‘Excited’ Dwyer wants Kookaburras to reproduce 2004 magic

Rio de Janeiro, July 29 (IANS) Five-time world player of the year Jamie Dwyer believes that the Australian men’s hockey team must play to its full potential if it is to replicate the gold medal success of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

At 37, Dwyer will become Australia’s oldest ever hockey Olympian when he steps out against New Zealand on August 7.

And, he admits, he is still as excited as ever about the Olympic Games, despite Rio 2016 being his fourth appearance on the world’s biggest stage.

“I can’t do anything about my age. I feel good. I’ve had a pretty good last couple of years and now I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the tournament and seeing how we go," Dwyer was quoted as saying by the Rio Games official website.

“When you come into the village you get a lot of excited guys and I’m one of them. Even although I’m the oldest I still get very excited.”

The scorer of the golden goal at Athens 2004 that earned the Australian men’s hockey team their one and only Olympic gold medal to date, Dwyer acknowledges that Australia must fulfil their potential with at least four other serious contenders for the top prize.

“It would be great to win a gold medal. One of the main focuses for us is to improve throughout the tournament and play to our potential.

“We all know, and we all believe, that if we play to how we know we can play we’re going to be a tough team to beat.

“In saying that, Germany, Holland, Great Britain and Belgium I believe are all realistic chances of winning a gold medal. But if we play our best, which I’m hoping we’ll do, the outcome will take care of itself,” he added.