Hadley has been playing darts for more than four decades and will don the green and gold when she travels overseas to take on New Zealand in a test match in February
It is the latest achievement in her stellar career, one that Hadley said she was very proud of.
“It is a big honour,” Hadley said.
“It is scary but exciting, as you would imagine if you were picked to represent your country in the sport you love to play, wow.
“I have started my practice regime so I will be pumping the board every day. Hopefully I play well both for myself and for Australia.”
Hadley has represented Victoria for almost 20 years, and now she will get the opportunity to play for her country on the international stage.
Hadley said she was trying to take a relaxed approach in the lead-up to the event to help her perform as well as possible.
“I hope I go really well,” she said.
“I don’t want to put extra pressure on myself and I don’t want to build it up too much in my head. I want to go in there with a cool and calm focus and not worry about things going on around me.
“I think if you can do that and keep all the noise out, you should go well. As long as you have put the work in, then hopefully you get the reward.”
Hadley's selection comes amid a fantastic 2022 season at the oche, with her strong form earning her a call up to the national team.
Hadley won the Australian Ladies Doubles title at Rich River Golf Club earlier this year alongside teammate Tori Kewish, the second straight title for the pair and Hadley’s third ladies doubles title overall.
She finished first in the ladies doubles alongside Deb Quinn in Geelong at the Darts Victoria Masters in June, first in the ladies doubles at the Melton Open with Donna Barrington in August and first in the ladies singles at the Masters in Dandenong last month.
In the mixed doubles, Hadley and her teammate Brandon Weening won the Victorian Classic in June for the second time, having won it back in 2020 as well.
Hadley had a strong showing at the Pacific Masters tournament at Rich River, reaching the last 16 before being knocked out by world number one Beau Greaves, and she also finished as the runner-up in both the ladies doubles and ladies singles at the Easter Classic in Geelong.
As one of the final events of the darts season, Hadley said she was pleased to end the year on a high with a win in Dandenong.
“I played quite consistently all day, I was happy,” she said.
“I hadn’t had a great deal of practice leading up to that, but then I had to get the mind into gear and focus, and I did. I won the final 4-0 and I was very happy.”
February 2023 is set to be a big month for Hadley. Not only will she be playing for Australia, she will also be competing at the South Australian Swiftflyte Classic, with a spot at the Lakeside World Championships in 2024 on the line.
The winner of the men’s and women’s events will qualify for the world championships, with Hadley also set to compete in the ladies doubles alongside a special friend.
Hadley will team up once again with her darts partner Janine Cassar, with whom she won the Australian ladies doubles title in 2006.
The duo teamed up for the first time at a tournament in Frankston two decades ago.
“We were both struggling to get partners for tournaments. I asked Janine if she wants to play as permanents together and she said why not, and the rest is history,” Hadley said.
She said she could not wait to team up with her long-time partner once again, with Cassar herself a six-time Australian ladies doubles champion
“It is going to be excellent,” Hadley said.
“We have been double partners for 20 years and we have won a lot of tournaments over the years. We get on well and we know each other’s game and I am so happy that she is getting back into darts.”
After a great season in 2022 and with some big tournaments still to come, Hadley said her husband, George, had been an important person throughout her darts career.
“My husband is very supportive of me,” she said.
“George is my biggest supporter, he is great.”
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