Aussie Steelers Open Men
Competition and training schedule
Australian Open Men's Squad finalised
Photo gallery
The Australian Open Men's team, the Aussie Steelers, are ranked number 1 in the world as a result of their sensational 5-0 defeat of the New Zealand Black Sox at the 2009 ISF Men's World Championship in Saskatoon Canada. The win ended the domination of New Zealand, which had won the previous 3 World Championships over the past 12 years.
The rise of the Aussie Steelers can be attributed to the:
- Success of the junior men's program, which saw the Aussie Colts win 4 consecutive ISF World Championships
- Long term planning of the open men's coach Bob Harrow and Chet Gray
- Hard work and determination of the players
Their significant achievements to date include:
- Gold medal 2009 and bronze medal 2004 ISF Men's World Championships
- Silver medal 2006 Men's Commonwealth Championships
Aussie Steelers compete regularly on the international stage. Their competition schedule includes:
- ISF Men's World Championships
- Tours
Head Coach Bob Harrow and the national selectors have picked a squad of 24 players with a further 6 players to be selected following the Brisbane Classic in June. The Squad has retained 11 players from the 2009 ISF World Championship Team including the powerful pitching combination of Adam Folkard, Andrew Kirkpatrick and Adam Humble.
The squad will undertake a rigorous training schedule and testing program in their respective home states prior to a Training Camp in December from which 2 teams will be selected from the squad of 30 to play an International Tests Series against the New Zealand Black Sox.
Aussie Steelers squad follows:
| Tyron Bartorillo (Qld) | Drew Faulkner* (Vic) | Nic Norton (ACT) |
| Cameron Bint* (NSW) | Adam Folkard (ACT) | Scott Patterson* (WA) |
| Andrew Blackshaw (Qld) | Shaun Goffer* (Qld) | Nick Shailes (NSW) |
| Evan Byrne (ACT) | Andrew Havercroft (WA) | Jamie Sheehan* (NSW) |
| Aaron Cockman (WA) | Adam Humble (WA) | Mick Tanner (ACT) |
| Josh Davison (Qld) | Nathan Jones (WA) | Ryan Tranter* (NSW) |
| Tyson Duncan* (WA) | Andrew Kirkpatrick (ACT) | Lewis Weldon* (Vic) |
| David Edwards (Vic) | Brendan Lamb* (WA) | Zenon Winters (Qld) |
| Bob Harrow – Head Coach | TBA – Specialist Coach | TBA – Statistician |
| TBA – Assistant Coach | TBA – Manager | TBA – Physiotherapist |
*Denotes new squad members
Australian Open Men's Squad finalised
Following on from the South Brisbane Classic in June, Head Coach Bob Harrow has confirmed the final 6 members of the Australian Open Men's Squad.
| Aaron Boccardo (WA) | Ryan Lavers (NSW) | Laurie Peters (NSW) |
| Guy Couacin (Qld) | Michael Munro (NSW) | Ty Priest (Vic) |
There are also 5 reserves selected for the Squad:
| Craig Bingley (ACT) | Shaun Bostock (NSW) | Neal Delpero (WA) | Mark Harris (WA) | Jay Rakich (WA) |
The Squad's training and fitness program will commence in July in preparation for the Test Series against the NZ Black Sox in December.
Aussie Steelers competition and training schedule
| 12-14 June 2010 | South Brisbane Classic, Brisbane* |
| 3-5 December 2010 | ACT Skins Tournament, Canberra* |
| 6-7 December 2010 | Training Camp, AIS, Canberra |
| 8-9 December 2010 | Australia v New Zealand Test Series, Canberra* |
| 15-19 February 2011 | John Reid Shield, Brisbane* |
| 2013 | ISF XIII Men's World Championship, New Zealand |
*Denotes an event that players may be observed and identified by Australian selectors for the respective national team.
