Tyler Lovell - One on One

After announcing his retirement from international hockey, Kookaburra Tyler Lovell took some time out to reminisce on a career that spanned eight years, 147 games, numerous highs and its share of lows.

A twin, Lovell played alongside his brother Mathew at their local Perth Hockey club, Kalamunda, from the age of five. As a youngster, Lovell played both hockey and cricket but in his mid-teens hockey won out as his sport of choice.

Now at the age of 34, the man known to his teammates as Big T has called it a day. As he looks to the next chapter, Lovell provided some insights into the ‘unbelievable opportunity’ of playing for the Kookaburras and representing Australia.

Congratulations on an amazing career. How long have you pondered this decision and how difficult was it to make?

TL: “Since the start of this year I started thinking about life beyond Tokyo and what that looked like. I had the conversations with my wife Josie and whether it was the right decision for me and my family to continue playing or not. Together we decided that it was the right time for me personally to step away and for the family it is the right time as well.

It was tough to come to terms with knowing I wouldn’t be playing and being around the guys day to day, so that part of the decision was tough. What makes it easier is I’ve got a great family that I’m really looking forward to the next chapter of my life and being around more. Not having to get up before they wake up and go to training and then get home and my daughter is asleep. So I’m looking forward to being around more and part of day to day life.”

What has it meant to you to be part of the Kookaburras for such a long and successful period?

TL: “I’ve been very fortunate to play for the Kookaburras during the time I have. A lot of good goalkeepers have potentially missed opportunities or been overlooked to play for the Kookaburras because there have been goalkeepers in the squad who have been very successful.

I came in at the right time where the Kookaburras were looking to replace Nathan Burgers after the 2012 Olympics, so the timing was right and I was fortunate to be selected…and then to play for as long as I have.

In terms of what it has meant to me, there are a couple of elements. Playing hockey for your country and representing the whole of Australia is an amazing feeling. There’s representing your family and getting to go to training and work hard with guys who end up becoming really good mates. You don’t necessarily get that in day to day life or normal sporting teams, so to be afforded that opportunity has been unbelievable.”

What has been the biggest highlight of your career?

TL: “It would have to be the 2014 World Cup. To be a part of that team that put out such a dominant performance was amazing. I’m really excited about this current squad because I believe they’re as good as if not better than that 2014 team…or they will be in the next couple of years. So that has also made it a bit challenging stepping away from the group right now. The Kookaburras are in a really good position and I believe they are a big chance to win gold medals in the next two Olympic campaigns and at the next World Cup.”

How hard was it to weigh that up and decide to call time on your career now?

TL: “It is difficult but I always wanted to step away when the timing was right for me and when the squad was in a good position. The squad is in a great position at the moment and I feel like I’m not leaving it in a hole.

I’m ok with where my career has gone and what I have achieved, so I’d come to terms six months ago with stepping away. When we won a silver medal in Tokyo and I missed out on that it stung but I don’t have any regrets. There are also no guarantees that I would be selected in those Olympic or World Cup teams in the future either.”

The one thing that has alluded you is competing at an Olympics. How disappointed are you that you weren’t able to do that?

TL: “It was really disappointing to miss out on two Olympic Games and be told that you’re good enough to play but you are not going to play. It hurts. Everything I do is for the team to win an Olympic gold medal and not being able to play on the field and play my part in helping us try to win an Olympic gold medal is difficult. But that’s high performance sport and that is the nature of team sport. Unfortunately you don’t control selection. With any selection it is subjective and the opinion of the coaches. While my opinion around the selection is not the same as the coaches, it is their opinion that matters.”

It’s difficult that teams can only select one goalkeeper for the Olympics?

TL: “I think it’s a bit crazy to be honest. If the goalkeeper gets injured early in a medal match and has to come off, the game could potentially get ruined by not being able to bring another one on. In every other tournament there are two goalkeepers in the team.”

You dedicate so much of your time and your life to strive to become the world’s best hockey team without being able to make a living out of it. It’s going to be a big gap in your life to fill.

TL: “It will be but I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family, playing club hockey, club cricket, to try and give back in that area. I plan to step into coaching in some capacity, certainly at club level to start with.

I have been part time with Hockey Australia for 18 months now as the Commercial Partnerships Manager so I’ll look to go full time at the start of 2022. I look forward to sinking my teeth into those challenges and tackling the commercial challenges of being a small sport.”

You mentioned the 2014 World Cup. Are there any memories that stick out from your eight years with the Kookaburras?

TL: “The fondest memories I have are on tour. You are away with the guys. That’s probably what I’ll miss the most. The banter in the changerooms and the constant determination to get better on the field. It’s going to be hard to replace that…experiencing the world travelling with a hockey team.”

Are you keen to keep playing in the Sultana Bran Hockey One League?

TL: “At this stage I plan to. We’ll see how it goes…try and pass on some knowledge to the younger guys.”

Who was your closest teammate over your time?

TL: “The player who I probably owe the most to is Jamie Dwyer. He really pushed me to put my hand up and say that I want to play for the Kookaburras. Without his support I wonder whether I would have had the courage to put myself out there, so I certainly owe a lot to Jamie.”

What about the toughest players you have played against?

TL: “I always loved playing against India because they’ve got such a unique way of shooting and deflecting the ball. Manpreet Singh was one of the craftiest strikers I’ve played against so I loved playing against him. I always wanted to play against the best and challenge myself.

You had a magic tournament in the inaugural FIH Pro League and played out of your skin in the Final to help the Kookaburras win it. You also won shootouts in the 2016 and 2018 Champions Trophies – did you pride yourself on performing in those clutch moments?

TL: “Hopefully my legacy will be that I stood up when the going was tough and hopefully my record reflects that. I drew confidence out of being there when the guys needed me and that I could perform when it counted.”

How much has the game and goalkeeping changed since you started?

TL: “There has been a big shift in the way teams press. I have seen less traditional defenders playing the game and more midfielders playing the game.

The art of goalkeeping has definitely changed. In Australia we’re less aggressive now. We work more with the defence and there are less open goals being scored because we used to run around at the top of the circle like a chook with its head cut off. Now we are a lot more technical and rely more on our technique.”