Kookaburras name strong senior squad for World League Final later this month
Hockey Auatralia chief coach Graham Reid has announced teams for the forthcoming Raipur twin events: HWL Final and India-Aus test series.
Kookaburras coach Graham Reid will showcase a strong senior squad at the upcoming Fintro World League Final in Raipur, India later this month after welcoming back players from injury and scheduled recoveries.
Having already qualified for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games at the World League Semi Final in Belgium earlier this year, the Australian 18-man-squad will face the world’s best teams for the World League title, automatic qualification for the 2016 Champions Trophy and international ranking points.
Wollongong brothers Blake and Kieran Govers will play side-by-side each other in the Kookaburras’ kit for the second time this year. Eyes will be on 19 year-old Blake after he had a phenomenal first major international tournament at the Olympic qualifier – the World League Semi Final – where he was named the tournament’s Top scorer and Best Junior Player after netting seven goals.
The World League squad features 12 athletes from the recent Oceania Cup winning group. These athletes had consistent performances throughout the tournament, including Western Australia’s Trent Mitton who scored the winning goal for the Kookaburras in the Oceania Cup final.
Andrew Charter, Jeremy Hayward and Jake Whetton return from injury while senior players Daniel Beale, Kieran Govers and Matthew Swann re-join the group following a break after the World League Semi Final.
Showcasing an intimidating senior squad, New South Wales’ Matthew Dawson will join Blake Govers as the Kookaburras’ only two junior players selected to tour Raipur. Dawson debuted for the Kookaburras at the Perth Indian test series last November, and since his debut Dawson has played a crucial role in the Kookaburras defence.
Explaining the selections, Kookaburras coach Graham Reid said, “It’s a pretty experienced squad and unfortunately we don’t get enough opportunities to play the European teams, making it difficult for us to experiment at these types of tournaments due to the amount of good competition. We selected our World League squad with an eye on the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
“There will be opportunities for two of our younger players and players returning from injury at the World League. I think the selected group showcases a good mix of players, however, we will also be giving our whole squad an opportunity during the Indian tests prior to the tournament, allowing everyone the chance to put their foot forward for Olympic squad selection.”
In Pool A, Australia’s men will line up against Belgium (world ranking #4), Great Britain (#5) and Canada (#13) and could possibly face Pool B opponents the Netherlands (#2), who are 2014 defending champions, Germany (#3) Argentina (#6) and hosts India (#8) in the later stages of the competition.
The Kookaburras will be looking to redeem themselves after going down to Great Britain 2-1 in the 2014 World League Final in New Delhi during the bronze medal final. Australia – world number one – will go head-to-head with Great Britain on day three of the competition.
Discussing the Kookaburras’ 2015 opponents, Reid added, “The important thing to remember is that there are phases to this tournament. The first phase is your initial pool, however, you also need to keep track on what’s happening in the other pool, because that’s going to be your crossover later on in the competition.
“All teams will be a challenge this year, however, the Netherlands have had a very good European Championship and need to be considered in the top favourites. Belgium will be under a new head coach and will be looking to impress, while India will be resting their Hockey India League players, however, their next crop coming through will be just as competitive.”
Two athletes could be in line for milestone appearances with Australian goalkeeper Andrew Charter and forward Jake Whetton approaching 100 career matches.
An expanded Kookaburras squad – featuring 23 athletes – will head to India on 13 November to play three test matches against India prior to the World League Final in Raipur.
Midfielder Simon Orchard will return to the squad alongside teammates Joshua Beltz, Kiel Brown, Joel Carroll, Tristan Clemons, Chris Ciriello, Tom Craig, Leon Hayward, Tristan White, Flynn Ogilvie, Glenn Simpson and Dylan Wotherspoon who will compete in the Indian tests, however, will not compete at the World League Final.
The Fintro Hockey World League Final will start in Raipur, India on 27 November 2015 with the Kookaburras facing Belgium in their first pool match on Saturday 28 November.
Kookaburras Squad for Fintro Hockey World League Final
Raipur, India
Athlete (Hometown, State)
Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD) 64/12
Andrew Charter (Canberra, ACT) 98/0
Matthew Dawson (Central Coast, NSW) 24/3
Tim Deavin (Launceston, TAS) 117/6
Jamie Dwyer (Rockhampton, QLD) 345/232
Matt Gohdes (Rockhampton, QLD) 135/45
Blake Govers (Wollongong, NSW) 17/16
Kieran Govers (Wollongong, NSW) 108/56
Jeremy Hayward (Darwin, NT) 37/13
Fergus Kavanagh (Geraldton, WA) 210/16
Mark Knowles (Rockhampton, QLD) 269/22
Tyler Lovell (Perth, WA) 54/0
Trent Mitton (Perth, WA) 77/32
Eddie Ockenden (Hobart, TAS) 256/63
Matthew Swann (Mackay, QLD) 122/6
Glenn Turner (Goulburn, NSW) 118/88
Jake Whetton (Brisbane, QLD) 97/41
Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA) 70/8
Kookaburras Squad for Indian Test Series
Raipur, India
Athlete (Hometown, State)
Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD) 64/12
Joshua Beltz (Hobart, TAS) 4/2
Kiel Brown (Toowoomba, QLD) 168/6
Joel Carroll (Darwin, NT) 102/2
Tristan Clemons (Bunbury, WA) 25/0
Tom Craig (Lane Cove, NSW) 13/5
Chris Ciriello (Melbourne, VIC) 174/113
Matthew Dawson (Central Coast, NSW) 24/3
Tim Deavin (Launceston, TAS) 117/6
Matt Gohdes (Rockhampton, QLD) 135/45
Blake Govers (Wollongong, NSW) 17/16
Kieran Govers (Wollongong, NSW) 108/56
Jeremy Hayward (Darwin, NT) 37/13
Leon Hayward (GK) (Darwin, NT) 10/0
Trent Mitton (Perth, WA) 77/32
Flynn Ogilvie (Wollongong, NSW) 11/5
Simon Orchard (Maitland, NSW) 178/54
Glenn Simpson (Melbourne, VIC) 127/23
Matthew Swann (Mackay, QLD) 122/6
Jake Whetton (Brisbane, QLD) 97/41
Tristan White (Wollongong, NSW) 63/3
Dylan Wotherspoon (Murwillumbah, NSW^) 14/3
Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA) 70/8
^Dylan Wotherspoon is an athlete at the Queensland Academy of Sport and is classified as a QLD athlete but grew up in Mulwillumbah, NSW.
Kookaburras Fixtures
Date – Time (AEST) – Fixture
Saturday 28 November – 22:00 AEST – Kookaburras v Belgium
Monday 30 November – 02:00 AEST – Kookaburras v Great Britain
Wednesday 2 December – 00:00 AEST – Kookaburras v Canada
Thursday 3 December – TBC – Quarter Finals
Friday 4 December – TBC – Quarter Finals
Saturday 5 December – TBC – Semi Finals
Sunday 5 December – TBC – Semi Finals
Monday 7 December – TBC – Finals
Broadcast Information for Australia:
Fox Sports will broadcast Australian matches at the World League Final on Foxtel.