The Hockeyroos have been humbled by the world No.1 Netherlands outfit 7-2 in their opening FIH Pro League match in Eindhoven.
Rosie Malone struck twice for the Australian women but the clinical Dutch team had an answer for everything.
Local star Yibbi Jansen scored a hat-trick for the hosts, proving lethal from penalty corners.
Despite the lopsided score line, there were plenty of encouraging signs for a Hockeyroos team, who got off to a fast start scoring inside four minutes.
A brilliant flick from Rebecca Greiner opened the door for Brooke Peris to fire on goal and Malone swooped in to get the final touch on its way into the backboard.
Hockeyroos goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram made a comfortable save from Maria Verschoor in the Netherlands’ first real opportunity.
But the top side stepped up to take control, with Jansen equalising from the Netherlands’ first penalty corner in the 12th minute before a penalty stroke allowed Frédérique Matla to put the Dutch in front.
Another penalty corner saw Jansen strike again before Pien Dicke scored the first of her two goals to make it 4-1 at half time.
The Australians won their first penalty corner of the match in the 36th minute but Penny Squibb could not direct her low drag flick on target.
Malone cut the deficit to two in the 40th minute when she instinctively knocked in a superb assist from Courtney Schonell.
But another Dutch penalty corner spelt trouble again as Jansen’s drag flick was deflected by Dicke.
Bartram did well to keep it out, however Dicke managed to knock the ball in from waist height on the rebound.
Matla scored her second a minute later and despite two superb saves from Bartram, Jansen sealed the result with her third nearing full time.
“The first quarter was good … we came out really hard and put it to them in the opening 15 minutes,” said Malone.
“There are obviously things we need to work on and the Dutch are really clinical in their penalty corner attack, but we had some great passages of play.
“Overall, it’s positive the way that we’re building and we’re not going to let that score line happen on Sunday.”
The Hockeyroos and Netherlands will meet again at 11.10pm AEST on Sunday.
