As the next stages of the current FIH Hockey Pro Leagueseason approach (starting from 5 February), let us hear from the teams beginning their Pro League campaigns soon! Today, Australian player Greta Hayes shares her thoughts.

You’ve got a busy international calendar ahead. How important is it to start strongly in Hobart, especially with a new head coach coming into the fold?

I think the upcoming games in Hobart, specifically the first four games, are really important preparation for us leading into World Cup qualifiers. It’s our first opportunity in 2026 to get some international games under our belt, and with five or six new players coming into the squad this year, it’s a great opportunity for them to potentially make their debut for Australia.

Those four matches will be tough and come ahead of some really important, high-pressure games in Chile. It’s also exciting starting the year with a new head coach. The change in leadership has created a very different start to the year — from our training schedule through to the technical and tactical side of how we want to play as the Hockeyroos.

Overall, it’s a really exciting opportunity to head into the new year with new coaching and a refreshed approach.

How valuable is this period for testing combinations and building depth heading toward the World Cup?

We’re within six months of the 2026 World Cup — obviously qualification comes first. A new year always presents an opportunity to test new connections and new players.

This year is a little unusual with a big change in leadership in a World Cup year, but I see it as the start of a three-year cycle leading into the LA Olympics. This year will be a foundation year — testing combinations, testing new players, challenging experienced players, and pushing each other day in, day out through training to get the best out of ourselves as a Hockeyroos squad over the next three years.

What’s been the most exciting thing you’ve seen since the group has come together?

Probably the shift in our intent — the way we turn up to training and the way we train. There’s been a real focus on playing at speed and playing an attacking, exciting style of hockey, while still being smart and tactically disciplined.

The coaching group has really driven the importance of balancing excitement and speed with strong execution, and that’s been really exciting to watch.

What’s one message for hockey fans who’ll be watching this new-look Hockeyroos side?


Fans can expect to see a refreshed style of Hockeyroos play, with a merge of experienced players and exciting new talent. Hopefully, we can combine that to produce the most exciting hockey this group has played yet, and we’d love to see plenty of fans down in Hobart for Pro League.

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