Australia’s Hockey Teams Adjust for Opener

The Australian men’s and women’s hockey teams are making some changes before they kick off their campaigns. Sadly, Jake Whetton from the Kookaburras and Alice Arnott from the Hockeyroos will not be playing in their opening matches due to minor injuries.

Nathan Ephraums is stepping in to replace Whetton as the Kookaburras prepare to face Argentina on Saturday. Australia is competing in Group B alongside Belgium, India, New Zealand, Ireland, and of course, Argentina.

On the women’s side, Maddison Brooks will take Arnott’s spot in the Hockeyroos team. They are set to begin their journey at the Paris 2024 Olympics against South Africa on Sunday.

The Hockeyroos also have a tough group that includes teams like Argentina, Great Britain, Spain, and the United States.

Ephraums, who was the youngest player on the Kookaburras squad that won gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, is making his Olympic debut in Paris. He has scored 33 goals in 65 international matches for Australia.

The injury that kept Jake Whetton out came during a practice game against Great Britain, where he suffered a low-grade hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Alice Arnott has been dealing with some calf soreness since arriving in Paris, so the team decided to take her out as a precaution.

As for Brooks, she has quickly found her footing in international hockey since her debut in 2023, playing 32 matches and also preparing for her first Olympic experience.