Hockey star Mathilda Carmichael signs contract with the WACA

NOT content with shining on just one pitch, Hockeyroo and Melville City Hockey Club star Mathilda Carmichael has penned a contract with the West Australian Cricket Association (WACA).

Carmichael arrived in Perth two-and-a-half years ago to join Hockey Australia’s high performance unit.

While training with the national squad, she has also represented Melville City in State Hockey League for the past three seasons.

After missing out on selection to the Hockeyroos 2016 Olympic squad, 22-year-old Carmichael returned to club cricket last season for the first time since leaving school.

“I played cricket when I was a kid in Sydney up until I was about 18 when hockey took over completely,” she said.

“Because I wasn’t training with the Olympic squad I had some time on my hands, so at the end of last year I spoke with my hockey coach back in Sydney and asked if she would mind if I played some club cricket for a bit of fun.”

With her coach’s blessing, Carmichael cracked 337 runs in six A-Grade games for Melville Storm, including knocks of 126 and 91 against Subiaco Floreat and 67 in a losing grand final against Midland.

She also chipped in with seven wickets at an average of 20.6.

Her outstanding form caught the eye of WACA selectors, who approached her about playing for the Western Fury and Perth Scorchers this summer.

While excited about exploring where cricket may take her, Carmichael remains just as committed to hockey.

“I actually had a meeting with (WA cricket coach) Lisa Keightley just the other day to talk about juggling hockey and cricket,” she said.

“I think it will work out quite well because National League Hockey is in Perth this year at the end of September and then cricket’s national league starts up the weekend after, so it’s quite a good situation to be in.”

Carmichael will begin training with the WA cricket squad in July but remains as committed as ever to Melville City Hockey Club, which she believes will play finals this year despite a slow start.

“We had three draws and two 1-0 losses in our first five games but overall we are quite a strong team and finals are definitely still in the picture,” she said.