Kookaburras squad for 2019 announced as Kieran Govers retires

The world number one Kookaburras will compete in the inaugural FIH Pro League from January to June next year, followed by the Oceania Cup which is the qualification event for the Tokyo Olympics.

Seven athletes from the NSW Institute of Sport have been selected in next year’s squad, including 24 year old Jack Hayes and following the retirement of Kieran Govers.

The 2019 squad was selected with a long-term view to medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics along with achieving performance benchmarks in 2019 at the Pro League and Olympic qualification.

Kookaburras coach Colin Batch is looking ahead to the sport’s pinnacle event.

“Our 2019 squad selection is formed with a longer view to what our squad needs to look like in 2020.

“This is the rationale behind all of our decisions, so we’ve added three new players.”

NSW Institute of Sport athlete Jack Hayes is one of those three additions, elevated from the National Development Squad having scored six goals for New South Wales in the 2018 Australian Hockey League. The midfielder is also the cousin of ex-Hockeyroo Casey Sablowski and competed for Australia at the 2018 Indoor World Cup in Berlin.

“Jack Hayes has also had opportunities with us in Perth. He also played in the Australia A-Malaysia games.

“We watched him closely during the AHL and there’s a lot of potential there. He’s gained experience playing for Australia in the Indoor World Cup and we feel he can add some strength in our midfield and as a striker.”

Veteran Kookaburras player and NSWIS athlete Kieran Govers announced his retirement earlier in the week.

“It’s the end of the road for Kieran” said Batch.

“He did very well to come back after a disappointing 2016 and he had a few injuries during that time.

“He got himself back to 100 per cent and gave it everything. He played in the Darwin series, so credit to him.

“He’s a great example to the younger players on how to be a pro, with his training ethic and commitment on the ground. He’s in a different phase of his life with a young family to look after so he goes out with our blessing. We wish him well for the future.”

The Kookaburras will fly out for India on Friday to compete at the 2018 World Cup where they’re chasing a third consecutive title.

Upon their return to Perth, the squad will reconvene for training on Monday 14 January after a break, ahead of the Pro League which starts for Australia against the Netherlands on Saturday 2 February in Melbourne on Fox Sports.

2019 National Senior Men’s Squad squad:

• Jacob Anderson (Mackay, QLD)
• Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD)
• Joshua Beltz (Hobart, TAS)
• Tim Brand (Chatswood, NSW)
• Andrew Charter (Canberra, ACT)
• Tom Craig (Lane Cove, NSW)
• Matthew Dawson (Killarney Vale, NSW)
• Johan Durst (Melbourne, VIC)
• Blake Govers (Wollongong, NSW)
• Jake Harvie (Dardanup, WA)
• Jack Hayes (Wollongong, NSW)
• Jeremy Hayward (Darwin, NT)
• Tim Howard (Wakerley, QLD)
• Aaron Kleinschmidt (Melbourne, VIC)
• Tyler Lovell (Perth, WA)
• Trent Mitton (Perth, WA)
• Edward Ockenden (Hobart, TAS)
• Flynn Ogilvie (Wollongong, NSW)
• Lachlan Sharp (Lithgow, NSW)
• Josh Simmonds (Doncaster, VIC)
• Matthew Swann (Mackay, QLD)
• Jack Welch (Hobart, TAS)
• Corey Weyer (Biggera Waters, QLD)
• Jacob Whetton (Brisbane, QLD)
• Tom Wickham (Morgan, SA) *Plays for WA
• Dylan Wotherspoon (Murwillumbah, NSW) *Plays for QLD
• Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA)