Kookaburras coach Ric Charlesworth has selected his 2010 national squad.
After an experimental first year in the job in which 14 players made their national debuts, Charlesworth will continue to build the depth of his squad in order to discover the best balance towards the 2012 London Olympics.
As a result of their improvement under Charlesworth, players Brent Dancer, Matt Gohdes, Matthew Swann, Glenn Turner and Jason Wilson have progressed from the 2009 National Development squad to the 2010 National Senior Squad.
Dancer, Swann and Turner all played pivotal roles in the Kookaburras recently winning their record 10th Champions Trophy title in
Omissions from the 2009 National Senior squad include goalkeeper Stephen Lambert who retired during the year. 2008
Ian Burcher and Mark Paterson are also no longer in the National Senior squad but have been placed in the National Development squad.
Malcolm Kemp, Kieran Govers and Trent Mitton have also been added to the National Development squad.
Despite 2009 emerging as a learning year for the Kookaburras, the team has recorded some impressive results under Charlesworth to date, most notably winning the 2009 ABN AMRO Hockey Champions Trophy – the most prestigious hockey tournament on the 2009 calendar.
“There has been some movement between the groups (Senior and Development squads) which I think reflects a healthy competitiveness amongst the team, it indicates that there has been progress made. We intend to pick players from both squads throughout next year, so those players in the Development squad are still all well in contention,” said Charlesworth.
The Kookaburras will be looking to follow up their 2009 Champions Trophy victory with another win at the Hero Honda FIH Men’s World Cup which will be played in
National Senior Squad: Des Abbott, George Bazeley, Graeme Begbie, Kiel Brown, Nathan Burgers, Matthew Butturini, Joel Carroll, Chris Ciriello, Brent Dancer, Liam de Young, Luke Doerner, Jamie Dwyer, Russell Ford, Matt Gohdes, David Guest, Rob Hammond, Fergus Kavanagh, Mark Knowles, Brent Livermore, Ross Meadows, Eddie Ockenden, Simon Orchard, Glenn Simpson, Grant Schubert, Matthew Swann, Glenn Turner, Jason Wilson.
National Development Squad: Michael Bates, Tim Bates, Ian Burcher, Jonathon Charlesworth, Tim Deavin, Kris Glass, Kieran Govers, Leon Hayward, Trent Mitton, Malcolm Kemp, Mark Paterson, Josh Pollard.
Source: Hockey
