The 19-year-old was selected in the 23-player Hockeyroos squad and is set to join as the youngest player at the national pinnacle for the sport.

A striker, Ratcliffe was forced to miss this year’s junior world cup in Chile due to the lower leg injury but overcame all odds to earn a place as one of four women elevated from the national development squad.

Ratcliffe said she was delighted to be named in the squad, which will be headed by new coach Paul Gaudoin.

“Because I got injured and missed out on the junior world cup, I didn’t know if I was going to be selected,” she said.

“They’ve also cut back the number of scholarships they’re offering in the senior squad.

“I don’t know the new coach personally or anything, so it was a really good surprise to have.”

She said the Tokyo Olympic Games, set to be held in 2020, and the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, to be held in 2018, were among her biggest mid-term goals.

“Absolutely, 100 per cent – they are the pinnacle goals I’m looking towards,” she told The Standard.

“There are a few tournaments coming up that I want to make sure my name is in the mix for.

“I’m the youngest in the group so hopefully I can cement a consistent spot in the side. I want to learn a lot too.

“I haven’t met the new coach yet either so it will be interesting to hear some of the ideas he has too.

“I can’t wait to just get amongst it with the new girls in the team.”

Now based in Western Australia, Ratcliffe is enjoying family time in the south-west before jetting back to Perth – the Australian Institute of Sport’s hockey base – to link-up with her new teammates in the new year.