NSW strong representation in Hockeyroos and Kookaburra teams for the upcoming Olympics

The Australian Olympic Committee yesterday announced a 16 strong women and men’s team consisting of an impressive 13 players from NSW.

Six debutants were named in the Hockeyroos team including NSW’s very own Alice Arnott (Willow Tree), Goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartrum (Albury) and Grace Young (Grafton). They were named alongside experienced campaigners Grace Stewart (Gerringong) and Mariah Williams (Parkes) who are now set to compete at a third Olympics.

Third generation Australian Hockey representative Kaitlin Nobbs (Newington) was the sixth player from NSW to be named in the Hockeyroos. Paris is set to be Kaitlin’s second Olympics, having made her Olympic debut in Toyko.

Nobbs comes from Hockey royalty with her parents, Lee Capes a gold medal winning Hockeyroos at the 1988 games while Michael Nobbs played at the 1984 games. Kaitlin’s grandmother, June Capes also represented Australia in the women’s Hockey team.

Hockeyroos Head Coach Katrina Powell said "This is our best 16 players who we believe will give us the best chance of being successful in Paris".

Recently crowned Men’s FIH Hockey Pro League 2023-24 Champions The Kookaburras named seven NSW players for their upcoming Paris campaign, Tim Brand (Chatswood), Thomas ‘Tom’ Craig (Lane Cove), Matthew Dawson (Killarney Vale), Blake Govers (Wollongong), Flynn Ogilvie (Wollongong), Lachlan Sharp (Lithgow) and Ky Willott (Newcastle).

Newcastle’s Ky Willott moved to Hockey Australia’s High Performance Centre in Perth at the start of 2022 to pursue his Australian Hockey dream which proved a very successful move, having made his debut for the Kookaburras in April 2022 and is now set to make his Olympic debut in Paris.

Williott said “It’s been a childhood dream of playing at the Olympics and I wouldn’t have been able to without the support of many friends, family and especially my partner”.

Paris will mark the third Olympics for experienced Kookaburras Matthew Dawson and Blake Govers, and the Second Olympics for Tim Brand, Tom Craig, Flynn Ogilvie and Lithgow’s Lachlan Sharp.

Kookaburras Head Coach Colin Batch said "The Olympic Games creates a different environment and atmosphere and it’s a level up. We have a very experienced squad and we have to acknowledge the depth in our wider squad as we haven’t selected some quality players".

"We also have experience in the coaching staff, and we will lean on that. We've been across a lot over the last seven or eight years and while it doesn't guarantee anything, our preparation’s been good."

Hockey NSW would like to extend our congratulations to all 13 NSW players selected in their respective Olympic Hockey teams, we are very proud of your achievements, which are a testament to many years of hard work and sacrifice. The NSW Hockey community and we are sure the rest of Australia will be loudly cheering you all on!

To view the full team list and announcement click here.