Matt Swann - One on One

Gold medals, individual accolades, over 200 internationals. Matt Swann retires from the Kookaburras as one of greats of Australian men’s hockey.

While it may not have been a fairy tale finish due to circumstances largely determined by COVID-19, Swanny brings to a close a chapter and a time with a team that he has spent over a third of his life representing.

Upon announcing his retirement from international hockey, Swanny took some time to reflect on his Kookaburras journey and decision to draw the curtain on a marvellous career. 

How tough was it to make this decision to retire? There must be an element of disappointment not having the opportunity to try and win an Olympic gold medal with the current group?

MS: “100 per cent but it wasn’t a rushed decision. It was a decision made over 4-5 months. With Roos and I having our first child (due on 8 August) we were hoping that quarantining would change or maybe the situation wouldn’t be as dire as it is at the moment given the state of COVID globally. I will be sitting there cheering the boys on and thinking about being there, but at the end of the day I have made a decision that I think is the right one for my family. In ten years down the track I’m going to look back and know I made the right decision, and although I’m not going to be there for my Kookas family everyone has been full supportive.”

What does it meant to you to have played over 200 games for the Kookaburras?

MS: “It feels pretty incredible to be honest. When I played my 200^th game I couldn’t believe I was only the 20^th player to do it. The amount of tournament wins I have had in those 204 games is pretty amazing when I think about it. I have been lucky to be good enough to play in such great teams and good enough to stay in such a great team over a 13 year period.”

As a boy from Mackay you have had an amazing career with the Kookaburras. Did you have thoughts about going on again with the Kookaburras next year and possibly thinking about Paris 2024?

MS: “Whenever we (the Kookaburras) have a cultural meeting together and every individual is asked what the most important thing is to them, family is the answer by the majority. From a longevity perspective, the way I’m going now there would be no issue with me going on to try for the next Olympics but there are so many factors to consider.

I was already struggling to balance hockey with my work and then you add a child to that, no family support in Perth and it becomes a bit overzealous. I think my body has been getting better as I’ve got older but you have to weigh up what you have to give up.”

You had more than your share of injury niggles throughout your career. What was the biggest injury setback you had?

MS: “I broke my foot and it was the most difficult injury I had to come back from. It was such a massive trauma to my foot. I lost a lot of muscle on my leg from being in a cast for four weeks on crutches. From a long injury point of view it was definitely the most frustrating.”

Did you ever have thoughts about whether it was all worth going on?

MS: “I also had a stress fracture in my right tibia and that one also took an eight month period to finally settle down. That was when I was 24. Then when I got over that I broke my foot and it makes you question why are you putting your body through so much for a couple of tournaments.”

Looking back, did you think that you would still been playing for the Kookaburras and in such great form at this point in your career?

MS: “I’m not sure. I was probably most worried in a 12 month stretch before the 2016 Olympics where I had a few soft tissue injuries. Brendyn Appleby (Kookaburras Strength & Conditioning Manager) came in at that stage and really restructured my whole gym program and then I had a really good run with my body.”

What have you loved most about being part of the Kookaburras for so long and what are you going to miss the most?

MS: “It’s probably the day to day training. Being in the changerooms before training, there’s always something new that the guys are talking about or a new joke doing the rounds and the boys have a bit of a laugh.

Then after training when you are doing your recovery and having some banter, I think that is the aspect of it that I am going to miss most. And you also have this sense of purpose when you wake up in the morning. You’ve got things you want to try and tick off in every training session and it gives you that drive every single morning. Obviously when you don’t have a good training session it’s not the greatest but it’s good to have something outside of hockey where you can go and do something else and forget about it for a while.”

So you had a real desire to be better every day throughout your entire career?

MS: “It’s obviously hard to do that over such a long period of time and there are days when you wish you didn’t have to get up at 5am and go to hockey and it’s still dark. But there is something about 25 or 30 guys all having a common goal and having fun while you are doing it. It makes it special and very enjoyable. You go away on tournaments and if you do well you have some of the most memorable times that will stay with you forever. But I think the thing I will miss the most is that day to day environment.”

Speaking of memorable times, are there any that stick out?

“There are a lot but from a team perspective, it would definitely be the 2014 World Cup where we beat Holland in Holand. It was pretty special to have a tiny contingent of green and gold sitting in the stands when the rest of he stadium was a wave of orange. To win in that environment in the manner that we won was pretty ridiculous and something here you go ‘wow what an amazing team and World Cup that was.’ There was something about that team and tournament where everything clicked into place and each player knew their role so well. It was incredible to be a part of.”

Are you going to pop your head into training every now and then before the guys head to Tokyo?

MS: “I’m only a phone call away for any of the guys who want a chat but it’s largely a reason I’m finishing up on the 19^th of May so we can get over to Queensland to set up and have the baby over there. We are driving from Perth to Mackay and leaving on Sunday so it has all happened really quickly.

The last two months I’ve been focusing on really trying to help the likes of Jake Harvie, Josh Simmonds and Dylan Martin (who play similar positions) to try to give them as much advice and support as possible.”

You are not the biggest guy, especially in comparison to a lot of the defenders playing the game at international level. But you really managed to hold your own?

MS: “From a playing perspective I was probably one of the first defenders who was small to come in and play at the back. Normally defenders are quite big fellas so it was a bit strange seeing a kid who weighed about 50kg playing back there.”

Do you have plans to move back home to Mackay in Queensland or are you settled in Perth?

MS: “We’re settled in Perth. It is home and it has given a lot to us and we have a lot of good friends here. I’ve been in Perth since 2009 so for now the life that we have built in Perth is really good and we plan to stay.”

Is there anyone you would like to thank or acknowledge now that you have decided to hang up your stick on the international scene?

MS: “I want to thank my wife Roos who has been amazing during the majority of my career. My family and friends who have been supporting me from the very beginning. Specifically, my parents who have given up so much time to give me the opportunity to make it to the highest level.

The Mackay Hockey Association for all their support during my junior days. The Queensland Academy of Sport and Hockey QLD who supported me to be able to make that final step into the National Program. Hockey Australia and the High Performance Unit – thank you for all the support throughout out my Australian career.

Furthermore, I would like to thanks all the coaches, clubs and associations that have had an impact on my life and career. I am forever grateful for the opportunities, encouragement and support that I have received from you all.

Also, I can’t speak highly enough of the people at PwC and what they have allowed me to do balancing a professional career and professional level hockey. I can’t thank them enough. They have given me heaps of support and they are also more than happy to allow me time to reset after what has been such a big part of my life with the Kookaburras.”

It’s a quality chapter you’ve written and an exiting one you are about to start. Congratulations Swanny.

MS: “Thanks. I’m really looking forward to it.”