Rising Stars: Macenzee Dixon and Toby Jenner at Hockey Australia U18s Futures Camp

Hockey NT representatives, Macenzee Dixon, Toby Jenner and Technical Director Michelle Caden, have spent this week in Brisbane at a 3-day intensive Hockey Australia U18s Futures Camp. The camp brings together the finest U18 talents from QLD, NT, and NSW.

The pair where selected in the U18 Futures squads after being Talent Identified at the U18 Championships last year, along with Amy Stripling who will join VIC, WA and SA futures players in a camp later this month. The announcement of the 32-player squads where made by former Kookaburra greats Mark Hager and Mark Knowles, who are Hockey Australia’s National Athlete Pathway Programs Technical Leads for Women and Men.

Mackenzee, Toby, and Amy are among a select group of promising male and female hockey players expected to reach their prime by the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. On average, these players will be around 27 years old for the next home Olympics, signalling a significant crop of Hockeyroos and Kookaburras stars of the future could come from these groups.

“These players have been identified as potential Hockeyroos of the future. They will be the next crop coming through over the next decade with an eye to Brisbane in 2032.” said Hager after last years U18 Nationals.

Discussing the camp, Hockey NT Technical Director Michelle Caden said, "It’s been an amazing performance environment for our kids to not only have access to experienced coaching staff but to engage with other athletes in the same space. I’m very proud of how our NT kids have approached the camp and their performance so far."

By exposing young athletes like Dixon and Jenner to diverse coaching styles, perspectives and other high performance athletes, the camp delivers invaluable experience for both athletes.