World Champions the Kookaburras will welcome back seven Olympians as they get their 2014 World Cup qualification campaign underway in Europe. The newest tournament in the international hockey calendar, the Hockey World League is Australia’s first opportunity to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
The Kookaburras name a 20-strong squad for the tour to Europe, which also includes two test matches against the Netherlands and one against rising stars Belgium. From the 20, an 18 man squad will be selected for the World League.
To be assured of a place at the World Cup, the Kookaburras must finish in the top three of the Rabobank Hockey World League competition in Rotterdam. Following the successful series victory over Korea in Perth, which concluded last week, the Australian men are bolstered by the return of three-times Olympian Mark Knowles (QLD), double Olympians Fergus Kavanagh (WA) and Eddie Ockenden (TAS), and London 2012 bronze medal winners Chris Ciriello (VIC), Matthew Swann (QLD), Simon Orchard (NSW) and Kieran Govers (NSW).
They are joined by five times World Player of the Year Jamie Dwyer (QLD), who could be in line to make his 300th appearance for the Kookaburras during the tour, and six other members of the London Olympic squad. Following his performances as part of the team’s record breaking seventh Sultan Azlan Shah campaign in March and the recent Korean series, Aran Zalewski (WA) will make the trip as will goalkeeper Tristan Clemons (WA) after impressing in Perth.Between them, Trent Mitton (WA) and Russell Ford (VIC) scored seven goals against Korea and both will have the opportunity to add to their respective tallies in Europe.
Explaining his selection, Coach Ric Charlesworth said: “This is what we think is our best team at the moment. It hasn’t been an easy selection because a lot of players have performed well recently. Aran Zalewski and Tristan Clemons have been included because of their recent form; Trent Mitton and Jake Whetton are consolidating their places in our squad and we’re able to call on a number of players that haven’t been available to us because they’ve been playing in Europe.”
Kookaburras Squad for European Tour and Rabobank Hockey World League
30 May – 23 June 2013
(Listed alphabetically by surname)
Kiel Brown (Perth, WA)
Joel Carroll (Darwin, NT)
Andrew Charter (GK) (Canberra, ACT)
Chris Ciriello (Melbourne, VIC)
Tristan Clemons (GK) (Bunbury, WA)
Tim Deavin (Launceston, TAS)
Jamie Dwyer (Rockhampton, QLD)
Russell Ford (Eltham, VIC)
Matt Gohdes (Rockhampton, QLD)
Kieran Govers (Wollongong, NSW)
Rob Hammond (Townsville, QLD)
Fergus Kavanagh (Geraldton, WA)
Mark Knowles (Rockhampton, QLD)
Trent Mitton (Perth, WA)
Eddie Ockenden (Hobart, TAS)
Simon Orchard (Maitland, NSW)
Glenn Simpson (Melbourne, VIC)
Matthew Swann (Mackay, QLD)
Jake Whetton (Brisbane, QLD)
Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA)