Kookaburras ahead Tom Wickham says the ache of the staff’s Olympic near-miss nonetheless burns and the teachings discovered have helped drive the gamers on.
The Australian males’s hockey staff missed out on gold in Tokyo after they misplaced the ultimate to Belgium in a penalty shootout.
Wickham had scored within the last quarter of that match with a sensational slam-dunk type aim after the ball ricocheted excessive, together with his second of magic levelling the scores at 1-1.
However Belgium proved too good within the shootout, with the Kookaburras’ Olympic gold drought now standing at 18 years.
This yr’s Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham marks the Kookaburras’ first main event since final yr’s Olympics and Wickham says the staff is able to go.
“It was a really tough pill to swallow,” Wickham stated of the Olympic heartbreak.
“It went down to the wire and the chips could have fallen either way.
“We had an ideal event. We performed rather well, however we obtained pipped on the finish.
“We have to be able to build on that and grow as a group, so we can continue to succeed.
“You’re taking the teachings from it, be actual about it and let the feelings be there. Let it burn and let or not it’s a factor to develop from.”
The Kookaburras are aiming for a seventh straight Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham.
Although many fans expect the world No.1 Kookaburras to cruise to another gold, Wickham says the players aren’t taking anything for granted.
“I believe that is a harmful mindset to have when you simply anticipate you are going to win,” he stated.
“We anticipate to be within the last, we’ve got excessive expectations of ourselves. We’re not going there to complete second.
“But for us it’s just a matter of building through the tournament, playing our best hockey and making sure we’re in that final to give ourselves an opportunity to win gold.”
The Kookaburras have South Africa, New Zealand, Scotland and Pakistan of their pool, with greater threats to return after that.
“India are always dangerous. They’re fast, skilful, counter-attacking,” Wickham stated.
“England are another threat. They’re a well structured, well drilled team.
“NZ are one other one. Any staff is a risk when you assume you are simply going to stroll in and beat them.”
