difference between a team qualifying for a World Cup or not, then it is important that the umpiring team gets it right. Since it was first trialled at the men's Champions Trophy in Melbourne, Australia in 2009, video referrals have been part of top tier international hockey events, and both the teams and the umpires have become increasingly proficient at using the system for the ultimate good of the game.
The system will once again be in place at all four Hockey World League Semi-Finals over the next couple of months, giving the officials on the field an additional pair of eyes from the grandstand.
Carol Metchette is an umpire of vast experience. She started her international umpiring career in 2002 and, 10 years later, she had two Olympic Games and a World Cup on her curriculum vitae. She was, and remains, one of the fittest members of the umpiring fraternity, always scoring top in the FIH umpiring fitness tests.
Carol had to retire from umpiring in 2012 when, at 47, she reached the mandatory retirement age for FIH umpires. Since then she has transferred her huge amount of knowledge, integrity and enthusiasm to umpire management and video umpiring.
In just over a month’s time, Carol will be in the video umpire’s box for the Women’s Hockey World League Semi-Finals in Johannesburg, taking charge of any referrals that come her way. With places at the showcase end-of-year Hockey World League Final and qualification for the 2018 World Cup at stake, the Video Umpire from Ireland knows a good performance will be crucial in South Africa.
Here, she talks about the role she plays and the impact the Video Umpire has on the game. Certainly, for umpires at FIH events, the advent of video referral has been a key and positive development.
“I think the use of video referrals has made a huge difference to the game,” says Carol. “All umpires, even the best, miss things so getting the correct decision on to the pitch makes everybody happy. The decisions that go to Video Umpire are obviously big ones, so players get very frustrated if they feel this has been given incorrectly by the umpire. Therefore, when the decision comes back, the teams then forget about the ‘mistake’ or nothing being blown. This makes life much easier for the umpire. Teams are not holding a grudge with them for the rest of the game.”
Of course, for umpires who are working their way up the ladder of proficiency, it can be unsettling to experience players questioning decisions, particularly if they are getting a number of decisions wrong in a match. Carol’s advice is to learn from the experience and to see it as a positive.
“I think when umpires use the Video Umpire for the first time it can affect them. They feel ‘oh no, I’ve got it wrong in front of all these people’, but with more experience they realise how helpful it can be. It can be a real confidence boost if they have got it right.”
Prior to the game, Carol always meets her umpiring team and discusses how the next hour and a half will pan out. She says it is vital that the umpires on the pitch feel they can trust the person in the video room. Equally, it is important that the umpire in the video room is experienced and confident themselves. It is not a job that every umpire will naturally take to, she adds.
Technological developments in the game have been key to the successful implementation of video referrals. If a referral takes a long time then players, coaches and spectators get restless and the rhythm of the game is interrupted. It is also an uncomfortable situation for the umpires on the pitch as they have to stand and wait for a decision.
Luckily, says Carol, the introduction of super slow motion cameras and an increased number of angles has meant that the Video Umpire has quick, almost instant access to the information he or she needs to make a decision. The Video Umpire still has to wait for the question relating to the referral to be posed, and sometimes this can take time due to various different factors.
A relaxation of the manner in which questions are posed has overcome this to an extent and is yet another example of the FIH working with the players and umpires to find ways to make the game even faster and a real entertaining spectacle.
FIH site
Danson looks ahead to the Investec Internationals
Danson celebrates
As England prepare to face Argentina and the Netherlands in the Investec Internationals, Alex Danson sits on the verge of reaching a very special landmark.
The Great Britain and England forward recently notched up her 99th international goal and will have the chance to reach her century on home soil at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London.
The match with the Netherlands is a complete sell out on 11 June however the last tickets for England’s clash with Argentina on 10 June can still be secured here!
Danson is looking forward to returning to Lee Valley, a place she has incredibly fond memories of, she said: “Our Olympic legacy venue is one of the most spectacular places to play hockey, and having played all over the world, it’s my favourite place hands down.
“I say that because it has the memory of London, which was such a huge part of our journey. The home support, there is nothing like it and that pitch has everything. It is very special to walk out in front of a home crowd.”
Danson is excited about coming up against quality opposition, she added: “It is world number one, world number two and world number three all in action, on the back of one of the most exciting Olympic finals in years.
“To have these next games at home, in front of full crowds, they are going to be games to remember, and games people are talking about.”
England Hockey Board Media release
Collegiate target spot in provincial finals
Collegiate will be eyeing another title when the PE Coastal leg of the SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge takes place at Pearson in Port Elizabeth on Sunday. Photo: Full Stop Communications
Collegiate, who won last year’s provincial title, will be aiming to become the final provincial qualifiers when the PE Coastal leg of the SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge is held at Pearson in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.
So far, four of the five regional qualifiers have been played, with Union High, Kingsridge, Clarendon and York having booked their places in the provincial finals at Woodridge, near Port Elizabeth, on August 12.
A total of 10 teams will meet at Pearson on Sunday to decide the PE Coastal winners, an increase from the eight sides that contested the corresponding tournament last year.
Hockey challenge national director Les Galloway, who will be attending Sunday’s play-offs, said it reflected how the concept had been adopted by the schools in the region.
“The interest and the excitement of the tournament have grown from last year,” she said. “Now we have a situation where the challenge is becoming established on the calendar, creating some continuity.
“More and more schools are becoming aware of the tournaments and want to get involved.”
She added they were looking forward to a day of quality schoolgirls’ hockey.
“This is an exciting region, with Collegiate being one of the top teams after they won the provincial title last year,” said Galloway, who is based in KwaZulu-Natal and initiated the concept in that province seven years ago.
“But you also have a very good side such as Pearson, and then there are a whole lot of other teams who will have a chance to prove themselves.”
Besides giving the schools exposure, Galloway said the challenge also provided an opportunity for individuals to catch the eye.
“This is their chance to make an impression on the selectors as they aim for higher honours.”
The teams for Sunday’s play-offs will be divided into two pools.
Pool A will comprise Pearson, Woodridge, Victoria Park, Pearson Invitational and Nico Malan, while pool B will consist of Collegiate, Westering, Linkside, Alexander Road and Framesby.
The top two teams in each will qualify for the semis, starting at 3pm. The final is scheduled for 4.40pm and matches will be played over 20 minutes.
SPAR Hockey Challenge media release
Fourways High School hosts the Spar School Girls Hockey Challenge
Crawford College hockey team shows their fun side just before they go onto the field.
FOURWAYS – The Spar School Girls Hockey Challenge at Fourways High School in Johannesburg embodied the love and passion for the sport.
The school’s great facilities combined with a love of the game provided for a magnificent day in the toasty South African winter sun.
Music accompanied the action as hockey enthusiasts filled the sports grounds and stands, as schools came from all over Gauteng to compete for glory including the Silver Star Hockey Club.
Competition is fierce at Fourways High School while teams participate in the Spar School Girls Hockey Challenge.
This was the third regional festival, but the first to be hosted at Fourways High School. The hockey players showcased their talent and the level of skill was of the highest quality.
Fourways marketing manager, Jodi Selesnick thanked all the teams that participated and said it was a marvelous day out.
De La Salle Holy Cross College coach, Rianna Louw said, “Thank you Fourways High and Spar for giving us the opportunity to play at the tournament where the teams could bond and create new friendships through hockey.”
Players give it all on the field at Fourways High School.
De La Salle captain Deene Martin (17) added that hockey had changed her life. “Hockey and the passion that it gave me has been the greatest part of my high school career. I would encourage anyone to get involved with the hockey family.”
All the hockey girls were on a high throughout the day and there were constant smiles on everyone’s faces. Some of the senior hockey girls became emotional when they spoke about the fact that this was their last school hockey season of the year.
Players give it all on the field at Fourways High School.
St Stithians Girls’ College won the tournament with Fourways High School narrowly missing out after a penalty shootout in the final.
Other schools that competed in the day:
Springs High School
Maragon Private School
Jeugland Hoërskool
Dainfern College
Bryanston High School
Silverstar Hockey Club
Crawford College.
Crawford College hockey team shows their fun side just before they go onto the field.
Fourways Review
Hockey the sport of choice for 99 per cent of Waihi School pupils
Waihi School has huge number of people playing hockey, 81 of their 82 pupils. TETSURO MITOMO/FAIRFAX NZ
The number of boys playing hockey at Waihi School has sky-rocketed, and you can bet it has plenty to do with former Black Sticks Hayden Shaw and Colleen Suddaby.
Of the 82 pupils on the school's roll, 81 play hockey. Yes, you heard correctly, the game with the ball and the hook-shaped stick - not rugby or football - is proving extremely popular at the independent school for day and boarding boys.
The boys are lucky, they don't have to look far to get some tips from some of the best. Shaw and Suddaby teach at Waihi, while Callum Askins, a member of the South Canterbury men's team, also helps out.
Former Black Sticks player Colleen Suddaby is a teacher at Waihi school. TETSURO MITOMO/FAIRFAX NZ
Waihi School headmaster Allan Short said the presence of two former Black Sticks made hockey a popular choice.
"Having Hayden (Shaw) and Colleen (Suddaby) there is massive, they've really helped promote the game at the school," Short said. "They're passionate about it and love seeing the pupils play."
Short said Hockey South Canterbury needed to share some of the credit.
Hayden Shaw, who also teaches at the school, credited Hockey South Canterbury for their support. FAIRFAX MEDIA
"We encourage all our pupils to do at least two sports each. The hockey association is great, they really encourage all the children to have a go. Their competition is so well run and everyone loves it down there."
Rugby, football and basketball were also popular winter sport options but don't match they don't attract the same number of participants.
"I think the success of Sam Lane being a Black Stick has also helped the boys to see how well he's done with it, and they can see there are chances with hockey from South Canterbury."
The only pupil who doesn't play hockey is a strong swimmer and does squad training when the former is on.
Shaw, who teaches at the school, also praised the Hockey South Canterbury for offering support.
"The association are really good to us," Shaw said. "Hockey South Canterbury do it really well. They play it mid-week, allowing many of the boys to have a go at it."
Shaw and Suddaby had distinguished careers in hockey, having played at international level. But Shaw said the foundations were set well before he arrived.
"Hamish Brown and Mel Thatcher were here before us and they were the stepping stones for the hockey, they were passionate about it and we've just carried it on."
He said the boys often ask him about what it was like being a professional hockey player.
"There's probably about a dozen or so boys, who don't play either rugby or football."
Shaw enjoys helping out the teams and seeing the boys play a sport.
"It's nice they're playing hockey but to me it's not everything. I'm just pleased they're playing a sport and if rugby was midweek I think it'd just be as popular."
Stuff
2017 Recognised Future Athletes
Holly MacNeil
Following the 2017 Under 18 Australian Championships in Hobart, Hockey Australia identified a group of 27 boys and girls deserving of recognition as “Futures Athletes.”
Hockey Australia along with the state and territory association partners and our National Training Centre programs have implemented significant changes in how athletes are supported within this age bracket.
The resetting of the High Performance Program squads, the National Development Squad and the National Development Squad will see a shift in support within the National Training Centre programs for greater numbers of athletes at the National Development Squad level.
To facilitate this change, our state and territory association partners will be taking a greater aligned lead in the development of recognised future athletes. Predominantly, this will occur in the home state underpinning program, with support of the local National Training Centre.
The 2017 recognised future athletes are as follows:
Men
Athlete (Hometown, State)
Tom Brown (Coraki, NSW)
Lain Carr (Matcham, NSW)
Henry Chambers (Battery Point, TAS)
Nathan Ephraums (Keysborough, VIC)
Harrison Farrell (Mt Louisa, QLD)
Michael Francis (Bulimba, QLD)
Gobindra Gill (Acton Park, TAS)
Harry Golding (Fremantle, WA)
Fred Gray (Rose Park, SA)
Sam Gray (Lithgow, NSW)
Lachlan Hardy (Brisbane, QLD)
Tom Harvie (Daranup, WA)
Ehren Hazell (Tamworth, NSW)
Nathan Hochman (Marrara, NT)
Sam McCulloch (Sandy Bay, TAS)
Sam Mudford (Mitchells Island, NSW)
Josh Mulder (Mount Martha, VIC)
Alistair Murray (Crawley, WA)
Matthew Neeson (Latham, ACT)
Marshall Puzey (Halls Head, WA)
Daine Richards (Cordeaux Heights, NSW)
Chrisitan Starkie (Kingsley, WA
Hayden Vaitekenas (Stoneville, WA)
Rory Walker (Adamstown, NSW)
Lachlan Walter (Emerald, VIC)
Simon Wells (Redwood Park, SA)
Ben White (Blackburn, VIC)
Women
Athlete (Hometown, State)
Rhiannon Baxter (New Auckland, QLD)
Julia Bradley (Coogee, NSW)
Phillida Bridley (New Town, TAS)
Sarah Byrnes (Floreat, WA)
Emma Debrouge (Perkholme, SA)
Dayle Dolkens (Coomera, QLD)
Olivia Downs (Brighton, VIC)
Genevieve Ferguson (Coorparoo, QLD)
Litiana Field (Double Bay, NSW)
Kendra Fitzpatrick (Cabarita Beach, NSW) *plays for QLD
Sara Foster (Nedlands, WA)
Ruby Harris (Yeronga, QLD)
Jaime Hemingway (Wingham, NSW)
Amy Lawton (Emerald, VIC)
Erin Lidbetter (Virginia, NT)
Morgan Mathison (Mermaid Waters, QLD)
Ashlyn McBurnie (Bald Hills, QLD)
Zoe Newman (Gymea Bay, NSW)
Miriam Pritchard (Glebe, NSW)
Renee Rockliff (Victoria Park, WA)
Indiana Robertson (Bentleigh, VIC)
Jolie Sertorio (Peppermint Grove, WA)
Courtney Schonell (Narellan Vale, NSW)
Maddie Smith (Marrara, NT)
Jo Snynam (Kardinya, WA)
Kendal Steel (Adamstown, NSW)
Emily Witheyman-Crump (Yamanto, QLD)
Hockey Australia media release