CT10 x HAMMOND x DANCER x WALLPAPERS

As with the wallpapers of Walsh, Rebecchi, Schubert and Brown, these photos have been taken by DC and then adapted into the new wallpapers and posters that will make their way to tournaments around the globe this year.

In Part 2 of the Kookaburras that are taking a break at home away from the Champions Trophy in Germany, we find Rob Hammond and Brent Dancer in downloadable wallpaper form.

Robert Hammond has all the accolades that are possible in Hockey with a Gold Medal in each of the Olympics, World Cup, Commonwealth Games and the Champions Trophy, not to forget other tournaments like Azlan Shah and the Gryphon HQ tournament of the most purple shoes.

Brent Dancer was instrumental in the Kookaburra’s historic back to back Champions Trophy titles won in Melbourne late last year. His first blog on Gryphon-Life can be read here.

The next time you’ll see some more downloadable wallpapers/posters will be the start of the competitors for this years Champions Trophy Men in Germany starting next week.

Download Rob Hammond’s 2010 Wallpaper: CT10_GRYPHON_HAMMOND_POSTER (16)

Download Brent Dancer’s 2010 Wallpaper: CT10_GRYPHON_DANCER_POSTER (9)

Photo: Daniel Carson | DCIMAGES.ORG

WELCOME x DISCO DANCER

Hey Everyone

This is long overdue but I would like to introduce myself to the Gryphon clan. My name is Brent Dancer but those who know me well call me Disco…… and I can confidently say it has nothing to do with my dancing skills!! I’m 26 years old and was born in Queensland but have live in Perth, Western Australia for the past 20 years so it is definitely now called home.

Hockey you could say is in the blood and has been a very large part of my life and family’s existence.  It was hockey that moved our family from Queensland following Dad and his coaching career and now what keeps me firmly planted in Perth with the AIS based here for the next 16 years

In our local league I play for Wesley and South Perth Hockey Club (WASPS) and in the Australian National League I play for the Thundersticks. The mighty Thundersticks are looking to go 3 in a row this year!! Actually on that note I should give you a run down of our AHL after two rounds.

We are currently sitting in second place equal with NSW with the Victorians out in front and after a bit of a shock result over the weekend with ACT beating QLD has QLD sitting in forth.

Our AHL started with a weekend in Adelaide where we played 3 games in 3 days……. Something I can confidently say I have not done since I was 15 years old, and by the end of the weekend the body was telling me the same. We came out of the weekend in a strong position with a solid but scrappy win over NT 4-1, a hard and fast flowing draw against QLD 1-1 and an emphatic win over SA 7-1 after being up 6-0 after about 20 minutes.

Our second weekend has led us to Melbourne where the weather was kind to us but the playing conditions could only be described as a mud pile!! (Good luck to the under 21’s playing in Melbourne keeping their feet!!!) In some very slippery conditions we had a hard fought out 4-3 win over Tasmania after being 4-0 with 5 minutes to go in the first half….. may have taken the foot off the pedal a little too much there….. and then followed up on the Sunday with a match against Victoria, a team that I always enjoy playing as they are always hard fought, physical and fast flowing matches. We lost 2-1, but came out of the match confident that we can beat them when needed, and happy with the way we played. Maybe though a little work needed on our goal shooting and attacking corner variations.

This sets up a very exciting finals weekend in Queensland in August where we have the final two round games to play against NSW and ACT…… We’re all looking out for the ACT game to play against an old WA stalwart Aaron the bucket Hopkins!!

So until then, good luck to everyone in their various hockey competitions and hope to see a big crowd out in Brisbane for the men’s finals week.

Cheers Disco

Photo: Daniel Carson | DCIMAGES.ORG

YOUNG GRYPHONS x AZLAN SHAH

The World Champion Kookaburras have no rest in sight with already the next squad being named for the Azlan Shah Cup in May this year.

Ric’s taken a small departure from the full senior squad with only a handful of players carrying over from the WC, including players Kiel Brown and Grant Schubert.

Brent “Disco” Dancer returns since winning gold at the Champions Trophy in Melbourne last year. Joel Carroll will make his return back from injury and with the addition of the youngest of Gryphon Guns Trent Mitton round off a very strong Gryphon representation in the squad.

2010 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup squad
George Bazeley (VIC), Ross Meadows (WA), Chris Ciriello (VIC), Brent Dancer (WA), Joel Carroll (NT), Matthew Swann (QLD), Kiel Brown (WA), Ian Burcher (WA), Glenn Simpson (VIC), Mark Paterson (NSW), Jonathon Charlesworth (WA), Tim Deavin (TAS), Kieran Govers (NSW), Grant Schubert (SA), Jason Wilson (QLD), Russell Ford (VIC), Trent Mitton (WA), Matt Gohdes (QLD)

CTT09 x FINAL x AUS v GER

That’s it.

It’s done.

It’s Dusted.

Australia are the new Champions Trophy winners. As in new, they retain the Trophy after winning it in Rotterdam last year. In the process they are the first team to ever win Ten Trophies.

How do you write about a game that you were witness to in more ways than one.  You have friends on the pitch playing. You are taking photos trying to capture everything that you can. You’re twittering.  You’re doing the other stuff that your job here asks you to. More than anything, you have just witnessed an amazing game that will go down in history as one of the best finals. I know it’s one of the best, if not the best, I have personally seen. I’ll admit here that I’m not an authority on this but have seen a lot of Internationals in the past couple of years.

As for the whole tournament, Hockey was the winner. It’s a cliche’ yes. That doesn’t stop it being true.

Australia started, infront of their packed home crowd stadium in Melbourne, with vigour breaking away in the opening minutes with a great goal from Des Abbott. The tone was then set. Australia were in full attack. Germany were in the same game plan that they utilised last meeting, defense and then score from the few chances they create.

And it worked. The half consisted of an aggressive Australian press, followed by a fast moving attack. Germany played set defense and build up play which would then break away to put pressure on the Aussie defense. Before anyone could blink, the Germans had piled on three goals from barely that many entries. It was looking like a few days ago in repeat.

The half time score read Germany 3 goals, Australia 1 goal.

As with the whole tournament, if the Aussies had their backs against the wall they changed it during the break. It happened again here with quick effect.  37 minutes in DeYoung scored from a corner variation from Disco. Four minutes later they were in at a Short again and this time Doerner made no mistake.

It was a green and gold flash. The game was tied and almost a whole half was yet to be played.

The ground was heating up in temperature as the sun beat down and as the game intensified. The German defense wasn’t holding the run of the Aussies which just kept at it. Again Doerner scored from a Short and the Aussies had just played three goals straight to take the lead.

Defense v run was no longer working for Germany. They shifted to trying to play a fast counter-attack breaking at every chance. It’s not their style in a whole and didn’t execute well in the finish even though they had the Aussies beaten more than once. The game could have gone either way as the Kookas didn’t slow down in attack either.

Then Kavanagh happened.

Fergus Kavanagh, a breakout talent from Perth, Western Australia and a Gryphon Gun did the amazing. Doerner took the ball from a restart in the backline, looked up and saw what I am sure is his dream. A sprinting striker breaking away from the German defenders to be by himself in the attacking half. Doerner’s overhead was near perfect putting Fergy right in the 25 mark. Weinhold (Keeper) had no option but to try and meet the ball and Fergy. With an amazing touch of magic Kavanagh controlled the ball legally and then lobbed the ball right over the keeper’s head. It wasn’t going anywhere but in the goals and there was no one around to stop it. Fergy’s goal had just won the Champions Trophy on the 67th minute.

“It’s the kind of goal you just dream about.” Fergy couldn’t believe it when I asked him about the goal after the game. The defenders were just nowhere to be seen.

Spectacular finish to an amazing tournament.

Australia take away the gold medal and the Trophy. Germany have a silver medal around their neck, and the Koreans proud with a Bronze.

Player of the Tournament went to Grant Schubert from Australia.

Top Goal Scorer: Tied between Luke Doerner and Schubert.

Goal Keeper of the Tournament: LEE Myung Ho (Korea)

Fair-play Team: Holland.

That’s pretty much going to be it from me. The tournament is now over but not finished. I am sure the Kookas will be partying like it’s 2009 and they just won a Major.

Over and out…. DC

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

CTT09 x DAY5 x AUS v SPN

13 goals.

That’s what happened when Spain played Australia just minutes ago.

It’s hard to write about a game when one team wins so emphatically as to a scoreline of 10 to 3, which is what Australia pulled out for the last of the pool matches.  The Aussies knew they were as good as in the final, but flirting with form is always dangerous.  The stadium is close to full and a light cover of cloud provided a create set of conditions for the spectacle that was to come.

The first half of the game was actually pretty straight forward, in relation to what we’ve been treated here. Australia was able to run and carry the ball pretty much at will through the middle lead by youngsters Orchard and Butturini. The Spanish were playing more of a counter attack type if game with a middle ground press working well.

In the 21st minute of the game the scoring was opened when Shubert popped in a deflected shot.  It was contested by the Spanish and over-ruled to the delight of the crowd. Spain was no longer with the ability to contest a decision.

Three minutes later Eddie Tubau broke through for the Spanish, capitalising on some great pressure defence and scored to level the scores. When two minutes further on again Pol Amat scored a great running, weaving goal the Spanish looked in control and the Aussies on the back foot.

Right on the click of half time, the Kookas won a Short Corner and Luke Doerner converted it calmly to take them into the half-time break even and with a little momentum going their way. Ric Charlesworth said in the press conference, “It was vital for our momentum”.

Off the restart the Aussie full ground press was back on, and more aggressive than ever. It has seemed to be a thread through the tournament, after Half time the Kookas have been able to adjust their pressure defence and shut down the opposition in the second half.

Five minutes in, Dwyer was shoved off the ball in the circle to win a Penalty Stroke. Shubert stood and up made it count to notch up his second.  Straight off the restart the Spanish found a couple of gaps through long passing and won and then converted a Short Corner.

That’s the last we saw of the Spanish attack. The Aussie press was too strong and when Doerner netted his second from another flick the flood gates opened in the 51st. Dwyer’s run and diving pass created a goal for Gryphon Gun Fergus Kavanagh (2 goals), which was quickly reversed when Fergus passed a lovely ball to Jamie to score himself.

The win firmly places the Aussies with at the top of the table with Germany to play Holland.

Goal scorers for Australia:  Kavanagh x 2, Doerner x 2, Shubert x 2, Turner x 2, Dwyer, Ockenden

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

CTT09 x DAY4 x AUS v GER

Well it’s finally happened. Australia have lost a match. It took the number one ranked team in the world to do it and with a final score of 3 to 1, you’d be excused it was one way traffic.  Like everything here, it’s not quite.

Two completely competing styles were at work on the pitch. The Germans using their backs and moving forward slowly was a reasonable counter to the Aussie press and run/carry style. With these opposing styles, the Germans always looked slow and never intense, while the Aussie’s looked the complete opposite with intention and rush at every chance. The dichotomy was very interesting to be witness to.

So what happened in the game?   It was simple. The Aussie’s controlled the attack throughout and especially in the second half completely. The German’s shocked the Aussie camp when they were able to break their press. It only happen in the first half but three times was enough to score three field goals in the first. In the end those three were too many to be caught.

Missing Rob Hammond through the midfield was obvious for the Kookaburras as the team used their run a lot more than the signature reverse pass to the wide receiver he can offer, making breaking the lines more effective with the direct switch of play.

Obviously something changed at the half time break. The Kookaburra press changed shape and created the net it was meant to earlier on. The Germans were unable to break and have a decent shot on goal. The local boys on the other hand were carrying and breaking lines from the backs up. It was common to see Dancer and Swann over the half way line in this formation, and the German’s allowed. Their plan seems to be to just soak it up, and that they did. Nearly faultlessly for the whole half.

A glimmer of hope came in the 53rd when a short variation from Doerner to Butturini didn’t come off and it landed back on Luke’s stick giving him a simple push for goal. The score was contested to the video umpire but ruled to stand. The Aussie tempers flared as the German team used every muscle and stick check to slow down the green and gold run. A few pushes and shoves were exchanged with one tackle resulting in a yellow to Germany in the 61st.

The 3 – 1 result after today’s play and with one game to go before the finals opens up three teams to have a chance to play in the final. Germany and Australia are on 9 points but the Aussies have a superior goal difference. Korea is the only other team in the hunt for the final on 7 points.  The last day of games on Saturday is set to be a thriller with all three teams gunning for the finals playing in separate matches.

Stay tuned for video interviews tomorrow… DC

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

CTT09 x DAY3 x AUS v ENG

Just when you thought things couldn’t get more crazy in a day of hockey.

It did.

Australia v England.

It was media hyped as an Ashes match… ermmm yeah. Wrong sport guys.  But that said there was no less intensity out there. England NEEDED to win to stay alive for the finals while Australia did not want to flirt with form and take down the danger team. A win would put them one game clear on the top of the ladder.

The English started fast. They used their main men (Jackson and Co.) to full effect up forward and it was them that struck first in the 13th minute through Mackay’s field goal.  It shocked the 95% Australian supporting crowd here in Melbourne.

All it achieved was to awaken the Aussies and make them push. Using the wings and Des Abbott as a main target, the usual suspects used pace and carry to break the lines making life hard for the English defence.  It was from the Aussie’s second PC, that they used a variation from Doerner’s flick to Shubert on the post to level things up. The rest of the half was exciting hockey with each team busting a gut to get into the circle and have a crack. Both keepers were kept on their toes.

The second half needed to yield more, you could feel it in the air. The crowd was chanting. Tension was rising. Would the English defence hold the Aussie attack? Could the Aussies keep up with the new European Champions?

Tussle and toiled did both teams, but it was evident that the Kookaburras were the ones in control. Spearheading Turner and Abbott up front being fed by Dwyer and Kavanagh. Down back Begbie was more than impressive and Disco made more than one crucial save.

This all lead to the Aussie’s breaking clear with Turner who finished with style and sensation falling away from the goal at full tilt. It was brilliant and Ric said in the press conference it was a shame such a brilliant goal was taken away. And that’s what happened.  The video umpire deemed a back stick and the goal taken away in mere seconds.

All the did was make the Kookas more hungry. Intensity was ramped up another level and you could feel the anger and drive to show the world that no one can take away goals. Stealing selected passed created breaks. It was only minutes later that Des Abbott broke the lines again from this press (second time in 30 seconds) and his baseline run was denied, only to pop up for another strike to be saved once again, but again… it fell to Des who popped in the back of the net.

With only 10 minutes to go, it would be a hard task to break the Aussie’s down with their press in full swing. England played a great game and really took it to the tournament favourites making the most

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

CTT09 x DAY 2 x DISCO VIDEO

After today’s game I caught up with Brent “Disco” Dancer about the win over Holland and his first goal in Champion’s Trophy.  It places Australia firmly on top of the standings after the first weekend. Here’s the skinny…

CTT09 x DAY 2 x AUS v HOL

From the host nation’s point of view and one of traditional rivalry, today’s match between Holland and Australia had a lot riding on it.  Both teams are experimenting with new talent and systems. They are both in the top four in the world rankings. Holland played four games in Australia earlier this year after the Olympics and didn’t take away any wins. Today will show which team is a true contender.

It didn’t disappoint nor take long for the Dutch to show some force. 3 minutes in, TT scored the first goal of the match from a short which silenced the capacity crowd now bathed in sun. All of 5 minutes later the Aussies had thrown themselves into attack where a goal was disallowed but instead a Penalty Stroke was awarded to the Kookas after a reply. Grant Shubert calmly took the stroke and scored to tie the match.

From that point on it was one, and one way only traffic for the half where the Australian’s just applied more and more pressure on the cracking Dutch defence.  In the 19th minute GT scored one over the keeper, and only three minutes later young Gryphon gun Brent “Disco” Dancer scored from his first ever short in his CT career.  By the 22nd minute mark it was 3 goals to 1 and the crowd was being treated to a great display.

Gonna stop there? Nup. No Chance.  Grant Shubert got onto the end of a cracker of a pass from Gryphon Great Rob Hammond to net his second, and then followed it up one minute later with a strike from the middle of the circle. He went into the half time break with a Hat-trick and a 5 goal to 1 lead.

The second wasn’t as up-tempo as the first but the Aussies were not letting the game just slide by. Attack after attack kept pushing into the ball into the danger areas and the Dutch looked rattled. Des Abbott created a PC chance in the 51st minute which local boy Luke Doerner slotted home. Ten minutes later Jamie Dwyer showed the crowd some magic from a falling thoma from the edge of the circle to beat the Dutch Keeper (Stockmann) and take the Aussies to an unassailable lead of 7 goals to 1. Two minutes before full time the Dutch counter-attacked from an Aussie PC miss and scored with speed to achieve a final score of 7 goals to 2.

An incredible treat of a game with some great highlights. It firmly places Australia in the place of favourites for the tournament with these convincing goals having amassed 11 goals for and 2 against in two games, with Shubert on top of the scorer’s leaderboard.

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

SPAIN 2 x KOOKABURRAS 1 x PERTH

I remember writing the last line of my last game blog saying that Spain will be a different team on the next game.  Well I was right, and I was right. Both teams came out and played a different game to the first, indeed the game was not quite the goal fest it was yesterday.  Actually until Australia opened the scoring with 5 seconds to go in the first, it looked like a nil all draw.

Both teams were playing long passing and over-head style hockey. The result was a lot of circle penetrations but more importantly a lot of mistakes and skill errors occurred.  The Aussie could be accused of being the biggest proponent of this as they were making some very uncharacteristic errors across the ground from all players on the field. Even the experienced players were not safe.

The Spanish also had their fair share of mistakes, turning the game into less of a quality match. I think the is a relative point as mentioned before, yesterday we were treated with some great hockey.

Spain was able to win a good amount of PCs and their first early in the second was a resultant goal.  The game bounced up and down with Australia pushing hard in wave upon wave, but unable to break the score. In the end the team from Spain struck with a reverse shot to take the lead.

In the final minute the Aussies had two cracks at PCs but unable to score, losing the game 2 goals to 1.

That’s it for now from the CTT squad teams until Melbourne. Remember it all happens in five days. If you cannot be there, we will be twittering live and match reports with photos as well.

Until then DC’s back to the office.

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

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