| World Games Profile: Australia

CLUB & COUNTRY EXPERIENCE:

This is a veteran-heavy Australian team that will carry more experience on the big international stage than any team in attendance including USA, Japan and Canada. Holmes, Rogacki and Wentworth were all there at the 2005 World Games to guide a strong and surprising Australian run to the finals where they lost 13-11 to USA and earned silver. Holmes, Blakely, Lavis and Assistant Coach Mike Neild (as a player then) helped the Crocs take Bronze at The World Games in 2009. Wentworth even played at the 2000 WFDF Club Championships in Heilbronn. Almost everyone was in Japan for Worlds 2012.

ROSTER

Name	Last Name	No. #	Gen.	Height	Experience	Position	Club Teams
Gavin	MOORE	1	M	188 cm	9 yrs	Cutter	Colony
Timothy	LAVIS	5	M	186 cm	12 yrs	Cutter	I-Beam
Alisa	MOORE	10	F	166 cm	14 yrs	Cutter	Wildcard
Jonathan	HOLMES	14	M	183 cm	15 yrs	Cutter	Fyshwick United
Michelle	PHILLIPS	17	F	177 cm	7 yrs	Cutter	Sporting Team Box
Danielle	ALEXANDER	18	F	174 cm	3 yrs	Cutter	FACTory Girls
Peter	BLAKELY	23	M	180 cm	7 yrs	Cutter	Colony
Sebastian	BARR	28	M	182 cm	6 yrs	Handler	Heads of State
Catherine	PHILLIPS	35	F	175 cm	6 yrs	Handler	Sporting Team Box
Stephanie	MALCHER	40	F	154 cm	6 yrs	Cutter	Honey
Tom	ROGACKI	42	M	195 cm	19 yrs	Cutter	Chilly
Sarah	WENTWORTH	44	F	171 cm	15 yrs	Cutter	Wildcard
Joel	PILLAR	84	M	192cm	13 yrs	Handler	Colony

Team Colors: GREEN & GOLD

RECENT TEAM AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

2012 WFDF World Championships, Sakai, Japan

Open: 7th Women: 5th Mixed: Silver

2009 The World Games, Kaoshing City, Taiwan — Bronze + Spirit

2008 WFDF World Championships, Vancouver, Canada

Open: 5th Women: 4th Mixed: 4th

2005 The World Games, Duisburg, Germany — Silver

2004 WFDF World Championships, Turku, Finland

Open: Bronze Women: 6th Mixed: 5th

OTHER NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL WINS:

Coach Anna Rogacki steered the U23 Women’s team to victory in Italy at the 2010 World U23 Championships with three players represented on this roster (including the Phillips sisters Cat and Michelle).

AUSTRALIA on OFFENSE and DEFENSE

“We are running with a structure that is based more around positional freedom as opposed to rigid set plays, giving the players ample opportunity to use their “athletic instinct” to the team’s benefit,” says Coach Rogacki.

Additionally the Aussies expect to make use of their success playing Mixed where they earned a silver in Sakai last year, led by husband-and-wife combo Gavin and Lisi Moore.

“We have tried to work on finding that great space where each player regardless of gender brings value and that value is utilised fully,” says Rogacki. “Defensively we will be looking to mix things up with different combinations. We will use our man-to-man defense to shut down key offensive threats and our junk sets to change things up.”

TOP DEFENDERS:

#1 Gavin Moore — huge hops and tremendous read of the disc
#18 Dani Alexander — first time Australian Representative. Determined, speedy with great timing for blocks.
#14 Jonno Holmes — great instinct and anticipation. Veteran playing at The World Games for the third time.
#10 Alisa ‘Lisi’ Moore –— top class shut-down defender.

TOP THROWERS:

#42 Tom Rogacki – game changing throws in any condition.
#84 Joel Pillar – very powerful thrower with great range.
#35 Cat Phillips – our youngest member, full of enthusiasm and always smiling. Good range of throws and great instinct.

TOP RECEIVERS:

#40 Steph Malcher – quick ups, full speed and instincts that compliment the thrower.
#17 Michelle Phillips – big game player, great read of the disc.
#23 Peter Blakeley – super fast with great hops, amazing athlete.
#42Tom Rogacki – deep game complimented by 6’5” frame.

TOP UTILITY PLAYERS

(captain) #5 Tim Lavis – one of the best “go to guys” in the game
#44 Sarah Wentworth – great instinct for the mixed game, timing is incredible and returns to playing elite ultimate
#28 Sebastian “Seb” Barr — will do whatever the team needs of him, every time.

TEAM COACHES and CAPTAINS:

Coach Anna Rogacki
Assistant Coach: Mike Neild
Team Manager: Kerry Justus
Captain: Tim Lavis

Coach Rogacki runs her own Life Coaching company that guides private clients and ultimate teams alike. She was AFDA’s “Coach of the Year” in 2010. Assistant Coach Neild played as an electric downfield receiver at the 2009 World Games.

MORE ABOUT AUSTRALIAN ULTIMATE

There are currently 5000+ active members of the Australian Ultimate community.

“Australian Ultimate has been steadily increasing in the last four years and our athletes and staff are proud to represent the whole ultimate community in Cali, Colombia,” says Team Manager Kerry Justus. “Our team embodies the character and spirit that is Australia and Australian Ultimate. It’s a privilege to represent them at The World Games and our campaign has reflected this attitude.”

PROFILE

“Our challenge in Australia is dealing with our relative isolation in comparison to the other countries so testing ourselves against the best is something we always look forward to,” says coach Rogacki.

Towards that end they’ve shown success by limiting international appearance and saving key players in a small community for the biggest and best tournaments. This might explain less-than-stellar showings at Beach Worlds in 2011 and in the Open and Women’s division in nearby Japan last year. When Australia puts their best foot forward they have a great capacity for success. The World Games will be one of those tournaments.

The most interesting appearance here is The Gak, Tom Rogacki, last seen in Japan in 2012 carrying the Australian Masters to silver. A big-bodied focused champion, Rogacki at 36 years young still brings it to the pitch and will be an instant factor in Cali.

PICK ONE WORLD GAMES SPORT TO WATCH AFTER ULTIMATE:

Canoe Polo – Wishing our friends and supporters competing in the water all the best of luck. We’ll be supporting you.

FOLLOW TEAM AUSTRALIA

Web: AussieCrocs.net

Facebook: Crocs-2013

Twitter: Crocs_twg

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/AussieCrocs

Feature photo by Karen Baker/ bakerphotography.com.au