Australia women's national field hockey team

Updated on Sep 23, 2024

Edit

Comment

Nickname Hockeyroos Manager Stephen Davies Captain Madonna Blyth Association Hockey Australia FIH ranking 3		Assistant coach Jason Duff Coach Adam Commens Location Australia Confederation Oceania Hockey Federation

The Australia women's national field hockey team (nicknamed the Hockeyroos) are Australia's national women's field hockey team. As of September 2015, they are ranked 2nd in the world.

Having played their first game in 1914, and their first Olympic game in 1980 they are one of Australia's most successful sporting teams, boasting three Olympic Gold Medals from the past six Games as well as winning two World Cups (1994, 1998) and four Commonwealth Games Gold Medals (1998, 2006, 2010, 2014). The Hockeyroos have been crowned Australia's Team of the Year five times and were unanimously awarded Best Australian Team at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. A notable part of the Hockeyroos colourful history has involved Ric Charlesworth. Charlesworth was at the helm of the Hockeyroos from 1993 to 2000, where his reign as coach saw the team win the 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999 Champions Trophies, 1994 and 1998 World Cups and the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Charlesworth took the Hockeyroos to the Atlanta and Sydney Olympic Games where the team won back-to-back gold medals. Since 2011 the team has been coached by Adam Commens.

Given the extent of the Hockeyroos success, the team has consistently remained at the top of the world hockey rankings. From the late 1980s until 2000, the Australian team was ranked at number 1 in the world. Only once during this period, did the Hockeyroos fail to win a tournament, when they finished second.

Rechelle Hawkes

As part of the Olympic team in 1988, 1992, 1996, 1999 and 2000, Rechelle Hawkes is one of the most revered Hockeyroos of all time. Such is her status in international hockey that she is among the most successful female players in the history of the sport. Hawkes is the only female hockey player to win three Olympic gold medals at three separate games. After 279 international matches, Hawkes retired following the Sydney Olympic Games where the Hockeyroos again won gold. In recognition of her contribution to Australian sport, Rechelle was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2002.

Alyson Annan

Alyson Annan is also one of more prominent figures in the history of the Hockeyroos. Annan debuted in the Australian side at the age of 18 and became renowned for her prowess in front of goal, scoring 166 goals during her career. She was widely regarded as the sharpest shooter in international women's hockey during the 1990s which was acknowledged when she won the World Hockey Player of the Year in 1999. Annan represented Australia 228 times, and was part of the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Gold Medal winning teams. Annan remains the Hockeyroos highest goal scorer.

Nikki Hudson

As a highly recognised Hockeyroo, Nikki Hudson has become one of the most identifiable Australian athletes. Retiring in 2009, the striker has already become the highest capped player in the history of the Hockeyroos, finishing on 303 games (the only Hockeyroo to play over 300 games). Since her debut in 1993 at the age of 17, Hudson had scored 99 goals in international competition. In 2008, she played in her third successive Olympic Games.

The Hockeyroos today

The Hockeyroos were extremely unlucky not to have advanced to the semifinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics after finishing the rounds on 10 points, the same as China to finish second on the pool table. However, a slightly better goal difference to China saw them advance instead of Australia – this was the first time a team had finished on 10 points but not advance to the finals at an Olympic Games.

Following this a number of players retired, however a core group of experienced players such as captain Madonna Blyth, Casey Eastham and Kobie McGurk still remain, with these players quickly becoming leaders of what is now quite a young team. After finishing fifth at the 2010 World Cup the Hockeyroos bounced back a few weeks later at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, defeating New Zealand in the final to win their third gold medal. Following this tournament coach Frank Murray announced his retirement. Murray was replaced by former Kookaburra Adam Commens in November 2010. They recently won the inaugural International Super Series in Perth, playing against India and Malaysia in a modified 9-a-side format.