Q: You’ve got a busy international calendar ahead. How important is it to start strongly in Hobart, and to use it as a block that sets the tone for the year?

A: I think the most important thing is how we use Hobart as a block. We spoke to the players, including those coming out of the Hockey India League, and what this block gives us is two groups of 24 athletes. That allows us, if we want, to rotate teams game by game and assess every player across the two-week period.

We still want to perform well and win games, that’s important, but the bigger picture is the World Cup. This is about seeing players early, giving opportunities where we think they’re earned, and continuing to grow the team within our structures and principles, both on and off the field.

Q: You touched on principles both on and off the field. What are your key focuses in preparation for Pro League and beyond?

A: This block is very much a physical one for us. The players in the Hockey India League are getting plenty of match exposure, but they’re also coming through a physical loading phase. We’ve already completed physical testing with those players, as well as the group back home, and we’ll retest again in early February to see how we’re tracking.

This phase is about building match tempo and the ability to play high-intensity hockey. We’ve got around five games here against Malaysia and China, which will be crucial in building match fitness before we head into the next stages of the year.

Q: You’ve brought together an exciting mix of new talent and experienced players. What excites you most about this group?

A: The versatility and speed within the group really excites me. Hockey is trending towards speed, and while it’s hard to coach, players who have it can break lines, recover quickly, and lift the tempo of the whole team.

That speed also helps those around them who may not naturally have it, allowing everyone to complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. We’ve also got a strong group of drag flickers now, which is exciting. How we use them and where they fit will be a big focus over the next eight to twelve months. Beyond the World Cup, we’re also thinking about LA, making sure we have depth across all lines and strong set-piece capability.

Q: How valuable is this period for testing combinations and building depth ahead of the World Cup and LA?

A: It’s extremely valuable. This block gives us the opportunity to assess all players when they’re given a chance, and to experiment with different combinations and playing structures.

We want to see how those structures hold up, how quickly the group can adapt, and how we learn on our feet. While we still want to win every game — Pro League is Olympic qualification for LA — our priority is developing players and building combinations that will serve us long-term.

Q: Opportunities will present themselves for players to cement their place in the squad. What can fans expect from the team in terms of style and excitement this year?

A: Fans can expect the same speed, the same attacking intent, and a high-pressing style that puts pressure on the opposition and limits their time on the ball.

One key focus for us this year, though, is our defensive mindset. We know we can attack, but we want to be able to win the tough, scrappy games — those one-nil matches where you have to grind it out. Defence is a real theme for us. We want to be a team that’s feared not just for how we attack, but for how difficult we are to play against defensively as well.

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