Mixed Bag for Mark Hager’s Debut Tourney as Kookaburras Coach
Australian men’s hockey team chief coach Mark Hager’s debut tournament assignment – Sydney leg of the 2024-25 Pro League – panned out to be a bit of a mixed bag. A man with outstanding coaching credentials, Hager was up against the expectations of resuscitating the fortunes of the Kookaburras, who were consigned to sixth-place at the 2024 Paris Olympics – their worst performance since the 1960 Rome Olympics – at the 2016 Rio Olympics Australia had also finished sixth.
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At the Sydney Olympic Park, the 6th ranked Kookaburras appeared far from their best in their 2024-25 Pro League opener against 8th ranked Spain and went down by the odd goal in three. Hager, who has attained a fair amount of success as Great Britain and New Zealand women team coaches, was able to drill the much-needed consistency in his team as they stunned Olympic champions Netherlands 4-2 – it was Hager’s first win as Australia coach and what an opponent to chalk up your first win.
Unleashing as many as eight debutants at the start of the new Olympic cycle, the green-and-gold brigade grew their game even as the league wore on and showcased a strong come-from-behind performance against Spain in the second leg but were unfortunate to lose the shootout. Barring the opener, Australia dished out solid hockey and surely had their moments.
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Look at their second leg game against the Netherlands, Australia were staring at the prospect of pulling off back-to-back win over the Olympic champions when they lapped up a 4-1 lead only to allow the Dutch to mount a serious fightback in the final quarter, scoring thrice in the final 13 minutes of play.
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Having said that, Mark Hager would be pleased with how some of their youngsters shaped up during the Sydney leg of the Pro League. The Melbourne combo of debutants – Benjamin White and Cooper Burns impressed not just because they scored goals but also because they showed they have it in them to deliver on the big stage. Canberra boy David Atkin also oozed promise upfront.
Victorian goalkeeper Jed Snowden gave a good account of himself and would have learned his lessons from the shootout loss to the Dutch. Liam Henderson and Ky Willott made their presence felt in the midfield and so was Connar Otterbach in the deep defence. Ky Willott was perhaps the biggest positive – the 23-year-old New South Wales youngster fresh from his Hockey India League stint for Delhi SG Pipers, was consistency-personified throughout the Sydney leg.
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The likes of Jake Harvie, and Jeremy Hayward in holding the deep defence together. For a side that had featured only 9 Olympians and were minus the trio of Blake Govers, Tom Craig and Tim Brand – all of whom played prominent roles for their respective franchises in the 6th Hockey India League, Australia’s Sydney leg performance must be heartening and chief coach Hager would be excited about the battery of exciting talents coming through.
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Mark Hager’s team would strive to build on the Sydney leg performance in the Santiago del Estero of the Pro League, where they lock horns with 3rd ranked Belgium and 8th ranked Argentina.
