Hockeyroos to feature four NSWIS athletes in Brussels

Four athletes from the NSW Institute of Sport hockey program have been selected to represent Australia in the Hockeyroos side that will compete in the World League Semi Final in Brussels next month.

Hockey Australia have named Jocelyn Bartram, Georgina Morgan, Emily Smith and Mariah Williams in the squad of 18 women competing in Belgium which acts as a qualifying event for the 2018 World Cup.

Georgie Morgan returns for the first time in 2017 following a short stint on the sideline with a niggling foot injury.

Hockeyroos head coach Paul Gaudoin told Hockey Australia he looked forward to having more depth in the squad.

“The team we have taking part in the World League Semi-Final sees the return of some senior players who have been out of the squad so far this year due to injury.

“Their return will add some depth to our defensive line, and along with the debut of Georgia Wilson we should see some interesting new dynamics within the team.

“We’ll be looking to implement some of the learnings we made from the Hawke’s Bay Cup in New Zealand earlier this year, and having a couple of practice matches in Holland prior to the Semi Final should ensure we’re match ready.”

If the Hockeyroos place in the top three at the World League Semi-Final they will automatically qualify for the World League Final which will take place in Auckland in November, while if they finish in the top five they will automatically qualify for the 2018 World Cup which will take place in London next July. 

The Hockeyroos will head over to Europe on Sunday, June 11 where they will take part in a two-game practice test against Holland prior to the World League Semi-Final in Belgium.

As well as having athletes named in the senior women’s national squad, a total of thirteen players from NSWIS have been selected to represent New South Wales in the U21 Australian National Championships for 2017.

• Morgan BLAMEY (North West Sydney)
• Andrea GILLARD (Lithgow)
• Kate HANNA (Sydney East)
• Greta HAYES (North West Sydney)
• Rene HUNTER (Lithgow)
• Grace JEFFREY (Central Coast) 
• Kaitlin NOBBS (Sydney East) 
• Mikaela PATTERSON (North West Sydney)
• Courtney SCHONELL (Metro South West) 
• Emma SPINKS (Central Coast) 
• Grace STEWART (Illawarra South Coast) 
• Jessica WATTERSON (Bathurst)
• Abigail WILSON (Lithgow) 

The athletes will join Head Coach Greg Doolan in Wollongong for the competition, which will run from the 7th to 14th of July.