Selection controversy has only unified the Hockeyroos, coach Katrina Powell says, as they fly to Paris intent on breaking a 24-year Olympic medal drought.
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Australia's hockey teams left for France on Wednesday, with the women to begin their campaign against South Africa next Sunday.
The Hockeyroos haven't reached the semi-finals since winning the last of three golds at Sydney's 2000 Games.
Powell, a player in two of those campaigns, ruffled feathers by overlooking long-time striker Rosie Malone as part of a selection panel that also included three-time gold medallist Rechelle Hawkes.
Claiming bias, Malone appealed her non-selection but had her case dismissed in a 16-page document published by the National Sports Tribunal earlier this month.
Her omission divided opinion and prompted a social media declaration from 20 current Hockeyroos vouching for the program's "professional, welcoming and understanding culture".
"It's been a bit unifying for the team," Powell told AAP.
"The first week of training (after selections) with just the team, you're allowed to celebrate.
"It's hard when you don't make the team, but it's hard on those selected because they don't want to be insensitive."
She said the players were "keen to defend themselves" and remains adamant she's picked the side best-equipped to challenge red-hot favourites the Netherlands and end a run of five Games without a medal.
"There's always a bit of scrutiny and it's always social media so they're better prepared for it and aware of it than I was in my day," she said of the blowback.
"There are any number of athletes and combos that could have been good. You're just trying to aim for the best - I'm very excited to see what they can achieve."
Powell said they want to be fast and attacking, adding she loves the traditional hockey style that celebrates a player's craft and skill.
"But the best teams these days have that, great combination work and a strength, speed and physicality about what they do," she said.
"That's part of the mix. Where's that individual talent, who are our team players and who are our tough nuts that are really going to get it done when we need to?
"If you don't have all of it you're not going to win medals at the Olympics."
Powell stepped in to replace coach Paul Gaudoin ahead of the Tokyo Games as part of an overhaul triggered by what Hockey Australia described as the "dysfunctional culture" of the women's high performance program.
Still they progressed unbeaten to a quarter-final against India, boasting a 13-1 aggregate in the pool stage.
A shock 1-0 loss ensured more pain for a side searching for its next moment.
"It's about writing their own history; they're not the next generation after mine, they're the one after that," Powell said.
Australian Associated Press
