The Great Hopes For Gold Hockey

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday August 9, 2004

Richard Hinds

MEN'S

So often cast as the hard-luck story of the Australian Olympic team, the Kookaburras do not carry quite the same burden of expectation as in past years. Again, the powerful German and Dutch teams will be the hot favourites, however the youthful Australian team has shown in recent times it can compete with the best and a medal of any colour - even the elusive gold - is a possibility.

Having taken the difficult job after the Sydney Olympics, coach Barry Dancer has cast a wide net, putting few limits on who could make his final squad. As a consequence a crop of talented youngsters, including Jamie Dwyer, Grant Schubert and Mark Knowles, has come into the team in the past two years and made a significant impact.

Whereas once the Kookaburras relied heavily on the contributions of a few stars, there seems to be a more even spread of talent. The results have come steadily - second placings in the 2002 World Cup and the 2001 and 2003 Champions Trophies. That might concern those who believe the team is a perennial bridesmaid, but the lead-up has been measured and the team seems to be peaking at the right time.

WOMEN'S

It will take the non-initiated some time to realise these are not the same dominant Hockeyroos who won gold in Atlanta and Sydney. Rather, this is a talented team quite capable of defending its Olympic title - but which faces a tough struggle to do so.

Perhaps the most pertinent statistic is that 10 of the 16 Sydney gold medallists have either retired or did not make the team for Athens (although Louise Dobson, an Atlanta gold medallist who missed Sydney, returns). In their places are some talented youngsters, as well as relative veterans such as Melanie Twitt and Karen Smith.

It has taken new coach David Bell some time to bring his squad together and to emerge from the shadow cast by the former coach Ric Charlesworth. However, in recent times, the pieces have come together. The Hockeyroos won the Champions Trophy in Sydney late last year and winning another gold medal is a definite possibility.

Richard Hinds

© 2004 Sydney Morning Herald

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