Swanny calls time on Kookaburras career

Decorated and long serving Kookaburra Matthew Swann has announced his retirement from international hockey, ending a long and distinguished career that has spanned 13 years.

An Olympic bronze medallist, dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist and dual World Cup winner, Swann finishes with 204 appearances and seven goals for his country.

But more significantly Swann leaves a legacy on the Kookaburras and Australian men’s hockey at the highest level from the time he debuted in 2009.

The 32 year old had planned to retire after Tokyo 2020, however the 12 month postponement due to COVID and subsequent timing of the Games has transpired against him competing at a third Olympics.

Swann’s wife Roos is due to give birth to their first child on 8 August, the day of the Olympic Closing Ceremony.

With athletes required to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival back to Australia, Swann has put family first and decided to call an end to his time with the Kookaburras.

He trained with the Kookaburras squad for the final time today ahead of the Kookaburras departing on Friday for a four-match series against New Zealand.

Admitting disappointment at how circumstances panned out, Swann said it is something he has spent a long time deliberating on.

“This was a decision that was made over the course of 4-5 months,” said Swann.

“With Roos and I having our first child, we were hoping that quarantining would change or maybe the situation and state of COVID globally wouldn’t be as dire as it is at the moment.

“It is sad but I will be 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 I’m going to look back and still believe I made the right decision to be there for Roos, even though I’m not going to be there for my Kookas family which is sad. But everyone has been fully supportive.”

“We tried a lot of different options and thought about ways we could make it work but unfortunately in the end the timing just wasn’t going to work out.”

“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.”

Kookaburras Head Coach Colin Batch paid tribute to Swann’s tenacity and the contribution he has made.

“I know this has been a really difficult decision for Swanny because he would have loved to have finished with an Olympics but I know the decision he has made is the right one,” said Batch.

“Swanny is a real dynamo. You only have to watch him for five minutes to know that. He is well respected and well loved by the group.”

“He goes at 100 per cent all the time and we will certainly miss that in our Daily Training Environment.”

“We wish him and Roos all the best with not only their immediate future but with their careers and as they start a family.”

Hockey Australia President Melanie Woosnam thanked and congratulated Swann on his lasting imprint on the sport.

“Matt has been an outstanding contributor to Australian hockey over an extended period and has embodied everything that makes our national teams so successful on the world stage,” said Woosnam.

“On behalf of everyone in the Australian hockey community, I thank Matt for everything he has done for our sport and for representing our country with distinction, pride and professionalism. We wish him and Roos all the best with their future and the exciting chapter that awaits them.”

The pint-sized defender grew up playing hockey in the regional Queensland city of Mackay before going on to become one of Australia’s best hockey players.

Batch said Swann’s hockey journey importantly proves it does not matter where you come from.

“Being from Mackay, Swanny has shown that you can make it from anywhere,” said Batch.

“He has been a great example of perseverance and where it can take you.”

Matthew Swann File
DOB: 16 May 1989
Place of Birth: Gympie, Queensland
Position: Defender
Playing Number: 20
Kookaburras appearances (goals): 204 (7)
Kookaburras Cap Number: 381
Kookaburras Debut: 19 October 2009 v Malaysia

Team Honours/Awards
Champions Trophy Winner 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018
Commonwealth Games Gold Medal 2010, 2014
World Cup Winner 2010, 2014
Olympic Games Bronze Medal 2012
World Cup Bronze Medal 2018
FIH Pro League Champions 2019

Personal Honours/Awards
FIH Young Player of the Year 2011
World All Star Team 2011

Tournament History
Olympic Games 2012, 2016
World Cup 2010, 2014, 2018
Commonwealth Games 2010, 2014
World League 2015, 2017
Champions Trophy 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018
Oceania Cup 2011, 2017, 2019
FIH Pro League 2019, 2020

Other information
* Made his 200th appearance on Australia Day last year against Belgium in Sydney.
* Had a stint playing in the Netherlands’ Hoofdklasse league for Bloemendaal where he helped them win the Euro Hockey League, and the Hockey India League for the Mumbai Magicians and Dabang Mumbai.
* Took time away from the game in 2018 to focus on his professional career at PwC.
* Named 2019 Hockey Queensland Player of the Year.