Sisters’ united front
TWO Gold Coast sisters are putting aside a fierce sibling rivalry to join forces for the Australian under-21 hockey team.
Most assume Casey and Dayle Dolkens are twins but the Coomera-based sisters were born 22 months apart.
They’ve played together since they were kids under the watchful eye of father Ant, a 20-year Division I hockey veteran and the current coach of their Commercial Hockey Club.
The competitive streak runs deep but their chemistry on the pitch is stronger.
“We definitely know how each other play,” elder sister Casey, 20, said.
“We’ve played in state teams together before but this is the next level and we really want to play with each other.
“I’m a defender so I’m at the back passing the ball and taking the ball away with Dayle runs amok up top.
“With me coming out of the back and her in the front we find each other more and rely on each other so we link up a lot during games.
“I think it’s just natural, obviously we have a good connection and it just happens on the field.”
The pair will need to survive a round of roster cuts at the team’s Australian Institute of Sport camp in Canberra before taking on Japan in a four-match series.
While not a renowned hockey nation, the Japanese will present their own challenges and the Dolkens sisters will need to be ready.
“Japan aren’t the strongest but they’re quite good,” Dayle Dolkens, 18, said.
“I think they’ll be a good challenge. We have a good, versatile, talented team.
“Hopefully we can go all right against them.”
Burleigh’s Morgan Mathison is the other Gold Coast representative vying for selection in the final Australian squad.