“The AHPA recognises the importance of a thorough process,however,would call on all parties involved for a swift resolution to this matter for the wellbeing of our members including Rachael,Georgina and the current Hockeyroos playing group.
“Our members have demonstrated incredible resilience over the past five months,and we hope that a decision will provide much sought closure and enable them to direct their focus on the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games and the sustained success of the Hockeyroos.”
Reasons for the delay include problems allowing access to documents relevant to the appeal. The appeals have been launched on the basis that selection policy was not followed in coming to the decision to drop Morgan and Lynch.
All three selectors – coach Gaudoin,assistant coach Steph Andrews and independent selector Sharon Buchanan – resigned their roles this year,along with the person who ratified selection decisions,former HA high performance director Toni Cumpston.
Three of the 29 recommendations in the report into the Hockeyroos’ culture suggested the selection process at Hockey Australia needed to be strengthened.
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HA said in a statement they “were mindful of the proximity of the Tokyo Olympics and would like to see the players’ appeals determined as soon as possible”.
“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,” the statement read.
Last weekplayers were further angered when Favier suggested legendary coach Ric Charlesworth could make a return to the Hockeyroos.
Players have been angry with Charlesworth since late last year when hespoke publicly about having to deal with “loud voices that do not reflect the team’s will or wishes” from his time as Hockeyroos coach. He referred to their behaviour as “group think”.