4 NSWIS men’s hockey stars selected for Olympics

NSWIS’ Matthew Dawson, Blake Govers, Simon Orchard and Tristan White have all been selected in Australia’s 16-man squad to take the pitch at Rio.

It will be Dawson, Govers and White’s first Olympic Games, whilst it will be the second for Orchard.

In total, the men’s hockey section of the 2016 Australian Olympic Team features 10 returning Olympians and six eager debutants ready to fight together to claim top spot on the dais.

Whilst triple Olympian captain Mark Knowles was quick to congratulate the 16 men’s hockey players selected today, he believes that the hard work has only just begun for them.

 “When we go to the Olympic Games as the Australian men’s hockey team we want to win, we don’t want to get bronze, just make the semis or play off for fifth,” Knowles said.

“I sent every player in the squad a message after the selection memo came out. The most important message I gave was the one I said to those selected, making the team isn’t enough.

“I’m extremely proud. I’ve been selected for a fourth time and it’s something I never thought I’d have chance to do as Rockhampton country boy.”

Knowles, who became a father for the third time only three weeks ago, knows how special this selection is for the six debutants, reminiscing on his first Games, 12 years ago.

“I think about myself when I was a 20-year-old, in 2004 and how excited they must be. It’s a life-long dream coming true.”

Knowles will lead the side in Brazil, backed by an extremely powerful leadership group. The side will capitalise on the experience of Knowles and fellow triple Olympian Jamie Dwyer, as well as dual bronze medallists Eddie Ockenden and Fergus Kavanagh who will line up for their third Games.

Chris Ciriello, Simon Orchard, Glenn Turner, Matthew Swann, Matt Gohdes and Tim Deavin will all take to the pitch at their second Games, while Blake Govers, Daniel Beale, Jake Whetton, Matthew

Dawson, Andrew Charter and Tristan White will don the Olympic uniform for the first time.

22-year-old Matthew Dawson says that he’s inspired by his legendary teammates.

“I can remember getting up at 3:00am to watch the 2004 Olympic gold medal match with my family sitting in the lounge, that was the start of it,” he said.

The Central Coast native was hoping for Olympic selection after a strong performance at the recent Champions Trophy where the Aussies walked away with gold, but says he certainly wasn’t expecting it.

“Trying to crack into a group with Mark Knowles, Fergus Kavanagh, Chris Ciriello and Tim Deavin is hard.”

The team will head into Rio as the number one ranked team in the world. The side recently claimed their 14th Champions Trophy in London and were the 2015 World League Champions.

When the competition begins on August 6 the Aussies will face trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand in the preliminary round as well as Great Britain, Belgium, Spain and the hosts, Brazil.

The top four from each of two pools will progress to the all-or-nothing quarter finals, with Rio 2016 being the first Olympic Games to feature the new format, all building to the gold medal match on August 18.

These 16 athletes take the overall 2016 Australian Olympic Team to 216 from 21 sports, with an expected final Team of around 440 athletes.