Eva Reith-Snare's marked a number of milestones recently and by anyone's standards she's had a big couple of months after celebrating her 18th birthday, being named in NSW's under-21 indoor side and then more recently finishing her HSC exams.
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But Wednesday evening's confirmation she'd been called into Australia's under-21 side for next month's tri-series against New Zealand and India blew all that out of the water, undeniably confirming her status as a Hockeyroo-in-waiting.
After being named in Hockey Australia's national development squad earlier this year - which she 'wasn't expecting whatsoever' - Reith-Snare wasn't initially included in the Jillaroos squad, an understandable omission considering she's only 18.
But following Karri Somerville's promotion to the 2020 Hockeyroos squad, the Confederates star and reigning Orange junior sportsperson of the year is set to make her Australian debut next week.
She'll make the dash to Canberra on Saturday to head into camp, the day after she celebrates finishing her school years at Orange High School's graduation ball on Friday night.
The Jillaroos will face New Zealand in the opening game of the 2019 tri-series on December 3 before a second trans-Tasman clash three days later, with encounters against India either side of the latter.
Next week's tri-series also acts as a lead-up to four showdowns with Japan in February of next year, and head coach Tim White said he's looking forward to seeing what his young side can produce with limited preparation.
"We think we have chosen a talented group who ... should come together to be a good unit," White told Hockey Australia, following the initial squad's selection.
"Some players will also be making their debut at this level and getting their first opportunity. It's an exciting group and one we're looking forward to working with."
Although it's a key part of Hockey Australia's pathway in terms of development, White said there'll be no love lost between his side and their two international rivals, particularly New Zealand.
"The battles we have with New Zealand are always hotly contested. We played them in a series in December last year and they won that series two matches to one," said White.
"India are very much an emerging nation in the women's game and they will also be really strong opposition."
Reith-Snare's Australian side takes on New Zealand in the series-opening clash on December 3 at Canberra before a second trans-Tasman test three days later, the Jillaroos' encounters with India will be played either side of the latter.
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Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
