From being named Group Seven women's player of the year four times while playing for the Bulldogs (which included a premiership in 2014), to following in her father David's footsteps and playing rugby league for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and most recently guiding her East Coast Dolphins to the national Oztag title, Hatch has achieved plenty on the footy field.

One thing that had eluded her grasps was Australian selection - until now.

On the back of her success in Coffs Harbour with the Dolphins, the 26-year-old was recently named in the Australian mixed open's Oztag team for the 2021 World Cup in Limerick, Ireland - her first green and gold honours.

"To be named in the Australian mixed opens squad was exciting news and I feel very honoured," Hatch said.

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"To make any Australian squad is a real achievement and something I am very proud to be apart of.

"In previous years, I've watched my partner Scott play for Australia in trans-Tasman clashes and the 2018 World Cup, which was great but it drove me to try to achieve this for myself and now all the hard work has paid off.

"After everything going on in and around the world, including a stressful summer with the bushfires, it's really nice to have exciting and happy news."

The Ulladulla High School alumna also appreciates each step of the journey to get to this point.

"When I moved to Cronulla, I was lucky enough be apart of the long winning streak Cronulla's women's open team," Hatch said.

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"To be in a team coached by the Australian coach and Oztag great Karen Smith and to play alongside amazing talented female players like Allana Ferguson, I learnt a lot playing alongside those girls.

"After playing women's, I wanted more of a challenge and that's why I decided to join the mixed competition to play with and against boys which I have loved and enjoyed ever since making the swap three years ago.

"To be named in this squad, after all this, is a dream come true and my top achievement to date."

Hatch's 32-player squad, which also features Kiama's Tom Atkins, will participate in a number of training sessions (following the coronavirus lockdowns), before the squad is cut to a final 20, with five shadows.

"There are a lot of new faces and names in the squad different to previous years, myself included, which is great to give new players a chance to press their claims," she said.

"The Northern Rangers (Central Coast) were the grand finalists and underdogs at nationals, so it's awesome to see a few of their names in the squad.

"The mixed competition has been dominated over the years by the Vipers, Souths and Tigers, so to see other teams rewarded with selections is fantastic.

"This should lead to a solid mixture of experience and fresh faces in the squad for the World Cup, which I think can be a real strength going into an international tournament."

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Until Hatch, who is currently based back at home in Bawley Point, and her squad meet up, she will be doing all she can to maintain her fitness.

"A family friend of mine Cec Swkarko actually was my first ever coach and helped me learn and grow in touch football when I was younger," she said.

"His daughter Amanda is also in Bawley, so I am lucky I have her to train with and keep fit - she helps me keep motivated.

"We are just training ourselves at the local beach while keeping a social distance."

Without looking too far ahead, Hatch knows how special it will be to first pull on the green and gold jersey but also have the chance to win a World Cup.

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"To just be able to play for Australia would be a dream and extra special for me personally," she said.

"Over the years in Oztag, especially when I played women's, it was my first time playing so I felt new to the game and probably let myself stand back and take everything in.

"I am a confident person but joining a new team and a new sport, believe it or not, I was actually quiet.

"When I jumped across to open's mixed, I was the captain/manager of all the teams I played in, so I felt like I was in a leadership role and really tried to bring people together.

"I never really focused on my own game - I spent a lot of time organising and worrying about how everyone else was going and if they were all enjoying themselves.

"I have realised now I worried and put the other 15 players before me and before my own game.

"At nationals in November, where I was lucky enough to be selected in the squad, I really feel like it was the first time I didn't have to organise or worry about others.

"I was a part of a very competitive and talented team with lots of past and current Australian players - I really enjoyed being able to focus on myself and bring my strengths, positiveness and passion to the team.

"I enjoyed the weekend and playing tag focusing more on my game rather than everyone else - which is an aspect of my game I hope to build on in the future."

Other Group Seven players to be selected for their respective Australian teams are Shellharbour's Kade Sampson and Jayme McElhone (both open men), Jamberoo's Aimee Barnard and Georgia Thomas (both open women), Shellharbour's Gary Breakspear and Albion Park-Oak Flats' Dean Gray (both over 40 men), Warilla-Lake South's Callum Gromek and Jake Brisbane and Albion Park-Oak Flats' Jayden Harris (all under 21 men) and Stingrays' Ellie Bostock (under 21 women).