Brooke Peris

Alice Springs born forward Brooke Peris played 241 games for the Hockeyroos and represented Australia at three Olympic Games.

The cousin of Olympic Hockeyroo gold medallist, dual Olympian and former Australian Senator Nova Peris, Brooke made her Hockeyroos debut in 2013 to mark the beginning of her 11-year international career.

The same year she won gold at the Oceania Cup in New Zealand and silver at the World League Finals in Argentina. She became a Commonwealth Games champion in 2014 and became an internet sensation whilst in Great Britain after capturing a ‘selfie’ with the Queen in the background with retired teammate Jayde Taylor.

Before the year was out she collected the Northern Territory Athlete of the Year award and went on to make her Olympic debut at Rio 2016.

The Aussies had a tough start to their 2016 Olympic campaign, going down 2-1 against both Great Britain and the USA in their opening two pool matches. Despite this disappointment, the side went on to secure three consecutive wins against India, Argentina and Japan, leaving them to face Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand in the quarter-final. Hopes of a medal finish were dashed as the Aussies went down 4-2 to the Kiwis, leaving the ladies to finish in sixth place.

Moving on from her Olympic debut, Brooke was a member of the silver medal-winning team at the 2018 Champions Trophy and Commonwealth Games, as well as the 2019 Oceania Cup and FIH Pro League.

She became a two-time Olympian as part of the Hockeyroos squad that travelled to Japan for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (in 2021). An undefeated group stage for Australia was followed up by a tense quarter-final loss against India, which ended 1-0.

Brooke’s 2022 season was wrecked by a serious quad injury, which meant she missed the World Cup and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

The veteran striker was back in the team in 2023 when the Hockeyroos finished third in the Women’s International Pro League, before clinching a place at the Paris Olympics by winning the Oceania Cup series against New Zealand.

Brooke scored in the 34th minute of the 3-0 win in the opening and popped up again to score in the 3-2 victory in the final game. With a 1-1 draw in game two, Australia claimed the series 2-0 and secured their place in Paris.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics Brooke, co-captain of the Hockeyroos with Jane Claxton, knew heading into the Games it would be her last event before retirement.

The Hockeyroos opened their tournament with three-straight wins against South Africa (2-1), Great Britain (4-0) and the United States (3-0).

A draw with Argentina (3-3) and a win against Spain (3-1) closed the group stage, with the Hockeyroos advancing into a quarter-final against China. Coached by Australian Olympic champion Alyson Annan, China prevailed 3-2 to end the Hockeyroos' campaign.

Brooke leaves an incredible legacy off the field, inspiring the hockey program in Australia to be more inclusive of Indigenous culture.

“One of the things I'm most proud of is when we launched our Indigenous uniform,” Brooke said.

“It is so important in our sport to show that we are one nation and that we have a history, a rich history, of Indigenous culture. It’s really embedded within our sport, and in our schools now. With our uniform and the programs and engagements we have within regional and remote communities it really helps more girls like me, who never thought my dream could happen, know that it really can.

“There are so many girls I know, in Darwin especially, who, if and when they do make it in to the national program will feel so comfortable given their culture is seen."