MENS x AUSTRALIA v ARGENTINA x TEST MATCHES LIVE ONLINE x FREE

The Australian Men’s Team will play Argentina this weekend in Perth in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games. Matches are at 3pm WST Australia at the Curtin University Stadium in Bentley. If you cannot get to the ground to support the Aussie’s you can also watch these games LIVE thanks to http://www.LMSCtv.com/

Jump online to check out Gryphon star’s Fergus Kavanagh, Rob Hammond, Joel Carroll and Trent Mitton as they prepare for their assult on the Commonwealth Games in India next month.

Photo: Daniel Carson | DCIMAGES.ORG

COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2010 x AUS SELECTION

The Australian Men’s Hockey Commonwealth Games Team has been announced today by Hockey Australia. The team see’s the inclusion of 4 Gryphon ambassadors, Rob Hammond, Fergy Kavanagh, Joel Carroll and Trent Mitton. This will be Hammond’s 2nd Commonwealth Games and while its the 1st for Carroll, Kavanagh and Mitton. Mitton will make his major tournament debut also. Gryphon’s Brent Dancer, Kiel Brown and Mark Paterson have been named as emergencies, and their experience and youth will be invaluable should they be called upon.

Notable exclusions include the tough defender Graeme Begbie (WC10, CT10, CT09) who is out for 10 months with a knee reconstruction and legendary striker Grant Schubert (CT03, OG04, CT05, CG06, CT06, WC06, CT07, CT08, OG08, CT09, WC10) who tore is groin in last weeks AHL competition.

The Australian Team has won all three previous Gold Medals at the Commonwealth Games since hockey’s inception in 1998 where they defeated Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. In 2002 they beat New Zealand in Manchester and 2006 they won over Pakistan in Melbourne, Australia.

Master Coach and Gryphon Legend Ric Charlesworth had this to say about the team and tournament:

“We have had some great results over the past 20 months or so, however I still believe we are not solid yet and still have much to do. I have full confidence in the team we have selected as it has a good amount of experience and youth, however we will not get ahead of ourselves,” said Charlesworth.

“We have great squad depth which is obviously what we are building towards, however it means that players need to make the most of their opportunities and the Commonwealth Games will give these players a chance to do that on a very big international stage,” said Charlesworth.

“We are the number 1 ranked team in the world, but I think that can give teams a bit more incentive when they face us. England are very capable of beating us as we saw at the World Cup. India and Pakistan will be at home in the Heat of Delhi and with the reduced squad sizes makes things less predictable,” said Charlesworth.

ACGA Chief Executive Officer Perry Crosswhite said, “We have high expectations for our 2010 Commonwealth Games men’s hockey team just as we have had at all three previous Games where the sport was played.

“It will not be easy but we know that if they do their best, as they did in 1998, 2002 and 2006, the 2010 Games tournament will be their hat trick for the year.”

The Delhi 2010 hockey competition will be held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium from October 4 – 14, 2010. This is the same stadium that the Aussie’s triumphed in their World Cup Victory over Germany in February earlier this year. They have also won the 2010 Champions Trophy so a win at the Commonwealth Games will make it a clean sweep of the major’s for the Aussies in 2010.

The Australian women’s hockey team will be announced in mid-September following their World Cup campaign in Argentina

The Australian men’s hockey team Delhi 2010 schedule is:

Date	Delhi time	AEDST time	Opposition
Wednesday 6 October	8:30am	2:00pm	Scotland
Thursday 7 October	4:00pm	9:30pm	India
Saturday 9 October	10:30am	4:00pm	Pakistan
Sunday 10 October	4:30pm	10:00pm	Malaysia
Tuesday 12 October	11:00am	4:30pm	Semi Final One
	5:30pm	11:00pm	Semi Final Two
Thursday 14 October	9:00am	2:30pm	Bronze Medal Match
	11:30am	5:00pm	Gold Medal Match

WC10 x DAY5 x AUS v S.AFRICA

Well last night I said a team finally laid down some dominance. Was I wrong.  Australia tonight opened the day by playing against the young but quick and intense South Africa. It was also Simon Orchard’s 50th game in the green and gold.

As with earlier games, South Africa looked strong and attacking very early. Infact they looked like they were holding the Aussies to a game of their own. This lasted until the 15th minute, and then the gate was creaked open. Doerner slotted home a PC.

It was only the start of what became an clinic. Amazingly the goals and possession just became something the highly intense Aussies just became in complete control of. The first half was capped off with a goal by Gryphon’s mercurial Fergus Kavanagh, scoring the 5th goal on the 35th minute.

The second was just a continuation but even more so. It was obvious the Aussies were out to prove a point and pushed back all the South African players and didn’t allow the S.African and Gryphon goal sneak Hykes any chance on the ball.

Grant Schubert carried the ball wide and then into the D creating many chances on goal, as well as Kavanagh, Hammond, Begbie and Brown causing an incredible amount of steals and turn-overs adding more Aussie possession.

This half netted a further seven more goals.  Yep, seven in the half without conceding a single goal. The final score was a serious flex of hockey muscle with a 12 – 0 win.

Such a serious win puts the Kookaburras right up there with now a +14 goal difference but laces the South Africans now with a -16 GD.

Three rounds down and the Aussies sit second and with an English win over Pakistan sit in second on the pool but equal on points with Spain.  The Aussies next play Spain in what could become a finals do-or-die game before playing Pakistan.

South Africa play Pakistan and then end up with probably the most intense game of their careers against India.

PHOTOS: DANIEL CARSON | DC IMAGES

TRANS-TASMAN HITOUT

It’s getting close. I mean really close. Down to days and not weeks before the 2010 World Cup kicks off on the 28th of this month. Each country is going about their business for preparation. Over in the Oceania part of the world the brother/sister nations of  Australia and New Zealand are having a small series of test matches.  The men are hitting out for World Cup practice while the women are getting ready for their WC qualifiers. Perth is a plethora of black and gold and green on any given night.

Every now and then you catch the sound of people shouting out “thut was funtustuc!” during the games.

For the guys, Perth’s weather is a good warm up (pun has been inserted) for the upcoming Indian weather. Here it’s roughly 32 to 37 deg, and New Delhi is looking to be around 31 at the start of the tournament.

The Hockeyroos are looking good with three wins from three games, while the Kookaburras notched a solid seven to one win in their first over the Black Sticks. In the mix are the AIS (Aus A squads) for both teams and they have also proven victorious over the funny sounding tourists.

Teneal Attard has made a solid return to the Aussie Women’s team joining Fi Johnson and Sarah O’Connor holding the distinctive Blue Steel.  In the black, using Blue Sticks, Captain Krystal Forgesson, Ella Gunson and Jasmin McQuinn are leading the very young team on a great learning curve.

In the guys, recent G-Team members Graeme Begbie and Grant Schubert got to show off their new 2010 sticks joining the already steady brigade of Rob Hammond, Kiel Brown and Fergus Kavanagh in their warm-up games. These five are all crucial to the Kookaburra make-up creating a steady spine for the team at any given point in time. On the other side of the water based turf, Simon Child and Dave Green are prepping themselves for the upcoming months both supporting Blue Steels.

One more game to go with the Kookas and the Black Sticks this friday and then they are off leaving on a Jet plane on the weekend bound for India.

WC 2010 x AUS SELECTION

Australia has announced their selection for the Men’s 2010 World Cup. Gryphon has got a gun representation in the team that is hoping to resurrect Australia at the top of the world standings and lift the coverted World Cup.

Carrying on their form from the 09 CTT is Graham Begbie, Duel olympian, 2004 Gold Medalist Rob Hammond, 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist Fergus Kavanagh and latest signing, 2009 CTT Player of the Tournament and Olympic Gold Medalist Grant Shubert. Making his comeback to the Green and Gold is experienced defender and 2008 Olympian and Bronze medalist Kiel Brown.

So now all eyes turn to Delhi, with the tournament starting on the 28th Feb and Final on the 13th March, which is hopefully lucky for some…

Stay tuned for the players thoughts and blogs on their selection and prep for the tournament which means the most to Hockey Players the World over!

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

2010 KOOKABURRA SQUAD ANNOUNCED

Today Ric Charlesworth and his coaching staff have announced the 2010 group of players to make up the Kookaburras squads. After their success this year and especially in the Champions Trophy all the players from that tournament retain spots in the senior squad. Of very interesting note is the inclusion of some very promising up and comers such Gryphon youngster Trent Mitton, showing Ric’s long term commitment to develop players for the future. Also in the developent squad are Gryphon players J. Charlesworth and M. Bates.

The senior squad sees the retention of Dancer, Hammond and Kavanagh from the CT09 team. After a surprise omission from that team, Kiel Brown keeps his spot in the senior list and Joel Carroll also flies the Gryphon flag in the top team coming back from injury. The road is now paved for an interesting year including the upcoming World Cup in Feb 2010.

Senior Squad 2010:

Des Abbott, George Bazeley, Graeme Begbie, Kiel Brown, Nathan Burgers, Matthew Butturini, Joel Carroll, Chris Ciriello, Brent Dancer, Liam de Young, Luke Doerner, Jamie Dwyer, Russell Ford, Matt Gohdes, David Guest, Rob Hammond, Fergus Kavanagh, Mark Knowles, Brent Livermore, Ross Meadows, Eddie Ockenden, Simon Orchard, Glenn Simpson, Grant Schubert, Matthew Swann, Glenn Turner, Jason Wilson

Development Squad 2010:

Michael Bates, Tim Bates, Ian Burcher, Jonathon Charlesworth, Tim Deavin, Kris Glass, Kieran Govers, Leon Hayward, Trent Mitton, Malcolm Kemp, Mark Paterson, Josh Pollard

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