The Help Side: Recent Episodes
Tom Craig
Welcome to the podcast, The Help Side, where current Australian player Tom Craig speaks to some of the most recognisable names in world hockey.
TheHelpSide Our guest today is the recently retired Australian Men’s goalkeeper, Tyler Lovell. Affectionately known as ‘Big T’, Tyler hung up the pads after 147 games for the Kookaburras over a 9-year career which included Gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018, and Gold at the 2014 World Cup and a nomination in 2019 for the World Goalkeeper of the Year.
In this episode, Part B, you will hear how Tyler was passionate about team culture and creating a true high-performance environment, and was undoubtedly one of the best team-men you could wish for. For this, you won’t want to miss Tyler’s take on building good teams. Also, for any budding goalkeepers out there, you won’t want to miss some of Tyler’s top tips for being a world-class GK.
TheHelpSide Our guest today is the recently retired Australian Men’s goalkeeper, Tyler Lovell. Affectionately known as ‘Big T’, Tyler hung up the pads after 147 games for the Kookaburras over a 9-year career which included Gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018, and Gold at the 2014 World Cup and a nomination in 2019 for the World Goalkeeper of the Year. A man for the big moments and the last line of defence, Tyler knows a thing or two about performing under pressure and in this episode we’re privileged to hear some of his insights into how to deal with it.
Also, for any budding goalkeepers out there, you won’t want to miss some of Tyler’s top tips for being a world-class GK. Finally, during his time with the Kookaburras, Tyler was passionate about team culture and creating a true high-performance environment, and was undoubtedly one of the best team-men you could wish for. For this, you won’t want to miss Tyler’s take on building good teams.
TheHelpSide #TalesFromTokyo This is The Help Side – we’re back showcasing the stories of some of the biggest names in hockey and we’re stoked you’re here to enjoy the ride with us!
Over the next little while, we’re going to be sprinkling in some special Tales from Tokyo episodes with familiar guests who we’ve spoken to before to hear about the highs and lows of their Tokyo 2020 Olympic experience while it’s still fresh in their memory, to hopefully bring you an insight into what it’s really like to be competing at the pinnacle of hockey and how the experience is a little different for everyone.
Today’s episode is the epilogue of a story we’ve heard before back in Episode 20 with Tom Wickham. Despite losing the Gold Medal Match to Belgium in a shootout, TJ’s Olympic Campaign was a memorable one, finishing as the only non-drag-flicker in the top 5 goalscorers for the tournament. This coming after he initially missed selection. In this short episode, you’ll hear about the lead into the Olympics, the key to his goalscoring success and what’s next for the Kookaburras striker. Enjoy.
Now for the next hour and a half, you’re in for a treat, and we’re very excited to announce our final guest of 2020 to be one of the greatest to ever hold a stick, Jame Dwyer. Reading through Jamie’s list of achievements, both personally and with the Kookaburras is, to be honest, a fatiguing exercise and would take up a substantially greater portion of our time budget than we’re happy with, so, among a very long list of other achievements, Jamie is a 5x World Player of the Year, former Young Player of the Year, has won every major and minor international competition you can think of at least once, been to 4 Olympics, is the second most capped Australian hockey player in history with 365 and the leading goalscorer with 243, which is more than 50 goals more than the next highest. Indeed, there aren’t many candidates that can be universally agreed on to be in the conversation for the greatest hockey player of all time, but Jamie Dwyer is undoubtedly one of them.
It’s easy to look at his achievements and think that things came easy to someone as magnificently talented as Jamie, but that is frankly just not the case. For example, Jamie was 25 years old and at his first Olympic Games when he rocketed to fame with a wider audience with his Gold Medal winning goal vs the Dutch in extra time of the 2004 Athens Olympic games. Before that, there is a cracking story to be heard about how this kid from country Queensland became an Aussie icon.
Over the next two episodes, we cover a lot. From his journey to crack the team, to how he became the best player in the world, overcoming major injuries, to dealing with team dynamics, to a blow by blow of that goal in Athens and how to deal with pressure, to his take on crafting the ultimate team, to retirement, to running a successful business and finally to where he thinks the sport of hockey needs to go in Australia, I can assure you that it’s all gold and you won’t want to miss a second. So, let’s go. Here it is, The Help Side with the great man that is, Jamie Dwyer. Merry Christmas.
Welcome to Part B of our two-part The Help Side chat with Jamie Dwyer. Part B begins with a blow by blow description of THAT goal in Athens that secured Olympic Gold for the Kookaburras and how Jamie dealt with pressure. Jamie then gives us his take on crafting the ultimate team, retirement, running a successful business and finally to where he thinks the sport of hockey needs to go in Australia, I can assure you that it’s all gold and you won’t want to miss a second. So, let’s go. Here it is, the Help Side with the great man that is, Jamie Dwyer.
TheHelpSide welcome back to Part B of this two-part Help Side episode with Tom Wickham. So far, TJ has taken us through the early part of his mission to play for the Kookaburras, from Alice Springs to country South Australia to Adelaide and finally to Perth. This next part is about TJ’s non-linear journey to where he is today, with over 50 games for Australia, a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal and his newfound role in the Kookaburras. Despite his achievements to date, there was a long hiatus between donning the green and gold for the 1st time in 2013, and his first selection in the national squad in 2017. This is a story about resilience, determination and unwavering focus. Enjoy.
TheHelpSide Our guest this week is current Kookaburra Squad member, Tom Wickham. The Help Side sat down with TJ at his home in Perth over an expertly made cup of coffee, and we chewed the fat for an hour and a half or so about his journey from outback Australia to the bright lights of international hockey. What you’re about to hear is the narrative of Tom’s life and all the twists and turns which have taken him to be a regular fixture in the Kookaburras.
In TJ’s own words, at a dozen different stages in his life, his path could have taken him a very different way, and hockey has been the constant that’s kept him on the path towards achieving his dreams. Tom talks about his unfaltering dedication to his ‘mission’ and the highs and lows of the journey towards sporting excellence. TJ’s journey is anything but smooth, and if you’re after a story of utter resilience and determination, this is for you. Please enjoy The Help Side of, Tom Wickham.
TheHelpSide This Week we’re speaking to former Kookaburra, Tristan White. Tristan, or T-Dubs, is without a doubt one of the toughest competitors I’ve ever played with or against. In this interview, he speaks about his ambition to be a player you hated to play against but loved to have on your team and I can definitively say that that is exactly how I would describe him. Hailing from country New South Wales, Tristan debuted for Australia in 2011 and by the time he retired in 2018 he notched up 102 caps for the Kookaburras.
In this episode, Tristan breaks down the rollercoaster that was the 2016 Olympic cycle. He was originally selected in the Rio Olympic team, only to have his opportunity ripped away from him in the cruellest of circumstances and he speaks openly about the incident and the fallout. Tristan’s story is a different perspective on how playing for your country might look and the way he approaches the game from a mental side of things is truly fascinating and well worth remembering. Here’s The Help Side of Tristan White.
TheHelpSide This Week we’re speaking to former Kookaburra, Tristan White. Tristan, or T-Dubs, is without a doubt one of the toughest competitors I’ve ever played with or against. In this interview, he speaks about his ambition to be a player you hated to play against but loved to have on your team and I can definitively say that that is exactly how I would describe him. Hailing from country New South Wales, Tristan debuted for Australia in 2011 and by the time he retired in 2018 he notched up 102 caps for the Kookaburras.
Unlike many who wear the green and gold of Australia, T-Dubs chose not to live in the Perth training environment and instead chose to continue to live on the east coast of Australia in order to pursue both his career as a mortgage broker and his hockey. Things haven’t always been easy for T-Dubs, indeed in 2016 he was selected in the Rio Olympic team, only to have his opportunity ripped away from him in the cruellest of circumstances and he speaks openly about the incident and the fallout. Tristan’s story is a different perspective on how playing for your country might look and the way he approaches the game from a mental side of things is truly fascinating and well worth remembering. Here’s The Help Side of Tristan White.
TheHelpSide Our guest this week is former Kookaburra and ex Kookaburra Assistant Coach Nathan Eglington. ‘Eggy’, as he’s known, has an incredibly unique story built on equal parts success and hardship. Before being forced into retirement at just 27 after suffering a horrific injury on the training pitch, Eg amassed 140 games, 50 goals and an Olympic Gold medal. Known as one of the most damaging ball runners to ever play for the Kookaburras. But as Eggy will tell you, what he achieved on the hockey pitch takes rather a back seat compared to some of the things he’s overcome and managed throughout his life.
In this episode, Part B, Eglington talks through his horrific injury that led to retirement, being a Guinness world record holder and life as a father to a very special family. Please enjoy the Help Side of Nathan Eglington.
TheHelpSide Our guest this week is former Kookaburra and ex Kookaburra Assistant Coach Nathan Eglington. ‘Eggy’, as he’s known, has an incredibly unique story built on equal parts success and hardship. Before being forced into retirement at just 27 after suffering a horrific injury on the training pitch, Eg amassed 140 games, 50 goals and an Olympic Gold medal. Known as one of the most damaging ball runners to ever play for the Kookaburras. But as Eggy will tell you, what he achieved on the hockey pitch takes rather a back seat compared to some of the things he’s overcome and managed throughout his life.
Over the next two episodes, Eglington takes us on a journey. From the pain of losing his mother as a child to the Athens Gold, Olympic Village shenanigans, being a Guinness world record holder and life as a father to a very special family, Eg interweaves some absolutely cracking stories into his yarn that had me in stitches and by the end, I’m sure you’ll agree that this one has everything. Please enjoy The Help Side of Nathan Eglington.
TheHelpSide This week we’ve got our first ‘Special Edition’ as our interviewee is not actually a hockey player. That being said, listeners of the show will know that he’s already been a fixture of the Help Side, and it seemed fitting that we get John Eales on the show to give us his side of the story Mick McCann told about that night after the Kookaburra’s gold medal win in Athens.
Without any shadow of an overstatement, John Eales can rightly be called one of Australia’s greatest sporting heroes. Between 1991 and 2001, John represented Australia’s Rugby Union team, the Wallabies, in 86 test matches, and was captain for 55 of those. He went to three World Cups, and in winning two of those, John played a role in establishing the Wallabies of the 90s as one of Australia’s most successful sporting teams and has become known as one of Australia’s most successful sporting captains, ever.
I was lucky enough to sit down with John over a cup of tea and a coffee and discuss some of the highs and lows of his sporting career, and what it took to elevate that Wallabies team to legend status. In this interview, you’ll hear John’s account of his dealings with hockey over the years, as well as a slightly different perspective of the Games, that of an Olympic Athlete Liason Officer.
With trademark humility, John talks about dealing with pressure as both an athlete and a captain, and what separates the great teams from the good. Finally, having been involved with rugby during the transitional period from amateur to professional, we discuss some of the challenges that brings, and where hockey might learn from the experiences of rugby union, should follow similarly down that path. This is the Help Side of John Eales AM, enjoy
TheHelpSide We're delighted to have Hockeyroos midfielder, Jane Claxton, on the show. Now Jane comes from some pretty good stock…listeners of the show and followers of hockey in Australia might recognise the name ‘Claxton’ from this year's class of Hockey Australia Life Member inductees, her father Bob being awarded the honour as recognition of a lifetime of service to hockey.
Jane takes us on her voyage from coming up through the ranks in Adelaide to what it’s really like to represent your country, including some elements that people don’t often talk about. With the highs of playing for your country, come inevitable lows and hard times that don’t always make the front page, but remain part and parcel of the gig and Jane openly shares her story of navigating the pitfalls of elite sport. One aspect of international sport, is the joy of travelling the world and with this, comes a ‘roomie’, and Jane reveals that she might not be the top of everyone's ‘most desirable roomie’ list. Jane is smart, articulate, and the embodiment of an elite athlete. Please enjoy, The Help Side of, Jane Claxton.
TheHelpSide We're delighted to have Hockeyroos midfielder, Jane Claxton, on the show. Now Jane comes from some pretty good stock…listeners of the show and followers of hockey in Australia might recognise the name ‘Claxton’ from this year's class of Hockey Australia Life Member inductees, her father Bob being awarded the honour as recognition of a lifetime of service to hockey.
In 183 games for the Hockeyroos, Claxton has appeared at two World Cup's, two Commonwealth Games, an Olympics, and has had the honour of captaining her country. Jane has come to be recognised as one of Australia’s most consistent performers, and anyone who’s witnessed her play live would have heard her commanding tone carry across the pitch to her teammates – your prototypical General of the midfield. You’ll find Jane to be the consummate professional, and her achievements and success in the green and gold of the Hockeyroos really shouldn’t come as a surprise after hearing her take on what it takes to perform at the highest level.
Jane takes us on her voyage from coming up through the ranks in Adelaide to what it’s really like to represent your country, including some elements that people don’t often talk about. With the highs of playing for your country, come inevitable lows and hard times that don’t always make the front page, but remain part and parcel of the gig and Jane openly shares her story of navigating the pitfalls of elite sport. One aspect of international sport, is the joy of travelling the world and with this, comes a ‘roomie’, and Jane reveals that she might not be the top of everyone's ‘most desirable roomie’ list. Jane is smart, articulate, and the embodiment of an elite athlete. Please enjoy The Help Side of, Jane Claxton.
TheHelpSide Today we’re going back in time, to a time where things were done a little differently. Today’s guest is former Australian Goal Keeper, Bob Proctor. Now by ‘former’, I mean Bob won a silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympic games. Bob finished his career with 40 caps across 2 world cups and the aforementioned Olympic Games and has since become one of Sydney’s most successful coaches, coaching numerous teams to several premierships as well as coaching the NSW Australian Hockey League side for a number of years.
Welcome to Part B of my two-part chat with Former Australian goalkeeper Bob Proctor, if you missed last episode – Bob took us inside what it took to make it to an Olympics in those days and spins some cracking yarns about what life was like on tour. In Part B, Bob recollects on his Olympic Experience and how they came so close to clinching Australia’s first-ever Olympic gold. A brilliant coach in his own right, Bob then talks about his coaching philosophy and his take on what it takes to make a great team. Rip in!
TheHelpSide Today we’re going back in time, to a time where things were done a little differently. Today’s guest is former Australian Goal Keeper, Bob Proctor. Now by ‘former’, I mean Bob won a silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. Bob finished his career with 40 caps across 2 world cups and the aforementioned Olympic Games and has since become one of Sydney’s most successful coaches, coaching numerous teams to several premierships as well as coaching the NSW Australian Hockey League side for a number of years.
Bob played in a time where the international hockey landscape was completely different and has some of the best yarns in the business. He’s a magnificent storyteller and I can tell you that the time we spent chatting in Bob’s backyard over some nuts and a tea were some of the quickest minutes of my life. From being the first Australian team to play on Astroturf to abandoning a match mid-game in Pakistan and all the on-tour antics in between, it’s a little different this week, but truly absorbing. I hope you enjoy The Help Side of Bob Proctor.
TheHelpSide Anna Flanagan was in her final year of high school when she was first picked in the Australian Squad and made her Hockeyroos debut as a bright-eyed 18-year-old against Korea the following year. In the years that followed, Anna made a name for herself as a prodigious flicker and athletic defender who, with a trademark yellow ribbon in her hair, quickly became a fan favourite. By the time she played her last game for the Hockeyroos, she was only 24 and had won two Commonwealth Games Gold medal, one World Cup Silver, been to an Olympics and in 2012 was awarded FIH Young Player of the Year. While her on-pitch record speaks for itself, Anna was also a frontrunner off the pitch and was peerless in her ability to leverage her image for the benefit of exposing the sport she loves to a wider audience. As the first hockey athlete to be sponsored by global giants Red Bull and Nike, Anna’s story is quite unlike anything we’ve heard so far.
In her typically open manner, Anna reveals her journey with the Hockeyroos was far from smooth sailing, and takes us through the highs and lows of elite sport, and uniquely to Anna, the fame and pressure that can come with it. In this episode, Part B, Anna speaks candidly about her struggles with mental health and reveals what’s next, and once you hear it, I’m sure you’ll agree – it’s a pretty good fit. Please enjoy Part B of The Help Side of, Anna Flanagan.
TheHelpSide Anna Flanagan was in her final year of high school when she was first picked in the Australian Squad and made her Hockeyroos debut as a bright-eyed 18-year-old against Korea the following year. In the years that followed, Anna made a name for herself as a prodigious flicker and athletic defender who, with a trademark yellow ribbon in her hair, quickly became a fan favourite. By the time she played her last game for the Hockeyroos, she was only 24 and had won two Commonwealth Games Gold medal, one World Cup Silver, been to an Olympics and in 2012 was awarded FIH Young Player of the Year. While her on-pitch record speaks for itself, Anna was also a frontrunner off the pitch and was peerless in her ability to leverage her image for the benefit of exposing the sport she loves to a wider audience. As the first hockey athlete to be sponsored by global giants Red Bull and Nike, Anna’s story is quite unlike anything we’ve heard so far.
In her typically open manner, Anna reveals her journey with the Hockeyroos was far from smooth sailing, and takes us through the highs and lows of elite sport, and uniquely to Anna, the fame and pressure that can come with it. She speaks candidly about her struggles with mental health and reveals what’s next for Anna Flanagan, and once you hear it, I’m sure you’ll agree – it’s a pretty good fit. Please enjoy Part A of The Help Side of, Anna Flanagan.
TheHelpSide Today’s interview is with dual Olympic Gold Medallist and 2012 FIH World Player of the Year, Ex-German International Moritz Fürste. In the decade before his retirement in 2016, few players on the international circuit commanded as much influence on a game than Mo. As regular listeners to the podcast would know, he’s a popular answer for many when they list the best player they have ever played against. Whether it be scoring penalty corners, breaking the game open through the midfield, penetrating opposition defence with his pass or simply imposing his presence with his voice, he was one of those players who you were just constantly aware of.
Over the two parts of this interview, Mo offers incredible insight into the culture of German hockey and what makes it unique. Mo’s take on sports psychology and his approach to leadership and Olympic Success are as interesting as they are powerful, and you won’t want to miss them. In this Episode, Part B of the interview, Mo opens up about growing up in Germany, which included brushing shoulders with some pretty famous sportspeople. From there we talk injuries, leadership and retirement. Please enjoy The Help Side of, Moritz Fürste.
TheHelpSide Today’s interview is with dual Olympic Gold Medallist and 2012 FIH World Player of the Year, Ex-German International Moritz Fürste. In the decade before his retirement in 2016, few players on the international circuit commanded as much influence on a game than Mo. As regular listeners to the podcast would know, he’s a popular answer for many when they list the best player they have ever played against. Whether it be scoring penalty corners, breaking the game open through the midfield, penetrating opposition defence with his pass or simply imposing his presence with his voice, he was one of those players who you were just constantly aware of.
Over the two parts of this interview, Mo offers incredible insight into the culture of German hockey and what makes it unique. Mo’s take on sports psychology and his approach to leadership and Olympic Success are as interesting as they are powerful, and you won’t want to miss them. In this, Part A of the interview, we start the interview reminiscing about old times during the Hockey India League, before moving on to a discussion about some of Mo’s most memorable hockey moments, including that victory over the Kookaburras in the 2012 Olympic Semi-Final, which he credits as being one of the greatest games in which he’s ever played. This is hockey royalty folks, please enjoy The Help Side of, Moritz Fürste.
TheHelpSide This week we talk to the man they call the Tattooed Titan, Kieran Govers. After bursting on to the scene for the Kookaburras as a youngster at the 2010 World Cup, Kieran quickly became one of the most popular players in World Hockey and made a name for himself as a lethal striker and walking highlight reel, with some of the most unforgettable goals scored in Australian hockey. I was pretty pumped Kieran agreed to share his story with The Help Side, because it is by no means a smooth one, and the resilience Kieran has shown throughout his career is something that is truly inspiring.
Kieran Govers is one of the true servants of hockey, and despite it being really quite a cruel game to him at times, his love and passion for the game and its development is quite incredible. In this episode, Part B, Kieran opens up about how he defines himself as a hockey player and what it's like travelling the world on the club circuit getting paid to do what he loves. We also talk about adversity, injuries and retirement. Enjoy Part B of The Help Side with Kieran Govers.
TheHelpSide This week we talk to the man they call the Tattooed Titan, Kieran Govers. After bursting on to the scene for the Kookaburras as a youngster at the 2010 World Cup, Kieran quickly became one of the most popular players in world hockey and made a name for himself as a lethal striker and walking highlight reel, with some of the most unforgettable goals scored on the world stage. I was pretty pumped Kieran agreed to share his story with The Help Side, because it is by no means a smooth one, and the resilience Kieran has shown throughout his career is something that is truly inspiring.
We sat down after a game of golf in the change rooms of Sutherland Hockey Club and chatted for about an hour and a half about the highs and lows of his career. Being one of the great Sydney clubs, you’ll hear a bunch of excited kids in the background at times, eager to get back to training and there’ll be an intrusion or two but to be honest, I found it kind of fitting, given the man I had in front of me. Kieran is one of the true servants of hockey, and despite it being really quite a cruel game to him at times, his love and passion for the game and its development remain quite incredible. In Part A of the interview, we talk about his path to the Kookaburras and how it very nearly didn't happen. He's got some cracking stories for you all, so we hope you enjoy the Help Side of Kieran Govers.
TheHelpSide Today’s guest burst onto the international hockey scene in 2014 and has since mesmerised defenders and spectators alike with his skill and speed. Hailing from Wollongong on the NSW South Coast, Flynn Ogilvie has been through a lot on his journey to 109 games for Australia, a tally that includes a Commonwealth Games Gold and a berth at a World Cup, both in 2018.
We’re bringing this interview in two parts. In this episode, Part B, Flynn talks about life on tour, playing Indoor Hockey for Australia and living with Alopecia.
TheHelpSide Today’s guest burst onto the international hockey scene in 2014 and has since mesmerised defenders and spectators alike with his skill and speed. Hailing from Wollongong on the NSW South Coast, Flynn Ogilvie has been through a lot on his journey to 109 games for Australia, a tally that includes a Commonwealth Games Gold and a berth at a World Cup, both in 2018.
We’re bringing this interview in two parts. In this episode, Part A, Flynn talks about what it’s like to grow up in a family with six siblings who all play hockey. He then takes us on his journey from playing juniors in the Gong to a whirlwind move to Perth in order to vie for a spot at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. We then discuss the things he learnt in overcoming a serious injury that put him for the better part of a year. Flynn is a ripping lad and speaks openly about the highs and lows of living in a high-performance environment. Enjoy The Help Side of Flynn Ogilvie.
TheHelpSide Welcome to the Part B of a two-part The Help Side special with reigning FIH Women’s Player of the Year, Eva de Goede. Few teams have dominated a sport to the extent that the Dutch national team have dominated the women’s game since their Olympics Gold in 2008 and Eva has been there for every major moment along the way. A two-time FIH World Player of the Year, Eva has arguably the most impressive hockey resume of any current hockey player. Boasting over 230 internationals, Eva has incredibly lost only two games across three World Cups and three Olympics in her career.
In this episode we talk about the Rio 2016 Olympics, what's it's like to be captain of the Dutch national team and some of the things Eva learnt from taking a year away from the sport. The results of that break were pretty remarkable with de Goede being crowned the FIH Women's Player of the Year twice after her return. Talk about a good sabbatical.
TheHelpSide We are very excited to introduce the back to back reigning FIH Women’s Player of the Year, Eva de Goede, who will join us for a two-part special on The Help Side. Few teams have dominated a sport to the extent that the Dutch national team have dominated the women’s game since their Olympics Gold in 2008 and Eva has been there for every major moment along the way. A two-time FIH World Player of the Year, Eva has arguably the most impressive hockey resume of any current hockey player. Boasting over 230 internationals, Eva has incredibly lost only two games across three World Cups and three Olympics in her career.
In this episode, we take our time discussing just what it is that makes the Dutch so successful, and what it feels like to be part of that team. We also explore some of Eva’s most memorable hockey moments, of which, it must be said there are many. In typical Dutch fashion, Eva is incredibly forthright about her experiences at the top and as you can imagine has some wonderful lessons to share with us as she’s progressed from the fresh-faced 17-year-old debutant from a little town in the Netherlands to the captain of the world’s best team.
TheHelpSide When it comes to champions of our sport they don’t get any bigger than Rechelle Hawkes. Winner of an incredible three Olympic and two World Cup gold medals, Rechelle was the captain of the all-conquering Hockeyroos during the 1990s, an era where they swept all before them to become one of the greatest teams of all time, not just in hockey but across any sport. In 2000 Rechelle joined Dawn Fraser as one of only 2 Australian women to win gold at 3 separate Olympic Games and in 2018 she was made a member of the Order of Australia for significant services to hockey as a player, captain, role model and commentator.
From growing up in Western Australia to reading the Athlete’s oath at the Sydney Olympics, Rechelle’s story is one of resilience, determination and extreme dedication that saw her reach a standard of achievement that quite frankly may never be seen again in our sport. If you are interested in leadership, teamwork and what it takes to win, then this podcast is for you. This is the help side of Rechelle Hawkes OAM.
TheHelpSide For hockey fans down under Ashley Morrison can reasonably be considered the voice of hockey. With 32 years in media across 37 different countries, Ashley is the world’s premier hockey broadcaster with a level of insight and attention to detail that is second to none. He’s a commentator, a journalist, a writer, an award-winning documentary maker, and as anyone that knows him will tell you - a fierce ambassador for sports like hockey that maybe don’t get the recognition in the mainstream media that they deserve.
Ash is a man with a passion for both the history and the human side of sport and in this podcast we talk about his journey as a sports journalist - a path that has taken him to all corners of the globe - and we tackle some of the big issues facing hockey as a sport. From TV coverage and the FIH Pro League, to the domestic and international calendar, through to grassroots hockey and the current state of the game, Ashley holds considered and compelling opinions that he shares with us over the next hour or so. If like me, you care about the future of our sport, you’re going to enjoy this one.
TheHelpSide As one of only 16 Kookaburras to have won an Olympic gold medal, Michael McCann can rightly be considered one of the greats of Australian Hockey. From his aunty giving him 10 cents a goal as a kid running around Bankstown in Sydney’s west, to playing in the pressure cooker of Olympic and World Cup finals, and now coaching at the elite level in Germany, Mick has done just about everything there is to do in our sport.
Mick’s insight, humour and unbridled love of hockey shine through in this interview and you will come to appreciate why Mick believes “hockey is in his blood". He takes behind the scenes of the famous Athens gold medal-winning class of 2004, with some cracking stories that you won’t want to miss. We end up in Europe where Mick reflects on the culture shock of starting out as a coach in Germany, a nation where things are done a bit differently from the way we do things in Australia.
TheHelpSide Welcome to Part B of The Help Side special with the current captain of the Great Britain men’s hockey team, Adam Dixon. In Part A, we had a fascinating chat to Adam about the GB high performance set up and the state of play of hockey in the United Kingdom.
In this episode, we get more personal and explore Adam’s journey as an international hockey player - from winning gold at his first international tournament to missing selection at his home Olympics in London through to getting his chance to shine at Rio and now being on the verge of leading his country to the Tokyo games as captain.
TheHelpSide Adam Dixon is the current captain of the Great Britain men’s hockey team and is one of the most highly respected players in world hockey having represented England and GB on more than 250 occasions. Adam is an Olympian, a dual Commonwealth Games medalist, a European Championships Gold medalist, a Hockey India League champion, and above all else he is a ripping bloke who I had the good fortune of playing with at Kalinga Lancers back in 2017. We cover quite a bit of ground in this interview - so much so that we’ve had to split it into two episodes!
In this episode, Adam gives us an insight into the GB high performance set up and the challenges of the lockdown - including how he was he forced into early isolation with suspected coronavirus symptoms - but don’t worry it’s alright he’s ok. We talk about the current state of the game in the UK - a country where hockey is enjoying a bit of a renaissance following the London Olympics and the gold medal success of the GB women at the Rio games. Adam is open, thoughtful and has some interesting perspectives on where the game needs to head to break into the mainstream.
TheHelpSide Nurse, business owner, mental health ambassador, Australian hockey player, shoot-out beast and FIH World Goalkeeper of the Year. These are just some of the ways to describe star goalkeeper Rachael Lynch. After debuting in 2006, Rach has played a whopping 223 games for the Hockeyroos, a statistic that includes appearances at three World Cups, five Champions Trophies, three Commonwealth Games and the Rio Olympic Games. Playing arguably the most competitive position on the field, over the next hour or so, Lynchy will give us a goalkeepers take on competing at the highest level, and all that entails.
With 14 years of experience, Rach has seen almost all there is to see over her stellar career with the Hockeyroos. From the ordeal of missing two Olympic selections to being crowned World Goalkeeper of the Year, you’ll find Rach has learned an incredible amount over her journey that started with a 12-year-old basketball-playing tomboy from Melbourne.
We’re very lucky that Rach shares those lessons with us in a very candid manner, along with some of her goalkeeping secrets to being the best in the world.
TheHelpSide Katrina Powell is a bona fide legend of Australian Hockey. A key member of the all-conquering Hockeyroos team of the 1990s and early 2000s Triny went to 3 consecutive Olympic games and achieved every hockey player’s dream, not once but twice, winning gold medals at both the Atlanta and Sydney games. A prolific goalscorer, Triny found the back of the net an impressive 141 times for the Hockeyroos across a career spanning the best part of a decade and post her playing career Triny is continuing to score goals as a coach.
In this interview, we reflect on what was a golden era of Australian hockey to understand the ingredients that made the Hockeyroos so dominant but also delve into why that dominance ended. We talk about the challenges of transitioning from an athlete to a coach and also get Triny’s take on how the sport can do better to support women to become more involved in coaching. As someone who has dedicated their life to hockey Triny has amazing insight into what it takes to succeed.
TheHelpSide Aran Zalewski or Moose as he’s more commonly known is the co-captain of the Australian men’s hockey team and a proud West Australian. Hailing from the famous Margaret River region, Moose is one of the premier players in world hockey being nominated for the FIH World Player of the Year award in 2019 - an impressive accolade to add to his gold medals at the World Cup and Commonwealth Games. He is the general of the national team - a big, strong defensive midfielder who calls the shots for the Kookaburras in both attack and defence.
In this interview, we talk about leadership, the professionalism required to make it to the top in elite sport, and the insatiable quest for self-improvement that has made Aran the world-class player he is today. As you’ll hear there are two sides to Aran - the determined, ultra-competitive elite athlete - and the chilled, laid back surfer dude - a juxtaposition that makes him a fascinating guy to chat to.
TheHelpSide Matthew Swann or Swanny, as he’s known to just about everyone that follows hockey, is one of the most popular players not just in the Kookaburras squad but in our sport! He’s a two time Olympian, a dual World Cup gold medallist and a qualified accountant. The energiser bunny of the Australian team, he can be carrying the ball into the attacking circle at one end and in a matter of seconds, inexplicably be making a goal-saving tackle at the other end. Swanny’s skill, speed and elite level of fitness has made him one of the most dominant outside halves of the decade.
This interview takes us on a journey from central Queensland where Swanny grew up, to Brisbane then Perth in pursuit of his hockey dreams, and ultimately to the pinnacle of hockey at the London and Rio Olympics - and he’s not done yet.
TheHelpSide Jeremy Hayward has been one of the mainstays in the line up of the Australian men's field hockey team, the Kookaburras, over the past five years. Jeremy has been to the very pinnacle of hockey winning gold medals at the World Cup and Commonwealth Games. But it hasn’t all been plain sailing.
In this episode, we talk about the challenges of relocating to Perth as an 18-year-old, the disappointment of the 2016 Olympic campaign as well as what it’s like to live with a partner who is also an elite hockey player.