Kookaburras Looking For Lions-like Dynasty
Sun Herald
Sunday March 5, 2006
KOOKABURRAS star Jamie Dwyer is guaranteed not just a special place in Australian hockey folklore, but in that of the nation's sporting history.
His unforgettable goal in extra time to secure Australia's men's hockey team its long-awaited Olympic gold medal in 2004 - and ensure Australia a record-breaking 17th gold medal in Athens - is a magic moment for most sporting fans.The Queenslander, who turns 27 three days before the Commonwealth Games begin, is regarded as one of the world's finest hockey players. World player of the year in 2004, Dwyer had an even better year in 2005 though he missed out on the game's highest individual honour.Instead, he basked in another team triumph for the Kookaburras, who strode unbeaten through the rest of the world's top six nations at Champions Trophy in India in December.At the Commonwealth Games, he will play a different role from the one he played in Athens. He has moved from out-and-out striker to a deeper midfield position as coach Barry Dancer wanted to bring his explosive talents into the action more regularly.As for all hockey players, the financial rewards for Dwyer, even at the top level, are not great. He plays seven months of the year professionally for Blomendaal in Holland.He uses those earnings to supplement the government funding he receives before Commonwealth and Olympic Games, so he can spend his time in Australia before major tournaments concentrating full-time on the Kookaburras.The team has been without a sponsor for seven years.Dwyer hopes the fact the Kookaburras want to build a dynasty - like his beloved AFL side the Brisbane Lions - will change that."We've set goals to win the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup [in September]," he said. "It's hard for any team to win two in a row, like the Hockeyroos at the Olympics, the Brisbane Broncos in rugby league, let alone three in a row like the Lions in AFL."We know it's a tough challenge, but we've set our goals high."Meanwhile, one of Australia's leading Commonwealth Games gold medal hopes is considering not continuing on to the Beijing Olympics.Hockeyroos co-captain Melanie Twitt says she will weigh up her future after the women's hockey World Cup in October before deciding whether she will continue with her international career."Part of me would love to go to Beijing, but you get to an age where you have other priorities," she said.
© 2006 Sun Herald