Ready, Eddie, go
AUSTRALIAN hockey captain Eddie Ockenden will suit up for his hometown club North-West Graduates today as his campaign for a fourth Olympic Games appearance restarts. Ockenden, 33, will line up in midfield for the Bulldogs against OHA at 4.15pm.
AUSTRALIAN hockey captain Eddie Ockenden will suit up for hometown club NorthWest Graduates today as his campaign for a fourth Olympic Games appearance restarts.
Ockenden, 33, will line up in midfield for the Bulldogs against OHA at 4.15pm after receiving dispensation from Kookaburras head coach Colin Batch.
The national games recordholder, with 366 caps, says he has been able to recharge the batteries in Hobart after COVID-19 hit.
“It’s kind of refreshing to be able to have done some trail runs and hiking during the break, and it feels like we are ignoring the fact that the Olympics were postponed and are in some doubt next year,” Ockenden said.
“There’s still a lot of uncertainty about what we can do in the next six to 12 months.
“But its always good to be around the hockey here in Hobart. It’s been nice to see all the teams, and everyone back out at the hockey centre.
“I always see a lot of my friends through North-West Grads, so that’s been nice, and getting some games in will be awesome.”
Graduates coach Stephen
McMullen says his playing group always walks a foot taller when Ockenden is in the side as he is the perfect role model around the squad.
“The whole group lifts, be it the oldest or the youngest player, so it’s fantastic to have Ed with us,” McMullen said.
“He is so proud of representing the club, and gets genuinely excited to play games with us, which is infectious.
“It’s incredibly important for junior players to see the Australian captain playing for his home club, which shows the club pathway is an achievable progression for them.”
But McMullen warned that locals might not have an opportunity to see the skills that saw Ockenden nominated for World Player of the Year in 2019 for long.
“I’d love to have him every week playing games, but the reality is that once the West Australian borders open, I think he will need to go back to training with the Kookaburras in Perth,” he said.