Hockeyroos captain Madonna Blyth retires

Australian women's hockey captain Madonna Blyth has called an end to her time with the Hockeyroos after 342 games.

Longtime captain Madonna Blyth, the Hockeyroos' most-capped player, has retired after 12 years of national duties for Australia.

Blyth, 30, considered pressing on to seek a fourth Commonwealth Games gold medal at Gold Coast 2018 but departs after a third disappointing Olympic campaign without a medal.

The Queenslander finishes on 342 caps and 70 goals, having overtaken Nikki Hudson (303 games) as the most-capped player in 2015.

She captained the team for seven years.

"After 12 years it's hard to walk away from my life as a Hockeyroo but I believe physically and mentally it is the right time," Blyth said.

"To do what it takes to be a Hockeyroo takes a great amount of dedication and commitment and I feel as though I wouldn't be able to give what is required if I chose to play on."

Blyth, who made her Australian debut in 2004 and competed in three Olympics campaigns with consecutive fifth-places in Beijing and London the team's best efforts before coming sixth in Rio this year.

She claimed Commonwealth Games gold medals in Melbourne (2006), New Delhi (2010) and Glasgow (2014).

Hockeyroos coach Jason Duff described Blyth as a natural leader.

She will be honoured at the Hockey Australia annual awards night in Perth on Monday.


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Source: AAP



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