ORANGE product Edwina Bone retained her place in the Australian squad for upcoming Hockeyroos v China International Challenge, with coach Adam Commens naming a youthful side in a bid to grow the depth of talent at the top level of women’s hockey in Australia.
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Bone and her fellow stalwarts will be joined in the 18-strong squad by three of NSW’s best young prospects, and two Queensland young guns as well.
Georgina Morgan, 21, Mariah Williams, 19, and Kate Hanna, 19, will join the squad, while Queensland’s Savannah Fitzpatrick, 20, and Renee Taylor, 18, will also both make the step up following their performances at Hockey Australia’s recent Super Camp in Perth.
Hanna, Fitzpatrick and Taylor are all expected to make their senior international debuts in the series.
The Hockeyroos will then field four changes at the Hawke’s Bay Festival in New Zealand immediately following the series against China as they prepare for June’s Olympic Games qualifying event, the World League Semi Final in Belgium.
“One of the things we’re doing in 2015 is exposing as many players as possible to international hockey so we can begin to narrow things towards nominating our Olympic squad,” Commens said.
“Our selections for Sydney and Hawke’s Bay demonstrate this and I would expect there will be further opportunities for players outside our senior group later in the year.”
Experienced pair Casey Sablowski (nee Eastham) and Anna Flanagan are playing club hockey in the Dutch Hoofdklasse league and were not considered for Hockeyroos selection.
Kellie White is a long-term injury absentee having suffered a knee injury late last year.
