Jamie Dwyer can lay some claim to being the greatest player to grace a hockey field - and one of Australia's finest athletes - after taking out the world player of the year award a record fourth time.

But for the 254-Test veteran, hockey has slid to No.2 in his list of priorities, even as he gears toward a second Olympic gold medal in London 2012.

It's not that his hunger for success has waned, or his love of the sport has tired, rather his perspective on life has changed since the birth of his first child 20 months ago.

"It changes your life when you have a kid," Dwyer says.

"I guess you really sort out your priorities once you have a family.

"Back then hockey was everything to me. Now I've got a family and they're number one in the world to me and hockey is second.

"It makes your life balance really good and they support me all the way. My balance in life is pretty good at the moment.

"I've really enjoyed the last two years.

"Ever since my son has been born I haven't lost a tournament, so maybe he's a good luck charm.

Life is only going to get more hectic for 31-year-old Dwyer, whose wife is due to give birth to their second son in three weeks.

But the nippy midfielder, whose penetrating speed and mesmerising skill have set him head and shoulders above the rest, is still soaking up becoming the first male hockey player to win the world player of the year award for a fourth time, adding to his titles in 2004, 2007 and 2009.

"To do it a fourth time is amazing. I'm a bit speechless really, I don't know what to say about it," Dwyer says.

"It's a great honour and when I look back on my career I'm going to be very proud."

And with Dwyer showing no signs of slowing down, an unprecedented fifth title next year is by no means out of the question.

Dwyer, who struck the winning goal in the gold medal match of the 2004 Athens Olympics, has enjoyed remarkable team success in the past 12 months, helping the Kookaburras to World Cup, Champions Trophy and Commonwealth Games gold.

But it is the quest for Olympic gold in 2012 that is spurring him on.

"I think to play in the final (in London) would definitely be a goal. It's difficult of course, there are some great hockey nations in the world," says Dwyer, who has 160 international goals to his name.

"To win (gold) would be amazing.

"We're all improving as a team, improving as individuals and really enjoying it along the way.

"The team success has been a highlight over the last few years."

That team success owes a great deal to master coach Ric Charlesworth, who has transformed the Kookaburras into the world's most formidable hockey outfit since taking the reins last year.

But while Dwyer is hungry for more team gold, it is the impending addition to his family that he is looking most forward to.

"It's been a long 12 months, from last year's Champions Trophy in Melbourne to right up until this weekend when I finished my last game for my club over in Holland," he says.

"Physically and mentally towards the end there I was starting to get a little tired but now I've got three months off.

"I'm just going to relax with my family, refresh physically and mentally and prepare my goals for the next couple of years. "Spend some quality time with my family and have some fun."

AAP