Eleven NSW Athletes Selected in Aus Futures Squad

Hockey NSW is pleased to announce that eleven NSW athletes have been selected in the 2025/26 Australian Under 18 Squad (“The Futures Squad”). Six members of the recent gold medal-winning NSW team from the Australian Under 18 Women’s Championships have been selected in the squad, along with five members of the NSW Under 18 Men’s team.

Headlining the selections are 2025 Under 18 Australian Women's Championships Player of the Tournament winner Kalahni Crews (Goulburn District Hockey Association, Sydney South Hockey Association) and 2025 Sport NSW Community Young Official of the Year Luke Schmude (Hockey New England, Tamworth Hockey Association, Newcastle Hockey Association), both having exemplary years and earning deserved recognition.

The other 5 athletes selected in the Women's Futures Squad are Tori Adamson (Central Coast Hockey, Newcastle Hockey Association), Makenna Barnett-Suey (Tamworth Hockey Association), Eliza Berrick (Grafton Hockey Association), Bella Croker (Goulburn District Hockey Association), and Anneliese Cullen (Metropolitan South West Hockey Association, Goulburn District Hockey Association).

The additional 4 athletes selected in the Men's Futures Squad are Kalani Franklin (Far North Coast Hockey), Brayden Sutherland (Metropolitan South West Hockey Association), Jack Marshall (Newcastle Hockey Association, Tamworth Hockey Association), and Justin Murray (Illawarra South Coast Hockey).

The Futures Squad is selected at the conclusion of the Australian Under 18 Championships and represents the next generation of potential Kookaburras and Hockeyroos (Australian National Teams). Selected athletes will be part of a year-long program under the tutelage of Hockey Australia Performance Pathways Leads Mark Knowles (Men - former Kookaburras Captain and Olympian) and Hugh Purvis (Women – former international coach with Canada Men and international assistant coach with the Hockeyroos) designed to elevate them to the next stage of their development and provide a pathway into the U21, Development, and Senior National Squads.

NSW athletes selected in the Australian Under 18 Squads: