Kate Jenner named in Hockeyroos squad for Tokyo Olympics

The Tamworth product was part of the side that finished fifth in London in 2012.

After taking a break from the sport for a few years in late 2015, she returned to the national set-up in April 2019 and later that year found herself winging her way west again.

Star goalkeeper Rachael Lynch was also named in the Hockeyroos' Olympic squad just months after being dumped from the contract list altogether.

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Lynch's selection was the biggest talking point on Monday when the 16-player national women's squad was announced for the Tokyo Games.

Late last year, Lynch was controversially axed from the 2021 contract list by then-coach Paul Gaudoin and the selection panel.

Former captain and Armidale native Georgina Morgan was also surprisingly dumped amid the turmoil engulfing the Hockeyroos, with players threatening to strike as a response.

Lynch and Morgan both successfully appealed their axings, but the writing was on the wall for Morgan when she missed selection for the recent four-Test series in New Zealand.

It meant Morgan was always going to miss the squad for Tokyo, but 34-year-old Lynch - the 2019 FIH goalkeeper of the year - performed well enough to earn selection for her second Olympics.

The Hockeyroos are ranked fourth in the world and they face a monumental task to medal in Tokyo after the most tumultuous period in their history.

Past and present players last year aired allegations of bullying, homophobic behaviour and body shaming, with a subsequent independent inquiry finding a dysfunctional culture existed within the elite women's hockey set-up.

High performance manager Toni Cumpston quit two months before that report was handed down, while Hockeyroos coach Gaudoin stood down on the eve of its release.

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Katrina Powell has been thrust into the coaching hot seat and she faces a huge battle to get the team in sync in time for the Games.

The squad features eight Olympic debutants, including 19-year-old Amy Lawton, who will become the fourth youngest Hockeyroos player to compete at an Olympics.

Stephanie Kershaw, 26, was named for her Olympic debut after injury ruled her out of contention for Rio.

Emily Chalker will compete at her third Games, with seven other players to compete at their second Olympics.

"There is a lot of talent in this group - a lot of potential, drive, enthusiasm and passion, so if we can harness all of that in what will be really tough conditions in Tokyo, you never know what can happen," Powell said.

"There is some experience that both I and (assistant coach) Katie Allen can bring directly to the group.

"But everyone's Olympic experience is really different, so these players need to be themselves and be authentic.

"Given the matches we've just played against New Zealand and the different combinations on the field in each game, coupled with the team doing well is a an indicator of how difficult it was to pick this team.

"To have those names on the sheet makes Tokyo very real and I'm really excited about the opportunity that's ahead of us."

Hockeyroos: Edwina Bone, Emily Chalker, Jane Claxton, Savannah Fitzpatrick, Kate Jenner, Stephanie Kershaw, Amy Lawton, Rachael Lynch, Rosie Malone, Kaitlin Nobbs, Brooke Peris, Karri Somerville, Penny Squibb, Grace Stewart, Renee Taylor, Mariah Williams.

Australian Associated Press