ORANGE product Eddie Bone could add another medal to her collection in August after she was on Tuesday named in the Hockeyroos squad to contest the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bone was part of the Australian women’s hockey team which won silver at this month’s World Cup in the Netherlands.
On Tuesday she was announced as part of the national team to go to Glasgow, where the team will have the chance to win Commonwealth Games gold.
“It would be very nice, but I don’t want to think too far in the future. There’s a lot of hard work before we get there,” Bone said.
The 26-year-old defender found out about her selection on Sunday and had to keep it under wraps, but was still coming to terms with the news on Tuesday.
“I’m still pinching myself,” she laughed.
She was so nervous about the team selections, she had to ask boyfriend Josh Shea to open the email for her.
“I couldn’t open it,” she told the Central Western Daily.
“I’m never super confident whether I’ll make a team or not.
“I knew it would be really tough because they could only take 16 to the Commonwealth Games, so they had to drop two players (from the World Cup squad).”
Adding to Bone’s nerves about the selection is she is one of the newer members of the Hockeyroos squad, having only joined at the start of this year.
“Being new, I never know what they’re thinking,” she said.
The Hockeyroos lost the World Cup final to hosts the Netherlands 2-0 this month.
Bone said the event was the ideal preparation for next month’s Commonwealth Games.
“The World Cup was an amazing experience, playing in front of 15,000 people who were hockey fans and crazy,” Bone explained.
“I’m sure the Comm Games will be similar to the World Cup with big crowds. I think the World Cup has prepared me well for it. I know the support we had at home was great.”
The Hockeyroos are on a break at the moment but return to training this Friday before flying to Glasgow on July 17, and the Games start on July 23.
The Hockeyroos will play Malaysia (July 24), Wales (July 25), Scotland (July 27) and England (July 28) in their pool matches. The semi-finals will be played on August 1 and the final on August 2 (AEST).
Also competing in the women’s event are South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, India, Canada and New Zealand.
Australia has won the last two Commonwealth Games gold medals and Hockey Australia high performance director, Trish Heberle, has said the goal is to finish on top again in Glasgow.
“I actually can’t wait,” Bone beamed.
