Allendorf caps off a medal-winning week with a Hockeyroos call up

Murphy Allendorf is set to make her international debut for the Australian women’s hockey team, the Hockeyroos, in the trans-tasman series and International Festival of Hockey this November.

Allendorf will be part of a quartet of NSWIS athletes in the Hockeyroos squad, which also includes Rio Olympian Georgina Morgan, goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram and Mathilda Carmichael, who is shelving the cricket bat to make her return to the national squad.

The trans-Tasman series will see a team of 18 players travel to Auckland, New Zealand for a three-match test series against the New Zealand Black Sticks. Meanwhile the International Festival of Hockey will follow soon after and also have a team of 18 in Melbourne for a three-game series against India.

Last weekend Allendorf and Morgan were members of the NSW Arrows team that beat the Canberra Strikers to bronze at the Australian Hockey League (AHL). Putting her hand up for national selection in that game was Allendorf, who delivered the killer punch to Canberra and sent a field goal into the back of the net. Her goal sealed a come from behind victory for NSW.

You can read more about the Arrows bronze medal victory HERE.

Also making their debut will be Kalindi Commerford from the ACT and Ashlea Fey from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Brisbane’s Audrey Smith will be the team’s second goalkeeper behind Olympian Ashlee Wells for the New Zealand tour, while Bartram will take over for the International Festival of Hockey.

One of the more interesting stories among the selected athletes is that of Carmichael, who after missing a place on the Australian Olympic Team filled in her spare time playing cricket. After switching she amassed 337 runs in six games, leading the West Australian Cricket Association to offer her a playing contract.

Carmichael subsequently signed with the Perth Scorchers for the second edition of the women’s Big Bash League, and will now have her hands full over summer as she juggles both her hockey and cricket commitments.

For Hockeyroos head coach Jason Duff his selection has been about creating a balanced team that would give players, such as debutants like Allendorf, the chance to have an impact in differing roles.

“We have selected a talented and exciting group of athletes which is quite balanced across the field,” Duff said.

“To provide support for the seven Rio athletes we have nine athletes that will have an opportunity to press their claim and continue their Hockeyroos careers. We believe that the base of experience that we have will provide a good platform for Ashlea Fey, Murphy Allendorf and Kalindi Commerford who will make their Hockeyroos debuts.

 
“We will be looking to increase the flexibility of our playing group through this period and give further opportunity for players to impress in different roles., we believe the balance of the team will make us competitive.

 
“The selection process for these two events was very thorough, taking into account all matches at the recent Australian Hockey League, along with performances for Australia, and performances in the national development teams.”

The Hockeyroos will begin their busy month with the trans-Tasman test series from November 17-20, while the International Festival of Hockey will follow soon after from November 23-30.