Kookaburras ready for their golden date with destiny
Published Wed 04 Aug 2021
Co-captain Eddie Ockenden is hoping it will be fourth time lucky when the Kookaburras meet Belgium in a highly anticipated Olympic Men’s Hockey Final tomorrow night.
The veteran Tasmanian, who holds the Kookaburras games record with 379 appearances and counting, has had his sights set on Olympic glory since claiming bronze medals in 2008 and 2012.
Ockenden, who captains the Kookaburras with West Australian midfielder Aran Zalewski, has achieved almost all there is in world hockey, the only thing missing being an Olympic gold medal.
The 34 year old has been a man on a mission in Tokyo, determined to secure Australia’s first Olympic gold medal since 2004, and only second in the history of men’s hockey at the Games.
The Gold Medal Match against Belgium will be the fifth time the Kookaburras have featured on the Olympic stage’s big dance.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Men’s Hockey Gold Medal Match
Kookaburras v Belgium
Thursday 5 August 2021
Oi Stadium, Tokyo
Start time: 7:00pm local (8:00pm AEST)
Broadcast: LIVE on 7Plus
Kookaburras v Belgium – Overall Record
Played 42; Kookaburras 30, Draws 7, Belgium 5
Last time they met
26-Jan-20 FIH Pro League (Sydney)
Kookaburras 2 (Sharp 42’, Hayward 60’)
Belgium 4 (Hendrickx 13’/25’, Plennevaux 56’, Stockbroekx 58’)
Kookaburras squad: 1.Lachlan Sharp, 2.Tom Craig, 5.Tom Wickham, 6.Matthew Dawson, 10.Josh Beltz, 11.Eddie Ockenden, 12.Jake Whetton, 13.Blake Govers, 14.Dylan Martin, 15.Josh Simmonds, 16.Tim Howard, 17.Aran Zalewski, 22.Flynn Ogilvie, 23.Daniel Beale, 25.Trent Mitton, 29.Tim Brand, 30.Andrew Charter (gk), 32.Jeremy Hayward
