Fresh off an exhilarating campaign at the National Championships in Bendigo, several members of Western Australia’s Under-21 teams have caught the attention of national selectors.
In a landmark achievement, WA’s Men’s team clinched an unprecedented fourth consecutive National Championship, becoming the first team in 80 years to do so. Meanwhile, the Women’s team delivered a competitive performance, with both squads now contributing ten athletes to the Australian Under-21 national squads.
Several of these players will travel to Europe in June to represent Australia as part of the Burras and Jillaroos squads.
Patrick Andrew, Matthew Edwards, Ian Grobbelaar, Zed Kearnan and Matthew van Selm earned selection to the Hockey Australia Under-21 Men’s National Squad. Andrew, Edwards, Grobbelaar and van Selm will travel to Europe with the Burras in June.
“It’s fantastic that Ian, Matt, Pat, Matt and Zed have been rewarded with selection in the National Junior Squad on the back of their performances at the tournament,” WA Under-21 Men's head coach Tim Geers said.
“Not only are they great players but they have great character too, and they are young men that WA should be very proud to have representing us on the world stage.
“While they are rightly very excited at the opportunity, I’m sure all of them would be the first to admit the support from their teammates greatly contributed to them being able to perform to their best.
“We’ve now had 26 selections into the National Junior Squad in the past four years, which is a very healthy number.”
Following the Women's tournament, Summer Greenway, Georgia Hiskins, Madison Naish, Saysha Pillay and Caitlyn Templeman were selected into Hockey Australia’s National Under-21 Women’s squad, with Greenway, Hiskins, Naish and Templeman set to tour Europe with the Jillaroos in June.
“Like all selections, they are only possible from a team that works together so it is a credit to everyone in the team,” WA Under-21 Women's head coach Stephanie Andrews said.
“It is great to see the girls selected get an opportunity and I am looking forward to seeing how they can develop into the future and leading into the Junior World Cup at the end of the year.
“Previously we had no athletes in the JWC Women’s squad, so this is a really positive sign that we are on the right track with the talent we have coming through.”
2025 Under-21 National Squad - WA selections
Men
Patrick Andrew
Matt Edwards
Ian Grobbelaar
Zed Kearnan
Matthew van Selm
Women
Summer Greenway
Georgia Hiskins
Madison Naish
Saysha Pillay
Caitlyn Templeman
2025 Burras European Tour Squad - WA selections
Patrick Andrew
Matt Edwards
Ian Grobbelaar
Matthew van Selm
2025 Jillaroos European Tour Squad - WA selections
Georgia Hiskins
Madison Naish
Caitlyn Templeman
