Paul Murphy from WIN NEWS – Sunshine Coast, QLD, re-caps the Hockeyroos 3 Match Test Series against USA in April 2012.
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Australia's National Women's Hockey Team
Jodie Schulz makes the Hockeyroos Olympic team
January 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Jodie Schulz
Penalty corner specialists are hard to come by in hockey and it is this skill which has landed Jodie Schulz in the Hockeyroos team for London 2012.
The Kedron-Wavell hockey player is also a more-than-solid defender to boot.
She’s joined by fellow club member Marnie Hudson in the team and former Commercial player Madonna Blyth as locals in one of the few national teams to be selected as yet.
Get to know Jodie a bit more below and keep an eye on our website for more Olympic hopefuls.
What is your earliest memory of the sport?
Playing mixed hockey with my bigger brother. Just when we were local kids in Wamuran, I would have been six or seven.
If you weren’t playing hockey, what sport would you be playing?
Golf or tennis. I love to try individual competitions. Golf is very similar to hockey which would be good, and tennis is just a really fun sport.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
To be the best you have to work the hardest. It really is true that you only get out what you put in and there is no substitute for hard work.
What is your ultimate hockey dream?
A gold medal at the Olympics. A podium finish in London would be great.
- Read the rest over at the Courier Mail.
- Jodie Schulz’s profile on the Hockey Australia website.
Amy Korner retires from Olympic dream
December 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Amy Korner
Having played 51 internationals and with the London Olympics looming, Ipswich hockey player Amy Korner had one of the toughest decisions to make.
She’s decided to retire from international competition.
Korner, 25, yesterday revealed she was giving up top-level hockey to focus on other aspects of her life.
After missing out on selection in the Hockeyroos Olympic squad, Korner had to weigh up whether to battle on and hope for a lucky break, or move into other areas of her life.
Yet to tell national coach Adam Commens of her decision, Korner said she could no longer justify the demanding training if it amounted to Olympic disappointment.
“This year has been a really hard year for me and I made huge improvements in my fitness and in every aspect of my game,” the Flinders View striker said.
“I’m at a stage where I don’t think I can get any better and I’d need to, to push my way into the team.”
Read the rest at The Queensland Times.
Hard work begins for Hockeyroos’ Marnie Hudson
November 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Marnie Hudson
A wave of relief swept over Kedron-Wavell Hockey Club’s Marnie Hudson when her name was read out as part of the Hockeyroos Olympic training squad yesterday.
Hudson, who has represented her country in 25 internationals this year, said she was excited at the announcement after managing to contain her nerves with a trip home after the final international of the year last Thursday.
The 23-year-old goes into camp with the squad for an initial training camp in Perth from November 28 with the London 2012 games now fast approaching.
“Obviously it’s only eight months away but that will fly like this year has,” she said.
Hudson, a striker, said she had slowly built up her confidence from a nervous start on her debut tour to Argnetina and was ready to start peppering the goals.
“If I keep scoring goals that’s definitely going to help me. That’s probably the main thing,” she said.
- Read the rest over at the Courier Mail.
Anna Flanagan on track for Olympics
November 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Anna Flanagan
By cracking the Hockeyroos Olympic training squad, Anna Flanagan overcame a major hurdle in her quest for London selection.
But the coaching staff’s clear edict that reputations count for nothing means the Canberra teenager can’t afford to become complacent.
New coach Adam Commens ran a broom through the squad after being appointed at the start of the year, with Kate Hollywood headlining a handful of delisted experienced stars.
The 27-player training squad will be trimmed to 16 just weeks before the Olympics, and competition for places will be ruthless.
”I kept pressing the refresh button on my computer waiting for that email [confirming her selection on Monday],” Flanagan said.
”It was pretty exciting. Everyone wants to be there, and even this squad selection was hard to make.”
Since being part of Australia’s Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning outfit, Flanagan has gone from strength to strength.
The 19-year-old is helping lead the charge for Australia’s ”Generation Next”.
A defender, Flanagan and teammate Jodi Schulz flew to Holland last night to work with penalty corner specialist Toon Siepman.
Traditionally a superpower, the Hockeyroos are enduring a rebuilding phase and have dropped to seventh on the world rankings.
But the signs are promising after Australia went through a six-game series undefeated against world No4 China in Western Australia last week.
- Read the rest at The Canberra Times.
- Follow Anna Flanagan on Twitter.
- Read the Q&A with Anna Flanagan on Sport for Women
We chatted to Anna Flanagan after the Hockeyroos won gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2010:
Hockeyroos London training squad named
November 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Hope Munro
More than 12 months after retiring, Hockeyroos veteran Hope Munro is on track to cap a remarkable comeback with London Olympic selection.
Munro was included in a 27-strong 2012 Olympic training squad unveiled by coach Adam Commens on Monday, barely a year after hanging up her hockey stick to spend time with her young family.
Commens also named an 11-strong national senior development squad – including Beijing Olympian Kate Hollywood – which consists athletes considered tobe fringe selection candidates.
Commens praised Munro but said no one was guaranteed a spot in his Olympic team to be announced on June 17.
He said all athletes would still be considered – even those not named in Monday’s training squad.
“After a year in which we have exposed almost 40 athletes to international hockey, we have narrowed the group down to what I believe to be our strongest possible group of 27 players,” Commens said.
“With Hope Munro, the return of someone with that much experience is a positive, however she still has a long way to go physically before she is back to her best.
“In terms of those outside the squad, there are still a number of players in the development squad who are still in contention (for Olympic selection) and with some strong performances in the early part of next year could see them make the team.”
Australia women Olympic training squad: Teneal Attard (Qld), Madonna Blyth (Qld), Fiona Boyce (WA), Jade Close (NSW), Toni Cronk (NSW), Casey Eastham (NSW), Holly Evans (SA), Anna Flanagan (ACT), Bianca Greenshields (SA), Marnie Hudson (Qld), Emily Hurtz (NSW), Kate Jenner (NSW), Stacia Joseph (Vic), Rachael Lynch (Vic), Kobie McGurk (WA), Jacklyn McRae (NSW), Claire Messent (Vic), Hope Munro (WA), Georgia Nanscawen (Vic), Ashleigh Nelson (WA), Megan Rivers (NSW), Jodie Schulz (Qld), Emily Smith (NSW), Jayde Taylor (WA), Jade Warrender (NSW), Ashlee Wells (Vic), Kellie White (NSW).
2012 national senior development squad: Elizabeth Duguid (NT), Jill Dwyer (Qld), Lisa Eglington (WA), Deanne Gilbert (SA), Kate Hollywood (NSW), Amy Korner (Qld), Sally O’Toole (Qld), Georgie Parker (SA), Elise Stacy (SA), Renee Trost (Vic), Hollie Webster (NSW).
© 2011 AAP
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Video: Hockeyroos coach Adam Commens plans to fast track Australia’s young talent to give the Hockeyroos the best opportunity to win a medal at the London 2012 Games.
Hockeyroos finish China Series in style
November 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The Hockeyroos have finished off their six test series against China with a 6-4 win overnight in Perth.
Madonna Blyth
The win caps off a remarkable series for the Hockeyroos in which they did not lose one game to the world number 4 team, defeating China in five out of six matches and drawing once.
The match was the final international match for the Hockeyroos for 2011 and is a good indicator as to how much development the team has made throughout the year under new coach Adam Commens.
Things did not go all the Hockeyroos way early, with China opening the scoring only two minutes into the game thanks to a field goal from Lihua Gao.
However Australia made the best possible response only minutes later, with captain Madonna Blyth levelling the score at the four minute mark via a penalty corner.
When Casey Eastham and Georgia Nanscawen contributed goals of their own within the first 20 minutes the Hockeyroos were well on their way of setting up a dominant lead in the early stages of the game.
The Hockeyroos continued to attack after half time, with newcomer Lisa Eglington extending Australia’s lead only one minute into the second half.
Another goal to China’s Lihua Gao gave them some hope, but once again the Hockeyroos responded immediately thanks to a goal to Ashleigh Nelson only a minute later.
China continued to push and when they converted two late goals they were back in the game.
However once again it was Nelson who responded for the Hockeyroos, scoring her second goal of the game in the dying minutes to confirm the win.
It will now be a nervous wait for the players with a 27 player National Olympic Squad to be selected on November 7.
Via Hockey Australia.
Video: Hockeyroos coach Adam Commens plans to fast track Australia’s young talent to give the Hockeyroos the best opportunity to win a medal at the London 2012 Games.
Hockeyroos take 2-0 series lead over China
October 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Jodie Schulz
The Hockeyroos backed up their impressive 3-1 opening win over China with another solid performance, holding on for a 1-0 victory in Western Australia last night to take a two-game lead in the six-Test series.
Both teams were evenly matched and, with China already a game down in the series, they entered the match determined to find a win. The Hockeyroos were equally looking to prove their previous result was no fluke.
After an even 20 minutes, it was China who got the first chance to score, taking a penalty corner which, fortunately for the Hockeyroos, smacked into the crossbar on the second attempt.
The Hockeyroos were then awarded their first penalty corner with two minutes remaining in the first half. However, China’s defence proved too good and the scores remained 0-0 at the break.
Only minutes into the second half, the Hockeyroos gained the lead they desperately wanted, with Jodie Schulz – coming off two goals in the first game of the series – stepping up to convert another penalty corner to make it 1-0.
The Australians continued to look dangerous while moving forward, but their inability to convert left a gap open for China to get back in the game. However, the Hockeyroos were able to hang on, taking the win and continuing to build their confidence ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games.
The Australians won the opening Test 3-1 on Wednesday night in Busselton in WA’s southwest.
AAP
Hockeyroos beat China 3-1 in first Test
October 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Jodie Schulz
Penalty corner specialist Jodie Schulz helped lead the Hockeyroos to victory in game one of a six-Test series against China, scoring two goals to help record a 3-1 win on Wednesday night at Busselton in Western Australia.
The win follows on from last week’s championship win at the Lanco International Super Series and will go a long way to providing confidence to the young team that they are capable of defeating world class teams.
Despite China being ranked 4th in the worldand the Hockeyroos 7th, the Australians controlled the match and possibly could have won by more.
It was Schulz, who has proven to be a weapon for the Hockeyroos from penalty corners throughout the year, who gave the Hockeyroos the edge they needed, scoring two first-half goals to give Australia a vital 2-1 lead at halftime.
Goals proved hard to come by in the second half but, when Fiona Boyce scored Australia’s third goal after 54 minutes, the result was put beyond doubt.
The Hockeyroos will hope to continue this form through the series as they ramp up preparations for the 2012 London Olympics.
© 2011 AAP
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Kate Hollywood returns to Hockeyroos prior to Olympic squad selection
October 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Kate Hollywood
Hockeyroo veteran Kate Hollywood is set to play her first matches for the Hockeyroos since being removed from the national squad in January this year during a test series against world number 4 team China this week in Busselton, Bunbury and Perth.
Hollywood, who has played 139 international matches and was a member of both the 2006 and 2010 Hockeyroos Commonwealth Games gold medal sides, was named in the Hockeyroos development squad at the beginning of the year.
Remaining close to the program, Hollywood recently played in New Zealand’s national league and has spent the last two months playing club hockey in the Netherlands in an attempt to improve her game.
Read more at Hockey Australia.