Kookaburras contingent competing in Europe

There is a distinct Australian influence in two of Europe’s top men’s hockey leagues with a host of Kookaburras playing at clubs in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Tokyo Olympians Tom Craig, Tim Brand, Matt Dawson, Trent Mitton and Lachlan Sharp are playing in the Hoofdklasse in the Netherlands, while Jack Welch and Corey Weyer are running around for Royal Herakles in Belgium’s top division.

Craig, Brand, Dawson and Mitton all departed for Europe straight from Tokyo once the Kookaburras’ Olympic campaign, that finished with a silver medal, came to an end.

Craig and Brand have joined Klein Zwitserland (KZ), while Dawson, Mitton and Sharp are at Amsterdam.

Klein Zwitserland currently sit in fifth on the Hoofdklasse Men’s table, two places below Amsterdam but only separated by goal difference.

Retired Kookaburra Matt Swann has also signed on to play alongside Brand and Craig at Klein Zwitserland. Swann’s wife is Dutch and they are spending the next 12 months in the Netherlands following the birth of their daughter.

Prior to the Tokyo Olympics being postponed, several Kookaburras had planned to play in the more lucrative European club competitions post the Games. However, COVID curtailed those plans and it seemed unlikely the opportunities would be there a year later.

However, Craig and co have made it happen and are enjoying the change of scenery and chance to train and play in arguably some of the world’s best domestic leagues.

“We were going to go to the club we are at now after the Tokyo Olympics last year before they were postponed,” said Craig.

“We put it on the backburner because we didn’t think playing in Europe would be an option this year, but Lachi Sharp informed us that he was looking to go to Belgium and once we had that idea in our heads we contacted the club and made things happen.”

“My brother Ben played a couple of seasons at KZ and really enjoyed his time, so it was the obvious choice.

“We also roped Swanny to come with us. He was tossing up between a couple of clubs and KZ said we could bring someone else if we wanted to.

“Swanny’s retirement was sudden and he definitely still has some good hockey in him, so for him and his wife Roos, playing a season in Europe was the perfect way to get a bit more hockey and introduce their daughter to Roos’ family and live in Holland again.”

Former Kookaburra Dylan Wotherspoon is also plying his trade in the Netherlands, enjoying a strong season with Den Bosch.

With the league comprising the cream of Dutch hockey and some top international players, coupled with the full time and professional nature of the clubs, Craig says he is thoroughly enjoying the experience.

“It’s awesome. The league here is really well done. They have a lot of things that are desirable about a club hockey season,” said Craig.

“They always have the men and the women play at the same time back to back every Sunday. People can go and get three and a half hours of hockey and the kids can run around, and you always know exactly when the games are on.”

“Hockey is a bigger sport here so it’s obviously a lot more professional than the club scene in Australia.

“We have five hockey training sessions a week plus three video sessions and two gym sessions so it’s pretty full on but it’s good fun.”

“Having been in the Daily Training Environment in Perth for seven years, I have always wanted to go and play in Holland and after a long build up to Tokyo it has been nice to have a different outlook on life and work on some things.

“I have also had some more time to get my body right and take training a little bit easier, so it has been the perfect combination of hockey and down time.”

Craig says acclimatising and transitioning into a foreign country has been interesting but admits the fact most people speak English in The Hague where he is based, and at KZ has made it relatively smooth.

“Tim’s dad is Dutch so he understands it. Having such an international team most of the communication is in English,” said Craig.

“I’ve been trying to pick up some Dutch and I lived in the Netherlands when I was nine so I do remember some of it.”

Craig has already scored five goals to sit equal third in the league’s top goal scorers, with Mitton having struck the back of the net four times so far for Amsterdam. 

The Kookaburras contingent will continue to play in Europe until the leagues go on a three month break during the winter before resuming in 2022.

Craig says he plans to head home to Sydney to spend Christmas with his family. He will then join the Kookaburras squad back in Perth for a stint before finishing off the season with KZ.

In Belgium, Weyer and Welch are in a Royal Herakles team that sits in seventh position after seven matches of Men’s Belgian Hockey League.