By KATE ALLMAN
Amy Lawton injury update, plus a Hockeyroo to debut with new team. We’ve got the latest on Lawton, meanwhile anticipation builds as a fabled name returns to Hockey One, a young gun is relisted, and the Jillaroos’ Junior World Cup squad has been named.
These are the biggest stories to watch in Round 3.
Brooke is back
Peris is an iconic name in Australian hockey. On Saturday, it will re-enter the Hockey One arena, as Hockeyroos midfielder Brooke Peris takes to the turf for her highly anticipated first match of 2023 for the Adelaide Fire.
Peris debuted for the Canberra Chill in the inaugural 2019 season but sadly missed last year, along with World Cup and Birmingham Commonwealth Games Hockeyroo commitments, due to injury.
She was a marquee signing for the Adelaide Fire women during the pre season, and brings pace, skilful creativity and a wealth of international experience to the team. With 194 games for the Hockeyroos and 33 goals, Champions Trophy and Oceania Cup wins, plus a 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medal, Peris could have a significant impact on the thus-far winless Fire.
It’s also a good week to be a Peris, as this week dual Olympian gold-medal winning Hockeyroo Nova Peris was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame alongside sporting legends such as Cathy Freemen and Richie Benaud.
Foster takes the turf
Young West Australian gun Brodee Foster first made a name for himself in last year’s Australian Under 21 Championships. He won Player of the Tournament and top goal scorer, but that wasn’t what caught the eye of international hockey fans everywhere. His headline moment was his incredible diving back stick goal against South Australia during the tournament, which has been viewed and shared thousands of times on social media.
This week, Foster makes his first appearance of the JDH Hockey One League 2023 Season as the Perth Thundersticks head to Hobart to take on the Tassie Tigers. It may be one of the few chances we get to see the rising star before he flies to Malaysia later this month for the Sultan of Johor Cup with Australia’s U21 team, the Burras.
Lawton injury update
Viewers had their hearts in their throats last week as Amy Lawton, last season’s Most Valuable Player hobbled off the field.
Reports from the injury bench identified an ambiguous calf injury, but Lawton later returned to play in the second half.
Fortunately, it appears the scare was just that as she has been named to play for HC Melbourne in against the NSW Pride on Sunday.
Jillaroos squad announcement
Australia’s under 21 women’s team has never looked better, with seven capped Hockeyroos – all of them Hockey One players – named to travel to Chile for the 2023 Junior Women’s World Cup.
Maddi Brooks (Tassie Tigers), Claire Colwill (Brisbane Blaze), Hannah Cullum-Sanders (Blaze), Alana Kavanagh (NSW Pride), Amy Lawton (HC Melbourne), Tatum Stewart (Blaze) and Grace Young (Pride) have all donned green and gold at a senior level, amassing 171 international matches between them.
On a talented list, rising stars Josie Lawton (HC Melbourne) and Makayla Jones (NSW Pride), also received the junior team call up. Both had stand-out performances in Round 2.
“This 18-player team is an incredibly talented group who have been selected not just based on their skills but also for their outstanding work ethic, grit, and a commitment to our culture…what we believe are the true hallmarks of Australian hockey,” said Jillaroos Coach Stacia Strain.
This year presents perhaps the best opportunity the Jillaroos have ever had to win the global tournament – our previous best results being silver and bronze.
However, like the Sultan of Johor Cup, it also presents a hiccup for Hockey One clubs. The World Cup is due to start on 29 November, just days after Hockey One finals. Depth in team lists and versatility of players may impact heavily as we approach the pointy end of the season.