New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship athletes Tim Brand, Tom Craig, Matthew Dawson, Blake Govers, Dylan Martin, Lachlan Sharp, Ash Thomas and Ky Willott have been named in the 20-player Kookaburras squad that was selected for FIH Pro League matches against the Netherlands and Belgium, in Europe, from 8-20 June.

Kookaburras Head Coach Colin Batch has made nine changes to the squad that competed in the FIH Pro League ‘mini tournament’ in Christchurch at the end of April.

Overall impressed by what he saw from the group who played in Christchurch, Batch is eager to see what level other players are at during the European tour as he looks to identify his best team for the all-important Oceania Cup, which doubles as Olympic qualifiers, in August.

Included in the squad for Europe are five established Kookaburras who have been based abroad over the past two months.

Brand, Craig, Dawson, Govers and Jeremy Hayward have been playing club hockey in Europe and will join up with the Kookaburras travelling party for the FIH Pro League series.

The quintet, who have a combined 715 international matches of experience between them, last played for the Kookaburras in the Pro League ‘mini tournament’ in Hobart in late February.

The other notable inclusions are goalkeeper Ash Thomas, who will make his Kookaburras debut, Canberra based Davis Atkin who played three Pro League matches in India earlier this year, plus Jacob Anderson and Dylan Martin.

One notable absentee is star midfielder Aran Zalewski. The 30 year old 240 game veteran will remain in Perth after recently becoming a father for the first time.

“One of the things we wanted in the Christchurch Pro League series was a consolidation of our way of play and improvement…and we saw that in the group who played there, so I was pleased with that side of it,” said Batch.

“This will be a build up for the Oceania Cup to make sure we have the best 18 players for those games. Right at this minute I’m not sure who that is, which is why we have extended opportunities for players to find out exactly where everyone is at.”

“I want to find out exactly where the five players who have been playing in Europe are at and have a good assessment of them.

“Then we can compare them with the ones who have been playing in the last couple of Pro League mini tournaments, so this has been a good and interesting opportunity for us to extend the depth of the squad.”

“There are some disappointed guys who played well in New Zealand but aren’t in the European tour, but they are certainly in contention for future section.”

“Aran (Zalewski) will attend to home duties for a while helping to take care of his new baby daughter Margot. It’s a nice thing for him to do and I fully support it.”

“Ash (Thomas) has been around the group for some time without getting an opportunity. He played in the Junior World Cup in 2016, so we’re giving him an opportunity now and that comes off the back of him performing well in the Hockey One League last year. This opportunity for him is consistent with us opening up selection at this time.”

Batch will get no better gauge at where his players and game style are at than by taking on the world number one (Netherlands) and two (Belgium) ranked men’s hockey nations.

“We want to continue refining our way of play. Every time you play against European teams they challenge you in different ways so we get to learn more about our players that way,” said Batch.

“First and foremost, we need to see if our way of play stacks up against quality European opposition.”

“It’s always a good challenge playing the Netherlands and Belgium, especially on their home patch.”

In addition to the Pro League matches, the tour will include a match against Ireland on 7 June before concluding with two internationals against France in Paris on 23 and 25 June, a year out from the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Kookaburras squad is scheduled to depart for Europe on 2 June.

The Kookaburras’ FIH Pro League matches will be broadcast LIVE on FOX Sports and Kayo.

Kookaburras squad – FIH Pro League 2022-23 Season Europe Series

Name Age Hometown, State Caps (Goals) Junior Hockey Club
Jacob Anderson 25 Mackay, QLD 54 (19) Brothers HC
Davis Atkin 22 Canberra, ACT 3 (0) Western Districts HC
Daniel Beale 30 Brisbane, QLD 223 (33) Commercial HC, Bulimba HC
Josh Beltz 27 Hobart, TAS 93 (5) Diamondbacks HC
Tim Brand 24 Chatswood, NSW 73 (28) Ryde Hunters Hill HC
Andrew Charter (gk) 36 Canberra, ACT 222 (0) Central HC
James Collins 23 Perth, WA 14 (0) Victoria Park HC
Tom Craig 27 Lane Cove, NSW 115 (37) Ryde Hunters Hill HC
Matthew Dawson 28 Killarney Vale, NSW 183 (13) Norths Newcastle
Nathan Ephraums 23 Keysborough, VIC 47 (25) Southern United HC
Blake Govers 26 Wollongong, NSW 140 (129) Uni of Wollongong, Albion Park HC
Jake Harvie 24 Dardanup, WA 111 (5) Boyanup Junior HC
Jeremy Hayward 29 Darwin, NT 204 (102) Waratahs HC
Tim Howard 26 Wakerley, QLD 115 (2) Eastern Suburbs HC
Dylan Martin 25 Wagga Wagga, NSW 28 (0) Cavaliers HC
Eddie Ockenden 35 Hobart, TAS 420 (72) North West Grads HC
Lachlan Sharp 25 Lithgow, NSW 79 (14) Zigzag HC, Ryde Hunters Hill HC
Ash Thomas (gk) 27 Baulkham Hills, NSW – Baulkham Hills HC
Jake Whetton 31 Brisbane, QLD 253 (72) Eastern Suburbs HC
Ky Willott 21 Newcastle, NSW 26 (7) Norths HC

FIH Pro League 2022-23 Season Eindhoven and Antwerp – Hockeyroos & Kookaburras Match Schedule
8 June 2023 – Netherlands v Hockeyroos (Women) 7:40pm local time
9 June 2023 – Netherlands v Kookaburras (Men) 7:40pm local time
11 June 2023 – Netherlands v Hockeyroos (Women) 3:10pm local time
12 June 2023 – Netherlands v Kookaburras (Men) 7:40pm local time
16 June 2023 – Belgium v Hockeyroos (Women) 8:40pm local time
17 June 2023 – Belgium v Kookaburras (Men) 4:40pm local time
19 June 2023 – Belgium v Hockeyroos (Women) 8:40pm local time
20 June 2023 – Belgium v Kookaburras (Men) 8:40pm local time

Full FIH Pro League 2022-23 Match Schedule

Story courtesy of Hockey Australia

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