Female and male squads of 33 athletes were selected based on performances at the recent Australian under 18 hockey championships in Launceston - which Wright-Smith's NSW men's state team won.

Former Kookaburra and Hockey Australia national athlete pathway program (NAPP) technical lead Mark Knowles said selection was tough based on the quality of hockey played across the tournament and particularly after a host of scintillating finals matches.

"Selection was really difficult - in both genders, we saw a good range of players and what you get to see over tournament hockey is how players grow with consistency in their own game and also with their teams," Knowles said.

Read more: South Coast region to host revamped representative rugby league fixtures

"We saw players being able to play multiple positions which were one of the selectable skills we looked at."

"The challenge for the group of selectors was looking at the players consistently and seeing the level of players against the better players and the better teams.

"We also considered physical, technical and tactical acumen, coachability and how they conduct themselves around the grounds.

"All of these things are important at this age and important as a Hockeyroo and a Kookaburra."

Selection into the future talent squad opens up significant doors and opportunities for players as they are seen as prospective Hockeyroos or Kookaburras for the 2024 Olympics but more predominantly the ensuing Commonwealth Games and Olympics including the 2032 Games that could be held in Brisbane.

The rewards for the 66 athletes selected include:

"This group is so important to us because we are in the pathway system and we are looking for players to represent Australia for the next decade," Knowles said.

"It is about giving them an understanding and bringing them into what would be a normal high-performance training environment."

In addition, the announcement of the future talent squads is also about uncovering up and coming coaches of this age group who may have not had previously had an opportunity to being involved with at an elite level.

Read more: Shoalhaven athletes shine for IAS at annual Academy Games

"We will be looking throughout the states and territories for coaches ones who aren't fully employed coaches but who want to be involved in our pathway system," Knowles said.

"Hockey Australia pathways manager Ian Rutledge and I are really keen to expose more coaches to higher-level hockey."

Joining Wright-Smith in the men's squad is Dylan Brick (ACT), Joshua Carter (ACT), Aiden Dooley (ACT), Max Robson (ACT), Aidan Smith (ACT), Rhys Cropper (NSW), Dylan Downey (NSW), Tyler Gaddes (NSW), Kian Johnson (NSW), Koby Johnstone (NSW), Toby Mallon (NSW), Ryan Oschadleus (NSW), Noah Fahy (Northern Territory), Ryley Bobart (Queensland), Diarmid Chappell (Queensland), Zac McCoombes (Queensland), Ryan Wilcox (Queensland), Mitchell Dell (South Australia), Max Larkin (Tasmania), Oliver Pritchard (Tasmania), Liam Henderson (Victoria), Sam Lowndes (Victoria), Oliver Marshall (Victoria), Nye Roberts (Victoria), Scott Sturrock (Victoria), Angus Adamson (Western Australia), Hamish Adamson (Western Australia), Luke Anderson (Western Australia), Hunter Banyard (Western Australia), Max Baynam (Western Australia), Max Freedman (Western Australia) and Thomas Keating (Western Australia).

We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.