Nikki Hudson - photo courtesy Hockey Australia

by Claire Mitchell-Taverner.

Hockeyroos coach David Bell has named his team to compete at the Champions Trophy in Macau, China from the 24th August to the 1st of September. Bell has made two changes to the sixteen player team he named for the Commonwealth Games on Sunday, and has added four extra players to make a team of 18 for the Champions Trophy.


Champions Trophy Team

Jo Banning (NSW)

Nina Bonner (NSW)

Tammy Cole (QLD)

Toni Cronk (NSW)

Louise Dobson (VC) (VIC)

Peta Gallagher (ACT)

Nikki Hudson (VC) (QLD)

Bianca Langham-Pritchard (TAS)

Brooke Morrison (NSW)

Bianca Netzler (NSW)

Katrina Powell (Captain) (ACT)

Megan Sargeant (NSW)

Angie Skirving (QLD)

Karen Smith (QLD)

Ngaire Smith (VIC)

Sarah Taylor (ACT)

Julie Towers (NSW)

Melanie Twitt (NSW)

Jo Banning and Megan Sargeant were both selected as traveling reserves for the Commonwealth Games, and have been included in the eighteen player group to compete in Macau.


Rachel Imison is unavailable due to study commitments and has been replaced by Toni Cronk in goals for the Champions Trophy.


South Australia?s Carmel Bakurski is unlucky to miss selection, forced out by the inclusion of Megan Sargeant. The addition of Sargeant allows Bell to use Angie Skirving on the half line, and continue his experimentation with player combinations leading up to the World Cup.


Toni Cronk and Peta Gallagher will make their major tournament debut at the Champions Trophy.


David Bell has planned the selection of this team to give maximum major tournament exposure to players in the National Squad


?With the changes we have made, it will expose most of the national squad players to major tournament competition in the lead up to the World Cup in November.


Players who have not competed at these tournaments still have the opportunity to impress for selection at national squad camps later in the year,? Bell said.


?We have included two extra strikers as the work load that the players in that position are expected to do in the hot and humid conditions in Macau is very demanding,? Bell said.


The Hockeyroos depart Australia on the 16th of August.

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