The Australian Commonwealth Games Association has announced the Australian men’s and women’s hockey teams nominated by Hockey Australia for the Commonwealth Games, which begin next month in Glasgow. Both teams are looking to defend the titles won four years ago.
For many of the athletes selected, Glasgow 2014 will provide a first taste of the Commonwealth Games with nine men and nine women in the two squads of 16 set to compete at their first Commonwealth Games.
From the World Cup ‘gold ‘ winning team the Australian men’s team will be without coach Rick Charlesworth who announced his decision to retire, Robbie Hammond who also announced his retirement, Liam De Young who since announced his retirement too, Glen Turner and Jamie Dwyer.
As you review the new men’s additions below you can see that there is to be a rebuilding program aiming at the 2016 Olympics. But is such an approach warranted so soon after the World Cup win? Does it speak of how little value is placed upon participation in the Commonwealth Games by Hockey Australia. Despite Australian hockey teams achieving previous success at the Commonwealth Games do we not still need to send the best available players to historically valued event in eyes of the Australian public?
Another tragedy that stands out in the naming of this team is the omission of Jamie Dwyer, 5 times FIH player of the year. Upon investigation it appears he has been left out despite being available for the Commonwealth Games.
This week the media have jumped on board debateable act. It has attracted more media attention than the Australian result in the World Cup. The Courier Mail Brisbane [25/06/14] headline “TUMBLE DWYER –Kookaburra not laughing after ex-coach axes him” did little for hockey. He stated; “Jamie Dwyer, one of Australia’s greatest field hockey players was sensationally sacked by a late-night email from a coach who no longer in the national job”.
My question is – are we going to see the ungracious career end of a hockey champion in which his current ability and service has been left aside in favour of immediate team rebuilding? If this is the truth this is absolutely terrible, i.e., thanks for your service Jamie but you are no longer needed. Surely if the Australian selectors and hockey coaching team knew of their intentions in selecting the Commonwealth Games team Jamie would have been approached prior to the World Cup and informed of their future plans so that he could have contemplated retiring from International hockey in his way. Also the Australian hockey and non hockey public (and world hockey stage) could have been given the chance to honour Jamie’s career in a more appropriate way leading in and out of the World Hockey Cup. I stand to be corrected but I recall past hockey legends Jay Stacy (321 games for Australia and same as Jamie Dwyer) and Brent Livermore (318 games for Australia) both experienced similar fates.
Jamie with his family prior to the World Cup final – (photo: Frank Reelick
Having watched Jamie’s field goal in the World Cup final, on ability alone he could have easily be part of the Commonwealth Games bound team. Jamie may well be in his twilight years of playing International hockey but surely axing him so close to after the World Cup and not allow him to finish in a more gracious and recognised way by playing at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, in the eyes of the International hockey fraternity is not tasteful. This sympathetic view for Jamie is shared by many I have spoken to who have played hockey at different levels for many years. It has been suggested that Jamie could have been the flag bearer for the combined Australian Commonwealth team. If this is the truth what a major opportunity lost for promoting hockey again to a hockey and non hockey audience.
It is interesting to read about the perception of foreign press in an article on Jamie at the recent World Cup (http://www.rabobankhockeyworldcup2014.com/news/dwyer-dares-to-dream); ‘In a country that reveres its sports stars, Dwyer has largely remained under the radar. In fact, it is on the world stage, rather than in his home country that Jamie receives most recognition. It is not unusual for him to be stopped in the street in the Netherlands and asked for his autograph, and it is a similar situation in Spain and India – where Jamie starred in the Hockey India League, playing for the Punjab Warriors’.
To this writer this press statement is an invitation to Hockey Australia to ensure our hockey legends receive full recognition for their service to a sport that is not identified as a professional sport and that the manner chosen to end or effect a long standing players career like Jamie, Jay and Brent is done in the future with more thought for the player as a person. To the date of writing this there has been no statements coming from Hockey Australia regarding this matter. Let this matter be not ‘brushed under the carpet’ but addressed by Hockey Australia so the transition to retirement by legendary Kookaburra and Hockeyroo players is not mismanaged. As such it would be a winner for hockey promotion
Having said this Go Hockey News congratulate al the below players, especially the new additions, selected to represent Australia at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and wish them a successful campaign.
Australian men’s hockey team for the Commonwealth Games, Glasgow 2014
Athlete, (Hometown), Commonwealth Games history
Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD) Debut
Andrew Charter (GK) (Canberra, ACT) Debut
Chris Ciriello (Melbourne, VIC) 2010
Matt Ghodes (Rockhampton, QLD) Debut
Kieran Govers (Wollongong, NSW) Debut
Jeremy Hayward (Darwin, NT) Debut
Fergus Kavanagh (Geraldton, WA) 2010
Mark Knowles (Rockhampton, QLD) 2006, 2010
Trent Mitton (Perth, WA) 2010
Eddie Ockerton (Hobart, TAS) 2010
Simon Orchard (Maitland, NSW) 2010
Andrew Phipott (Melbourne, VIC) Debut
Matthew Swann (Mackay, QLD) 2010
Jake Whetton (Brisbane, QLD) Debut
Tristan White (Wollongong, NSW) Debut
Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA) Debut
Men’s Commonwealth Games Hockey
Year, Location, Gold | Silver | Bronze
1998 Kuala Lumpur, MAS, Australia | Malaysia | England
2002 Manchester, ENG, Australia | New Zealand | Pakistan
2006 Melbourne, AUS, Australia | Pakistan | Malaysia
2010 New Delhi, IND, Australia | India | New Zealand
Australian women’s hockey team for the Commonwealth Games, Glasgow 2014
Athlete, (Hometown), Commonwealth Games history
Madonna Blyth (Brisbane, QLD) 2006, 2010
Edwina Bone (Evatt, ACT) Debut
Jane Claxton (Adelaide, SA) Debut
Casey Eastham (South Coast, NSW) 2010
Anna Flannigan (Canberra, ACT) 2010
Kate Jenner (Tamworth, NSW) 2010
Jodie Kenny (Wamuran, QLD) Debut
Rachel Lynch (GK) (Melbourne, VIC) 2010
Karri McMahon (Berri, SA) Debut
Georgia Nanscawen (Melbourne, VIC) Debut
Ashleigh Nelson (Wagin, WA) 2010
Geogie parker (Berri, SA) Debut
Brooke peris (Darwin, NT) Debut
Emily Smith (Crookwell, NSW) Debut
Jayde Taylor (Bunbury, WA) 2010
Kellie White (Crookwell, NSW) Debut
Women’s Commonwealth Games Hockey
Year, Location, Gold | Silver | Bronze
1998 Kuala Lumpur, MAS, Australia | England | New Zealand
2002 Manchester, ENG, India | England | Australia
2006 Melbourne, AUS, Australia | India | England
2010 New Delhi, IND, Australia | New Zealand | England
