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

GRYPHON DYNASTY x MITTON

The local paper in Perth, Western Australia (The West Australian) today has published an article about young gun Trent Mitton. You may have been reading Trent’s blogs here on Gryphon-Life.com.

One thing that his introduction omits is his lineage in the world of Hockey. Trent’s father, Grant (another Gryphon gun in his day, or arguably still is in some circles) was a member of the last World Cup winning team for Australia before the win earlier this year. Grant also played striker in the 1984 Olympics. The same World Cup winning team included Gryphon legends Ric Charlesworth and Peter Hazelhurst.

Trent’s move up forward this year has reaped him rewards with the Thundersticks and his first tour with the Kookaburras in Azlan Shah. Trent has moved forward to the striker position where his father was renowned for and making his mark in this year AHL games.  At only 19, Trent looks to have a bright future in Hockey.

If you want to read more about this new dynasty, grab the latest copy of the West Australian news paper.

KOOKABURRAS 2 x MALAYSIA 1

Hey people,

Due to my lack of activity on the hockey field tonight I’d thought I do something useful and post a score.

This was probably one of the most inexperienced outfits to take the field in the mighty Green and Gold.  I’m guessing the average caps for the team sat around 22 and the young Kookaburras managed to get over the line in a pretty tough encounter.

Things started with a bang from the very first attack with Jason Wilson showing a great bit of skill around the back to earn a PC in the very first minute.  Chris Ciriello made no mistake slotting a hard flick into the bottom corner giving the Kookaburras the start they needed to silence 6000 strong crowd.

The jubilation was short lived however with Malaysia striking back with one of their own.  Also through a PC, the Malaysian’s scored with a variation back to the push out person which was slapped into the net.  Questions about whether the goal should stand could’ve been asked as the ball was raised above the backboard.  It stood and the game went on.

The score stayed 1-1 for some time and chances were had by both teams to break the deadlock.  Australia having the lions share of opportunities.  The scene was set for someone to little bit of brilliance and Matt Gohdes stepped up to the plate.  Receiving the ball on the left side of the field just outside the attacking 25yd line,  he proceeded to find a pathway through the Malaysian defence.  Finally deciding to pull the trigger on a slight angle on the right side of the circle.  This would prove to be a worthy match winner but not before some last minute excitement to end the game.

The Malaysians were pressing hard for an equaliser and managed to win a PC with about a minute to play.  However, Matthew Swann was going not going to settle for anything less than an Aussie win.  Running first, he correctly guessed the Malaysian variation running down the ball and clearing it from trouble.

The Kookaburras now hold second spot on the table with 6 points behind our next opponent India on 7.   India having played an extra game.  They are fast skilful and will be very tough.  A challenge we know we are up for.

All other match up dates can be seen on www.azlanshahcup.com

Later

Shuby

THE UPS AND DOWNS

Hello all.

Firstly let me say, it’s pretty darn hot here in Malaysia.  It was to be expected and after a week of training things are starting to feel a little better.

So, why the title you ask?  The ups and downs.  Well it’s had just that to start off with in the first week and will unfold through this blog.  This tour and team is vastly different to that that went to the world cup just a few months ago.  Only 4 from the world cup team.  The main reason for that is most of the senior guys are over playing in Holland.  Therefore, I have the opportunity to see the next wave of Kookaburras push for selection.  It’s great to see that Australian hockey has such amazing depth that we can pretty much pull in a whole new team and still be competitive with the rest of the world.

Four guys made their debuts in the game vs Egypt on Friday night.  Gryphons own Trent Mitton(WA),  Malcolm Kemp(Vic), Tim Bates(Qld) and Tim Deavin(Tas) all played important roles in the 4-0 win.  Like these four, this will be a match that I will also remember.  A game that I was handed the captains band and ask to lead my country for the first time on the field.  I have done it many times before with club and state teams but never for the Kookaburras.  While I know the bulk of the side is currently away, it’s an honour and something I take great pride in.  It’s an opportunity given to me which I’ve always wanted to do but thought would never happen.

While things were all good something had to put a dampener on the night.  This is the down.  My groin decided again it had had too much just before half time, tightening up and becoming too sore to continue.  Frustrating considering I had felt the best for along time all week physically and on the opposite side that had been plaguing me for the early part of the year.  While the signs are good that I’ll be able to play later on in the week, having to hand the band over and not be able to lead the team for the rest of the match was a great disappointment.  Still, like always, I plan to keep my head up and do all I can to get back on the pitch.  Determined to get another opportunity to lead my country on the field playing the game I love.

Tonight I’ll be watching from the stands as the boys take on Malaysia.  The crowd will probably tip 5000 and will again be a new experience for the young guys.  I have no doubt they’ll be fine and there’s also opportunity for someone else to have the feeling of leading their country.

Till next time,

Shuby

HERE WE GO AGAIN x SHUBY

Well, how time flies!  It’s been just over a month since that memorable night in New Delhi.  World Champions!  I’m sure I’ll never get tired hearing people say it and nobody can take it away.

It brought back so many memories of past victories and none more so than that of the Olympics back in 2004.  Total elation and just reward for the amount of effort put in on the training track and time spent away from friends and family.  I was young and early in my career back in Athens and those first few seconds/minutes after winning were such a blur.  So much so that I had to wait to watch the reply to see what happened.

This time around I was lucky enough to be involved in the play during the last few minutes and especially in the last 30 seconds.  It seemed to take forever but as each of those seconds passed my excitement grew stronger and stronger.  I clearly remember seeing 5 seconds left on the clock when Simon Orchard passed me the ball. Four, three, two, one, I counted down in my head.  I then picked up the ball, knowing that we were then World Champions.  It was something that I had dreamt of doing.  Holding the ball up at the final whistle.   It’s a moment at that time that I’ll never forget.

In my last post I shared a moment from Beijing saying that I had made a promise.  A promise to win the World Cup.  And let me tell you, I’m glad I got to keep it.   It was by no means an easy feat.  The Kookaburras had finished runners-up at the previous two World Cups and had only won it once, way back in 1986.   Therefore I know when looking back at my career when it comes to an end, that this was one very special night.

It has also been brought to my attention that I’m only 1 of 5 Australian players to have won each of the four major hockey titles at least once. That being the Olympics, World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Champions Trophy.  The others are Rob Hammond, Liam DeYoung, Jamie Dwyer and Mark Knowles.

Training started back up again with the usual testing week to kick things off.  Always very interesting after a bit of time off the track, but it’s good to get back running around again.  It’s going to be a very busy six months until the completion of the Commonwealth Games and I look forward to sharing the ride with you.

Later, Shuby

PHOTO DC IMAGES | DANIEL CARSON

AUSTRALIA WORLD CUP 2010 CHAMPIONS

There’s not a lot to write when so much emotion pours out through a group of players who have put so much into this one night. This one day. This one game.  This one moment.

One moment in time. One moment when the final whistle is blown.

Australia wins the World Cup in Two Thousand and Ten.

They defeated the youngest team in this tournament but also the team that has stopped them in their tracks two World Cups previous. This time the Kookaburras achieve what Ric set out to do. Grant Schubert keeps his promise to win the Cup.

It’s over.  Australia 2.  Germany 1.

DC

Photos: Daniel Carson | DCIMAGES.ORG

WORLD CUP FINAL YEW! x BEGGERS

What a game!

Our semi final victory over the Netherlands last night was the most nail biting game I’ve been a part of. With just 8 seconds to go the game was still in the balance. Thankfully we managed to hold on to earn our place in the World Cup final. If you’d told me this time last year that I’d be playing in a World Cup final in a years time – I would of told you to get off the drugs. But its happened, and now I, and my teammates, have a chance to fulfil a dream.

Just before heading out onto the pitch last night, our coach Ric said “Anything worth having in life is not easy”. An opportunity to win a World Cup is definitely worth having, and I now know its definitely not easy. One of the best things about playing a team sport is the comradery and the lift you get from your teammates around you when the pressure and need to win increase. This was definitely evident last night in the semi final. Everybody lifted and gave that extra 10% when it was required, and I know this will be magnified in the final come Saturday.

Our opponents in the final are Germany – a great team, world number one, and we have seen what they are capable of. However, we’re confident that if we stick to our game plan and play to our potential we can win the game. Let’s see what happens…

Beggers…

Photos: Daniel Carson | DCIMAGES.ORG

WC10 x DAY9 x AUS v PAK x KAVANAGH/HAMMOND VIDEO INTERVIEW

Knowing that a win would take Australia into Top position of the pool, but more importantly a win would continue good form taking them to four straight going into the Semi Finals.

Pakistan had only one win and wanted to push themselves up the world rankings. No team here is playing a filler role. And the game went that way. Pakistan were completely ready for a big game and to push the Aussies.

As always the Aussies dominated controlled possession and like past games basically mounted attacking move after attacking move. The Pakistani defence and keeper were on high alert BUT were able to keep up to the task. The next part was the Pakistan counter-attack and didn’t overly look like a team that was down the bottom end of the pool.

It was the team in dark green and white, with some local support, that took the first goal to stun the Aussies.  The half time score was Pakistan 1 – 0 Australia.

In the second, you could put money that the Aussies wouldn’t stop working hard. Fergus Kavanagh and Kiel Brown down back had to keep finding a way to stop the Pakistan counter getting through.

Gryphon and Australian defender, Graeme Begbie moved himself up the ground on the overlap and started to become the magazine in the Australia machine gun. Time after time he would reload the Australian attack and place massive pressure on the Pakistani defence once again. And just like the first half, it was an Aussie shot domination but this time they broke through with a field goal to take the game to a draw.

A win was the only result enough to place the Aussies on the top of the table, and twenty minutes were left to pop in another goal. They used up all of the time allocated as in the last few minutes, the Aussies created an amazing build up and goal. A lob pass over the attacking circle found Gryphon’s Rob Hammond alone, who then smoothly nailed a flat a pass into the circle for a deflection by Des Abbott right on goal.

It was all that was required.  Australia had done it the hard way, but had done it 2 goals to 1.

Pakistan took everything inch they could and heavily worked the Aussies. But the final result placed Australia at the top of the pool and Pakistan down the lower end.

Australia and England will now have to wait till tomorrow to find out who they play in the Semis.

Fergus Kavanagh joined me for a chat about the game, future and some past moments already in the video below:

Rob Hammond uses up the last of his media time to tell us how he’s traveling so far in this campaign and the drive for gold in this video:

Photos: Daniel Carson | DCIMAGES.ORG

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.

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