Albany tyro makes Hockeyroo debut

Local hockey product Kathryn Slattery will make her debut for the Hockeyroos this Saturday after being selected in the Australian national squad to play a warm-up Test series against New Zealand and the upcoming Champions Trophy in Argentina.

Slattery’s selection continues her remarkable rise through the ranks after representing her country at under-21 level and recently touring Japan and China with the Australia A team. Raised on her parents’ farm in South Stirling, the 21-year-old played locally for Manypeaks and Tigers before moving to Perth, where she attends university and her hockey career has taken off.

She is among four new faces Hockeyroos coach Adam Commens has named to make their debut in the three-Test series against New Zealand, which starts on Saturday, and said she was ecstatic when the news came through.

“I was really stoked and pretty blown away when I found out,” Slattery said.

“I thought I had been training pretty well and had some positive feedback from the coaches, but it was a pretty big shock to get picked.

“Obviously I love playing but I never thought I would make it the whole way.

“I really want to play well and want to cement myself in the team.”

Slattery will fly out tomorrow with the team before they begin the Test series against New Zealand on Saturday in Wellington, with the second match on Sunday and the third on Tuesday. The side will then fly back to Sydney, where they will depart for the Champions Trophy in Argentina with their first match against England on November 30.

“We want to try and gel as a team and as a striker group and build confidence to go into Champions with,” Slattery said.

“It’s been really busy, especially the last three weeks — the commitment has been six or seven hours a day with meetings, physio and training, so it’s been pretty full-on.”

With her parents and family in the middle of harvest, Slattery said they would not be able to come to New Zealand to watch her debut or play in the Champions Trophy, but said they were all immensely proud.

Slattery said she was very excited about the opportunity to play on the international stage.

“I’m pretty nervous and really proud (to make my debut), she said.

“I’m proud to be Australian and to represent my country is a big deal to me.”

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