Smith to replace Blythe at Hockeyroos helm

Tuesday, 19 September 2017: Emily Smith has been named as Madonna Blyth's replacement as Hockeyroos captain.

Emily Smith will replace long-time incumbent Madonna Blyth as Hockeyroos captain.

Forward Smith will lead an 18-strong Australian squad into next month's Oceania Cup.

Embed from Getty Images

The 25-year-old takes the role ahead of Jane Claxton, who held the position in the interim after Blyth's retirement at the end of last year's Rio Olympics.

"Emily has shown a consistent approach to her hockey (and) she's well respected by her peers and the Hockeyroos staff, so it was a pretty simple decision in the end," coach Paul Gaudoin said.

"We haven't rushed into selecting our captain or leadership group over the past year ... we've utilised the year to explore the playing group and see what we really needed."

Smith, Claxton, Rachael Lynch, Kathryn Slattery and Karri McMahon will form the team's leadership group.

Australia play New Zealand and Papau New Guinea at the Ocean Cup on October 11-15 in Sydney.

The Black Sticks eliminated the Hockeyroos from the 2016 Olympics in the quarter-finals.