Albury Hockeyroos export Jocelyn Bartram will represent the national team for the first time in a major tournament this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The goalkeeper has been selected in the Australian squad for the World League semi-finals in Brussels, Belgium, starting Wednesday.
Bartram has had an excellent start to the year, playing key minutes for Australia during the recent tour to New Zealand for the Hawkes Bay Festival of Hockey.
She admitted the team is now eager to test their game against the world’s best.
“I got some really good feedback from how I went over there and I’m eager to head over to Brussels and see how I go,” Bartram said.
“It’s my first major tournament, so I don’t really know what to expect, I’m just glad to be on the trip and see what happens.
“We’ve had some new coaches come on board and the feel among the group has been really positive and exciting.
“We’re eager to get over there and show them what we’ve been working on and how we’ve somewhat reshaped our game.
“It’s a major tournament for us because we have to finish top four to qualify for the World Cup next year, as well as help with our Commonwealth Games qualification and qualify for the World League finals in December.
“The World Cup is our second biggest tournament behind the Olympics and is a massive one to qualify for.”
Australia takes on Malaysia in its first game in Pool B on Wednesday, before meeting Belgium, New Zealand and Spain over the following three days for a spot in the quarter-finals on June 29.