World-class Indoor 2025 World Cup Squads Announced!
Published Fri 20 Dec 2024
The Australian National Indoor hockey teams are primed for a history-making performance at the 2025 Indoor World Cup in Croatia, today unveiling experienced 12-strong women’s and men’s national teams.
Both teams face one of their best chances at a World Cup yet. Having accelerated through the rankings over the last 12 months. Ranked in the top 11 ahead of the 2023 World Cup in South Africa, both sides will contest February’s World Cup as a top five nation.
The men’s national team boast a wealth of experience, with seven of 12 team members returning for their second World Cup or more.
Former Kookaburra Benjamin Rennie will make history when he lines up at his fourth World Cup, while Victoria’s James Knee is set to make his third appearance.
“I’ve been watching the whole squad at Indoor Nationals this week in Canberra and the quality of Nationals this year has lifted immensely,” Head Coach Brett Herrington said.
“Every national squad member is at the level they need to be at. We have a great balance of experience and exciting young talent and I think we’ve got the team to push long into the finals.
“We won’t get ahead of ourselves, we know where we placed at the last World Cup and we know the challenge that is in front of us but I believe we have a really good opportunity to impress in Croatia.”
Over half of the 12-strong squad hails from ACT, with brothers Ben and Jake Staines, Liberty Hockey One League Top Goal Scorer Aiden Dooley and Garry Backhus recently starring in season four of the League to lead the Canberra Chill to the grand final.
ACT’s Connor Tuddenham will line up alongside his state counterparts, having earned his Indoor national call-up just a month after helping HC Melbourne claim its first-ever Liberty Hockey One League title over his Canberra teammates.
“Connor’s on-ball skills are next level,” Brett said.
“He’s so on-point, he finds space and finds passes that other players just can’t find at the moment. Indoor is a passing game, it’s not just run and gun and he’s got vital assets for our game that will bode well at the World Cup.”
After having a standout campaign at the Indoor National Championships, Kookaburra Tim Deavin will debut for the Indoor National side at the World Cup.
“Tim brings professionalism and experience from the Kookaburras both on and off the field and we know he’s a class act. But what he's rejuvenated in himself this year through indoor and at Nationals just showed why Tasmania ended up with a bronze medal for the first time.
“He has a huge engine and he was just phenomenal this week.”
The women’s indoor national side has also become a powerhouse, announcing six players who have been to one World Cup or more.
Former Hockeyroo Lizzy Duguid will line up for her third World Cup appearance just a month after helping the Perth Thundersticks on their unbeaten run to the Liberty Hockey One League title.
Duguid headlines a side with a solid mix of experience and electric new talent, with five players set to debut in the World Cup. Samantha Economos rejoins the side after an outstanding NRL season with the Sydney Roosters.
Four-time World Cup player and women’s head coach Emma McLeish is confident her side can achieve their target of a semifinal appearance in Croatia.
“Having a better world ranking this time around is pretty exciting,” Emma said.
“We’re really happy with the team we’ve named, it has a great mix of experience and new, exciting players coming through and hopefully we can build on that ranking next year in Croatia.
“We’ve come just short at the last three World Cups, bowing out in the quarterfinals and we really want to ensure we’re in that semi-final. If we prepare well leading into the campaign and stick to our strong game plan, I know we have a good chance.”
The women’s team kickstart their campaign against Namibia on February 3 before taking on New Zealand ahead of their toughest test, world number five Germany, on the 7th.
The men face Trinidad & Tobago first up, before a tough challenge in world number three Belgium on the 5th. They’ll fight for a place in the quarterfinals with a win over Namibia on the 7th.
The seventh edition of the FIH Indoor World Cup runs from 3 – 9 February.
Click here for the full Indoor 2025 World Cup schedule or see below for the Australian team schedule.
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ABOUT THE INDOOR MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Current FIH Indoor World Ranking: 4
Indoor World Cup history: 2003 – 8th, 2007 – 8th, 2011 – 7th, 2015 – 10th, 2018 – 4th, 2023 – 11th
ABOUT THE INDOOR WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Current FIH Indoor World Ranking: 5th
Indoor World Cup history: 2003 – 9th, 2007 – 6th, 2011 – 8th, 2015 – 8th, 2018 – 6th. 2023 – 7th
AUSTRALIAN TEAM POOL MATCH SCHEDULE
Monday, 3 Feb 2025
Men’s – Australia v Trinidad and Tobago – 9.20pm AWST / 12.20am AEDT (Feb 4)
Women’s – Australia v Namibia –10.30pm AWST / 1.30am AEDT (Feb 4)
Wednesday, 5 Feb 2025
Men’s - Australia v Belgium –5.50pm AWST / 8.50pm AEDT
Women’s – Germany v Australia – 8.30pm AWST / 11.30pm AEDT
7 Feb 2025
Men’s - Namibia v Australia – 4.20am AWST / 7.20am AEDT
Women’s – Australia v New Zealand – 7.10pm AWST / 10.10pm AEDT
