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Hockey Australia say Georgina Morgan, Rachael Lynch’s lawyers to blame for delay in Hockeyroos’ appeal

Headshot of Mitchell Woodcock
Mitchell WoodcockThe West Australian
Former Hockeyroos captain Georgina Morgan.
Camera IconFormer Hockeyroos captain Georgina Morgan. Credit: unknown/supplied

Hockey Australia says the lawyers of Georgina Morgan and Rachael Lynch are to blame for the delay in the duo’s appeals to their axing from the Hockeyroos.

The Australian Hockey Players’ Association yesterday called for the hearing, scheduled for April 12, to be brought forward for the mental wellbeing of the players, as well as their preparation for the Tokyo Olympic Games, which starts on July 23, should they be reinstated.

Players threatened to strike when former captain Morgan and goalkeeper Lynch were dropped from the 2021 squad in December.

The duo’s appeals will be heard by a panel which includes former Australian cricketer Belinda Clark, Australian Rugby League judiciary chair Alan Sullivan QC and former Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Fiona de Jong.

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Hockey Australia claims the timetable for the appeals tribunal put in place was extended to “accommodate requests for additional documents by the players’ lawyers”.

“Hockey Australia is mindful of the proximity of the Tokyo Olympics and would like to see the players' appeals determined as soon as possible,” HA said in a statement.

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“These appeals are being heard by an independent appeals tribunal, thus the process and subsequent timing of the decisions are not matters that Hockey Australia can control, but it is doing all that it can to facilitate a quick resolution of the appeals.

Axed Hockeyroos goalkeeper Rachael Lynch.
Camera IconAxed Hockeyroos goalkeeper Rachael Lynch. Credit: koen suyk

“Hockey Australia looks forward to the tribunal handing down its decisions so the focus can turn to giving the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras the best opportunity to be successful in Tokyo.”

Since their axing, an independent review into the Hockeyroos has been held, with the findings handed down last month seeing 29 recommendations put forward and painted a picture of a dysfunctional culture not conducive to athlete wellbeing or sustained on-field success.

Former coach Paul Gaudoin, high performance director Toni Cumpston and selector Sharon Buchanan have also resigned in the past few months, with all three believed to have played a role in the decision to axe Lynch and Morgan.

There is a belief that the best hope for an early return for Lynch and Morgan rests on the shoulders of an interim coach, who could demand their selection.

Hockey Australia is understood to have started the interview process for an interim coach today, with an announcement set to be made as early as next week.

Katrina Powell, who won Olympic Gold with the Hockeyroos in 1996 and 2000, is the favourite to take the reigns until the end of the Tokyo Olympic Games.

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