Australia men's national field hockey team
The Australia men's national field hockey team (nicknamed the Kookaburras) is one of the nation's most successful top-level sporting teams. They are the only Australian team in any sport to receive medals at six straight Summer Olympic Games (1992–2012). The Kookaburras placed in the top four in every Olympics between 1980 and 2012; in 2016, the Kookaburras placed sixth.[3] They also won the Hockey World Cup in 1986, 2010 and 2014.
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Nickname(s) | The Kookaburras | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Hockey Australia | ||
Confederation | OHF (Oceania) | ||
Head Coach | Colin Batch | ||
Assistant coach(es) | Robert Hammond Anthony Potter David Staniforth | ||
Manager | Melissa Gey | ||
Captain | Aran Zalewski | ||
Most caps | Eddie Ockenden (414) | ||
Top scorer | Jamie Dwyer (244) | ||
| |||
FIH ranking | |||
Current | 5 ![]() | ||
Highest | 1 (2005, 2010–2011, 2014 – January 2017, December 2017 – July 2018, June 2019 – January 2020) | ||
Lowest | 6 (2023) | ||
First international | |||
New Zealand ![]() ![]() (Palmerston North, New Zealand; 27 September 1922)[2] | |||
Biggest win | |||
Australia ![]() ![]() (Stratford, New Zealand; 24 October 2015) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
Australia ![]() ![]() (Melbourne, Australia; 17 August 1935) | |||
Olympic Games | |||
Appearances | 16 (first in 1956) | ||
Best result | 1st (2004) | ||
World Cup | |||
Appearances | 14 (first in 1971) | ||
Best result | 1st (1986, 2010, 2014) | ||
Oceania Cup | |||
Appearances | 11 (first in 1999) | ||
Best result | 1st (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023) | ||
Medal record |
The Kookaburras' inability to win an Olympic gold medal despite their perennial competitiveness, led many in the Australian hockey community to speak of a "curse" afflicting the team,[4] finally broken in 2004 with the win in Athens. However, they failed to win Gold after that after losses in subsequent Olympics including a loss to Belgium in the Gold Medal Match of 2020 Tokyo Olympics - the Kookaburras instead won the silver medal.[5]
History
Australia's first men's team competed in an international match in 1922.[6]
The first major competition won by the national team was the 1983 World Championships held in Karachi.[7]
Participations
Australia's first men's team competed at the Olympics in field hockey at the 1956 Summer Olympics.[7]
Australia did not medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics[8] or the 1988 Summer Olympics.[9] At the 1992 Summer Olympics, Australia earned a silver medal, losing gold to Germany.[10] At the 1996 Summer Olympics, Australia finished third, earning a bronze medal.[11]
The team won their first Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Barry Dancer coached the side.[12]
Should Australia win the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics they will become the first national team in field hockey history to hold all four international titles available to them simultaneously. They would hold titles in the 2012 Olympics, 2010 World Cup, 2011 Champions Trophy and their continental championship (2011 Oceania Cup) at the same time. Along with those four titles Australia also holds the Commonwealth Games title from the 2010 championships.
- Australia at the 2008 Olympics
- Australia at the 2012 Olympics
Tournament records
Olympic Games[13] | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Host city | Position |
1908 | ![]() |
– |
1920 | ![]() |
– |
1928 | ![]() |
– |
1932 | ![]() |
– |
1936 | ![]() |
– |
1948 | ![]() |
– |
1952 | ![]() |
– |
1956 | ![]() |
5th |
1960 | ![]() |
6th |
1964 | ![]() |
3rd |
1968 | ![]() |
2nd |
1972 | ![]() |
5th |
1976 | ![]() |
2nd |
1980 | ![]() |
Boycott |
1984 | ![]() |
4th |
1988 | ![]() |
4th |
1992 | ![]() |
2nd |
1996 | ![]() |
3rd |
2000 | ![]() |
3rd |
2004 | ![]() |
1st |
2008 | ![]() |
3rd |
2012 | ![]() |
3rd |
2016 | ![]() |
6th |
2020 | ![]() |
2nd |
2024 | ![]() |
Qualified |
2028 | ![]() |
TBD |
2032 | ![]() |
TBD |
World Cup[14] | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Host city | Position |
1971 | ![]() |
8th |
1973 | ![]() |
Withdrew |
1975 | ![]() |
5th |
1978 | ![]() |
3rd |
1982 | ![]() |
3rd |
1986 | ![]() |
1st |
1990 | ![]() |
3rd |
1994 | ![]() |
3rd |
1998 | ![]() |
4th |
2002 | ![]() |
2nd |
2006 | ![]() |
2nd |
2010 | ![]() |
1st |
2014 | ![]() |
1st |
2018 | ![]() |
3rd |
2023 | ![]() ![]() |
4th |
Champions Trophy[15] | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Host city | Position |
1978 | ![]() |
2nd |
1980 | ![]() |
3rd |
1981 | ![]() |
2nd |
1982 | ![]() |
2nd |
1983 | ![]() |
1st |
1984 | ![]() |
1st |
1985 | ![]() |
1st |
1986 | ![]() |
2nd |
1987 | ![]() |
3rd |
1988 | ![]() |
3rd |
1989 | ![]() |
1st |
1990 | ![]() |
1st |
1991 | ![]() |
4th |
1992 | ![]() |
2nd |
1993 | ![]() |
1st |
1994 | ![]() |
4th |
1995 | ![]() |
2nd |
1996 | ![]() |
6th |
1997 | ![]() |
2nd |
1998 | ![]() |
3rd |
1999 | ![]() |
1st |
2000 | ![]() |
5th |
2001 | ![]() |
2nd |
2002 | ![]() |
5th |
2003 | ![]() |
2nd |
2004 | ![]() |
Withdrew[16] |
2005 | ![]() |
1st |
2006 | ![]() |
4th |
2007 | ![]() |
2nd |
2008 | ![]() |
1st |
2009 | ![]() |
1st |
2010 | ![]() |
1st |
2011 | ![]() |
1st |
2012 | ![]() |
1st |
2014 | ![]() |
3rd |
2016 | ![]() |
1st |
2018 | ![]() |
1st |
World League[13] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Host city | Position |
2012–13 | Semifinal | ![]() |
2nd |
Final | ![]() |
4th | |
2014–15 | Semifinal | ![]() |
1st |
Final | ![]() |
1st | |
2016–17 | Semifinal | ![]() |
3rd |
Final | ![]() |
1st |
Pro League[17] | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Host city | Position |
2019 | ![]() |
1st |
2020–21 | Home & Away | 2nd |
2021–22[18] | Home & Away | 2nd^ |
2022–23 | Home & Away | 7th |
^Australia and New Zealand originally withdrew from matches due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and subsequent international restrictions on travel.[19] In the lead up to the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympic games, Australia and New Zealand played two matches as part of the 2020-21 Pro League[20] in Perth.
Commonwealth Games[13] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Host city | Position | |
1998 | ![]() |
1st | |
2002 | ![]() |
1st | |
2006 | ![]() |
1st | |
2010 | ![]() |
1st | |
2014 | ![]() |
1st | |
2018 | ![]() |
1st | |
2022 | ![]() |
1st |
Oceania Cup[21] | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Host city | Position |
1999 | ![]() |
1st |
2001 | ![]() |
1st |
2003 | ![]() |
1st |
2005 | ![]() |
1st |
2007 | ![]() |
1st |
2009 | ![]() |
1st |
2011 | ![]() |
1st |
2013 | ![]() |
1st |
2015 | ![]() |
1st |
2017 | ![]() |
1st |
2019 | ![]() |
1st |
2023 | ![]() |
1st |
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup[22] | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Host city | Position |
1983 | ![]() |
1st |
1985 | ![]() |
Did Not Compete |
1987 | ![]() |
Did Not Compete |
1991 | ![]() |
Did Not Compete |
1994 | ![]() |
3rd |
1995 | ![]() |
Did Not Compete |
1996 | ![]() |
2nd |
1998 | ![]() |
1st |
1999 | ![]() |
Did Not Compete |
2000 | ![]() |
Did Not Compete |
2001 | ![]() |
3rd |
2003 | ![]() |
Did Not Compete |
2004 | ![]() |
1st |
2005 | ![]() |
1st |
2006 | ![]() |
2nd |
2007 | ![]() |
1st |
2008 | ![]() |
Did Not Compete |
2009 | ![]() |
Did Not Compete |
2010 | ![]() |
3rd |
2011 | ![]() |
1st |
2012 | ![]() |
Did Not Compete |
2013 | ![]() |
1st |
2014 | ![]() |
1st |
2015 | ![]() |
2nd |
2016 | ![]() |
1st |
2017 | ![]() |
2nd |
2018 | ![]() |
1st |
2019 | ![]() |
Did Not Compete |
2020 | ![]() |
Cancelled due to COVID-19 |
2021 | ![]() |
Cancelled due to COVID-19 |
2022 | ![]() |
Did Not Compete |
Team
Current squad
The following 24 players were named in the Kookaburras squad for the India Leg of the FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, from 11–25 February.[23][24]
Head coach: Colin Batch
All caps and goals current as of 22 February 2024, following the match against Ireland.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 | GK | Johan Durst | 18 March 1991 | 30 | 0 | ![]() |
30 | GK | Andrew Charter | 30 March 1987 | 232 | 0 | ![]() |
3 | DF | Corey Weyer | 28 March 1996 | 48 | 3 | ![]() |
4 | DF | Jake Harvie | 5 March 1998 | 125 | 5 | ![]() |
6 | DF | Matthew Dawson | 27 April 1994 | 196 | 13 | ![]() |
10 | DF | Joshua Beltz | 24 April 1995 | 107 | 5 | ![]() |
16 | DF | Timothy Howard | 23 June 1996 | 129 | 2 | ![]() |
26 | DF | James Collins | 25 February 2000 | 23 | 0 | ![]() |
32 | DF | Jeremy Hayward (Captain) | 3 March 1993 | 217 | 111 | ![]() |
1 | MF | Lachlan Sharp | 2 July 1997 | 89 | 18 | ![]() |
2 | MF | Thomas Craig | 3 September 1995 | 126 | 41 | ![]() |
11 | MF | Eddie Ockenden (Captain) | 3 April 1987 | 432 | 72 | ![]() |
12 | MF | Jacob Whetton | 15 June 1991 | 265 | 77 | ![]() |
15 | MF | Jayden Atkinson | 9 July 2001 | 15 | 0 | ![]() |
17 | MF | Aran Zalewski (Captain) | 21 March 1991 | 247 | 35 | ![]() |
20 | MF | Ky Willott | 15 March 2001 | 39 | 11 | ![]() |
22 | MF | Flynn Ogilvie | 17 September 1993 | 157 | 28 | ![]() |
23 | MF | Daniel Beale | 12 February 1993 | 234 | 34 | ![]() |
5 | FW | Thomas Wickham | 26 May 1990 | 95 | 45 | ![]() |
7 | FW | Nathan Ephraums | 9 June 1999 | 60 | 31 | ![]() |
9 | FW | Jacob Anderson | 22 March 1997 | 64 | 21 | ![]() |
13 | FW | Blake Govers | 6 July 1996 | 153 | 142 | ![]() |
21 | FW | Jack Welch | 26 October 1997 | 34 | 13 | ![]() |
29 | FW | Timothy Brand | 29 November 1998 | 83 | 30 | ![]() |
The remainder of the 2023 national squad is as follows:[25]
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Ashleigh Thomas | 21 July 1995 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Craig Marais | 28 May 2002 | 14 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Joel Rintala | 24 July 1996 | 4 | 7 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
Recent call-ups
The following players have received call-ups to the national team in the last twelve months.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Benjamin Rennie | 28 September 1990 | 12 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Dylan Martin | 12 January 1998 | 28 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Anand Gupte | 4 September 1998 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Davis Atkin | 17 February 2001 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Hayden Beltz | 8 September 1997 | 7 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Benjamin Staines | 13 July 1997 | 7 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
Notable players
Results
2024 Fixtures & Results
2022 Statistics | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pld | W | WD | D | LD | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
13 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 27 | +23 | 35 |
FIH Pro League (Leg 1)
11 February 2024 India Leg | Spain ![]() | 3–4 | ![]() | Bhubaneswar, India |
17:30 | Miralles ![]() N. Álvarez ![]() Cabré-Verdiell ![]() |
Report | Sharp ![]() Whetton ![]() Govers ![]() |
Stadium: Kalinga Hockey Stadium |
13 February 2024 India Leg | Australia ![]() | 5–0 | ![]() | Bhubaneswar, India |
17:30 | Craig ![]() Hayward ![]() Willott ![]() Ephraums ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Kalinga Hockey Stadium |
15 February 2024 India Leg | India ![]() | 4–6 | ![]() | Bhubaneswar, India |
19:30 | Harmanpreet ![]() Sukhjeet ![]() Mandeep ![]() |
Report | Govers ![]() Zalewski ![]() Sharp ![]() Anderson ![]() Welch ![]() |
Stadium: Kalinga Hockey Stadium |
16 February 2024 India Leg | Netherlands ![]() | 4–5 | ![]() | Bhubaneswar, India |
17:30 | Telgenkamp ![]() Bijen ![]() Janssen ![]() |
Report | Govers ![]() Hayward ![]() Brand ![]() |
Stadium: Kalinga Hockey Stadium |
21 February 2024 India Leg | Spain ![]() | 1–4 | ![]() | Rourkela, India |
17:30 | Amat ![]() |
Report | Ogilvie ![]() Ephraums ![]() Hayward ![]() Brand ![]() |
Stadium: Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium |
22 February 2024 India Leg | Ireland ![]() | 1–4 | ![]() | Rourkela, India |
17:30 | O'Donoghue ![]() |
Report | Govers ![]() Ephraums ![]() Welch ![]() |
Stadium: Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium |
24 February 2024 India Leg | India ![]() | 2–2 (0–3 p) | ![]() | Rourkela, India |
19:30 | Report | Stadium: Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium |
25 February 2024 India Leg | Australia ![]() | 3–5 | ![]() | Rourkela, India |
17:30 | Report | Stadium: Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium |
International Festival of Hockey
10 April 2024 Match 3 | Australia ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | Perth, Australia |
17:40 | Report | Stadium: Perth Hockey Stadium |
FIH Pro League (Leg 2)
8 June 2024 Great Britain Leg | Great Britain ![]() | v | ![]() | London, England |
14:30 | Report | Stadium: Lee Valley Hockey Stadium |
9 June 2024 Great Britain Leg | Australia ![]() | v | ![]() | London, England |
17:15 | Report | Stadium: Lee Valley Hockey Stadium |
11 June 2024 Great Britain Leg | Germany ![]() | v | ![]() | London, England |
15:30 | Report | Stadium: Lee Valley Hockey Stadium |
12 June 2024 Great Britain Leg | Great Britain ![]() | v | ![]() | London, England |
17:45 | Report | Stadium: Lee Valley Hockey Stadium |
XXXIII Olympic Games
27 July 2024 Pool B | Australia ![]() | v | ![]() | Paris, France |
13:15 | Report | Stadium: Stade Yves-du-Manoir |
1 August 2024 Pool B | New Zealand ![]() | v | ![]() | Paris, France |
10:30 | Report | Stadium: Stade Yves-du-Manoir |
Family
Barry Dancer/Brent Dancer and Ric Charlesworth/Jonathan Charlesworth are two pairs of father as coach and son as player while both were affiliated with the national team in those positions.[12][26]
Recognition
References
- "FIH Outdoor World Hockey Rankings". FIH. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- "History of Hockey in Australia". Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ABC (15 August 2016). "Rio 2016: Australia's Kookaburras and Sharks knocked out of men's hockey and water polo". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
- "Kookaburras ready to toss the monkey". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 August 2004. Archived from the original on 27 July 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- "Wagga Wagga's Olympic debutant Dylan Martin helps Kookaburras win hockey silver medal - ABC News". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 August 2021.
- Epstein, Jackie (21 October 2009). "Dwyer breaks free of Holland binds – Australia always comes first". Herald Sun. Melbourne, Australia. p. 76. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- Department of Sport, Recreation and Tourism; Australian Sport Commission (1985). Australian Sport, a profile. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Publish Service. pp. 177–178. ISBN 0644036672.
- Dorling Kindersley Limited. (1999). The Olympic Games. St. Leonards, N.S.W.: Dorling Kindersley. p. 320. ISBN 1864660635. OCLC 57337092.
- Dorling Kindersley Limited. (1999). The Olympic Games. St. Leonards, N.S.W.: Dorling Kindersley. p. 327. ISBN 1864660635. OCLC 57337092.
- Dorling Kindersley Limited. (1999). The Olympic Games. St. Leonards, N.S.W.: Dorling Kindersley. p. 335. ISBN 1864660635. OCLC 57337092.
- Dorling Kindersley Limited. (1999). The Olympic Games. St. Leonards, N.S.W.: Dorling Kindersley. p. 343. ISBN 1864660635. OCLC 57337092.
- Petrie, Andrea (18 October 2009). "Sons a chip off the old stick – HOCKEY". The Sunday Age. Melbourne, Australia. p. 19. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
- "Fédération Internationale de Hockey | Official Website". International Hockey Federation.
- "World Cup – FIH". International Hockey Federation.
- "Champions Trophy". FIH.
- "Australia pull out of Champions Trophy". 12 October 2004.
- "FIH confirms Spain men and Belgium women join Hockey Pro League". FIH.
- 2020-21 FIH Hockey Pro League (M)
- "Hockeyroos and Kookaburras home Pro League matches postponed".
- "Hockeyroos and Kookaburras confirmed for Pro League matches".
- "Oceania Cup". Hockey Australia. Archived from the original on 11 January 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- "Other". FIH.
- "Squad Announcement: Full strength Kookaburras embark on Olympic campaign in India". hockey.org.au. Hockey Australia. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- "Team Details – Australia". tms.fih.ch. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- "Batch names strong 2024 Kookaburras squad ahead of Olympic year". hockey.org.au. International Hockey Federation. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- Department of Sport, Recreation and Tourism; Australian Sport Commission (1985). Australian Sport, a profile. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Publish Service. p. 116. ISBN 0644036672.
- "Australian Sports Awards". Confederation of Australian Sport. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- "Rabbitohs, Fearnley, Fox win top ASPAS". Australian Sports Commission News, 11 February 2015. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
- The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games n.d., Tokyo 2020, olympics.com. Retrieved 3 August 2021.