ORANGE’S Edwina Bone retained her spot in the Hockeyroos’ squad for the upcoming warm up series against new Zealand, leading into the Champions Trophy in Mendoza, Argentina.
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The Hockeyroos will face the New Zealand Black Sticks in three Tests in Wellington next week, on November 15, 16 and 18 , prior to departure for the Champions Trophy, which begins in Mendoza on November 29.
There, Australia’s women will face Commonwealth Games silver medallists England, defending champions and hosts Argentina, and Germany in the opening rounds.
Coach Adam Commens named 11 of his Commonwealth Games gold medal winning squad, and also named four previously uncapped players.
Debutants Georgina Morgan, Kathryn Slattery, Audrey Smith and Amelia Spence were all included in the squad, but only the last three have been named for the Champions Trophy.
The Hockeyroos welcome back 189-game veteran Teneal Attard from injury, while Casey Sablowski (nee Eastham) and Anna Flanagan won’t play against New Zealand, but will join the squad prior to the Champions Trophy due to club commitments in Holland.
“This is a team of athletes that have performed well in our daily training environment over the past month and have earned their places on the back of good performances in the Australian Hockey League (AHL),” Commens said.
“It’s important that we include new talent. We have previously identified the need to expand the pool of talent available to us as we look ahead to the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.
“The selection of the likes of Kate Denning, Rebecca Dwyer, Georgie Morgan, Kathryn Slattery, Audrey Smith and Amelia Spence gives those athletes the chance to be exposed to top quality international opposition.
“(But) it’s important to be sure we are still competitive at the Champions Trophy, hence the inclusion of the majority of our World Cup and Commonwealth Games squads.”