Australia to face NZ in Comm Games hockey

Nov 28, 2017 - 6:04 AM Hockeyroos striker Savannah Fitzpatrick believes they have the perfect chance to silence their critics by making a statement at next year's Commonwealth Games.

In a state of flux since winning gold in a dramatic Glasgow Commonwealth Games shoot-out in 2014, the Australian women will enter the Gold Coast tournament with plenty to prove.

Former Australian men's captain Warren Birmingham is among those not sold on Paul Gaudoin's side, saying they will struggle to bag a medal next April.

Birmingham went to two Olympics with the Kookaburras, winning silver as captain in 1992.

"We've fallen off the perch a little bit," he told AAP after being inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions on Monday night.

"The other nations around the world have progressed fairly rapidly and got great sustainability - it's going to be a lot of hard work by Paul, who's a fantastic guy and coach.

"It's going to be difficult (to medal at the Commonwealth Games) and I'm probably the only person game enough to say that."

Since taking over, Gaudoin has blooded 11 players aged under 21, with April's Commonwealth Games, the 2018 World Cup and ultimately Tokyo's 2020 Olympics in his sights.

Fitzpatrick is 22 and will be vying for a regular berth alongside 21-year-old sister Madison in a side currently ranked fourth in the world.

"There's no doubt the future's really bright," Fitzpatrick said of the developmental nature of the side.

"But I think it's just a case of having lots of young, talented players at the moment.

"I think our recent results show we're in a good place right now and a good performance at a big event like the Commonwealth Games would be a big statement for us."

New Zealand loom as the main rivals for Australia's men's and women's teams at next year's Games.

At the Gold Coast 2018 draw conducted on Tuesday, the world No.2 Kookaburras avoided powerhouses India and England, instead drawn along with the Black Sticks (eight), Canada (11), South Africa (15) and Scotland (23) in their hunt for a sixth-consecutive gold medal.

The Hockeyroos have been spared a pool match-up with world No.2 and Olympic champions England and will test themselves against New Zealand (five), Scotland (18), Canada (21) and Ghana (30), with the top two teams from each pool to advance to the semi-finals.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES HOCKEY MEN'S DRAW

Pool A: AUSTRALIA, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Scotland

Pool B: India, England, Malaysia, Pakistan, Wales

COMMONWEALTH GAMES HOCKEY WOMEN'S DRAW

Pool A: England, India, South Africa, Malaysia, Wales

Pool B: AUSTRALIA, New Zealand, Scotland, Canada, Ghana

Source: AAP