HOCKEY: Olympic gold medallist and two-time hockey World Cup winner Jamie Dwyer has set a new record, becoming Australian hockey’s most capped player ever.

In taking to the field against Canada in the Kookaburras’ opening match of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Dwyer made his 322nd appearance for his country, surpassing the 321 caps achieved by Victorian Jay Stacy, who retired following the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000.

Since his debut in May 2001, Rockhampton-born Dwyer, 36, has been at the forefront of the Kookaburras’ most notable successes. Named hockey’s World Player of the Year five times, he is arguably best known for scoring the winning goal against the Netherlands in the 2004 Olympic final in Athens, which earned Australia’s men’s hockey team its first ever Olympic gold medal. He has since gone on to help Australia win two further Olympic bronze medals in Beijing and London.

A player for the big occasions, Dwyer was among the goal scorers in last year’s World Cup final as the Kookaburras overwhelmed the Netherlands 6-1 in The Hague to claim a second consecutive world title, becoming only the third team ever to successfully defend a World Cup crown. The goal was his 206th in the green and gold, also an Australian record. In all, Dwyer has played in four World Cup finals, twice winning gold and twice silver.

He scored a hat-trick in the final of the 2002 Commonwealth Games to help Australia to victory over New Zealand and was part of the team that won third and fourth consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals in 2006 and 2010.

Paying tribute to Dwyer’s success, David Hatt, President of Hockey Australia, said, “Jamie Dwyer is Australia's most decorated and acclaimed male player. He is recognised by his peers as the best player in world hockey over the past decade. His golden goal in the 2004 Olympic Games final brought Australian men’s hockey its greatest moment. Hockey Australia salutes a magnificent career for one of its favourite sons.”

Cam Vale, Chief Executive of Hockey Australia, added, “Jamie Dwyer is one of our sport’s most recognisable names. A generation of young Australian hockey players has grown up wanting to emulate him. This milestone achievement is testament to his professionalism over the past 14 years and the role he has played in keeping the Kookaburras at the top of world hockey in that time.”

Speaking to Sportsmediagroup.com.au in Ipoh ahead of the match, Jamie Dwyer said, “I’m very honoured to play one game for Australia, let alone be the most capped player. Jay Stacy, who I’m equal with at the moment, was a bit of a role model to me and I looked up to him so much, so it feels a little bit weird to pass him but I think just playing for your country in general is amazing. I’ve been very fortunate I’ve played so many times.

“This game on Sunday is special to me, that’s for sure, but I’m probably more excited about wearing the green and gold again after not playing for nine months now.”

On his target of playing in a fourth Olympic Games next year, Dwyer said, “I thought London was definitely going to be my last Olympics but now I’m obviously heading towards Rio. Whether I make it or not I’m not too sure, but physically I feel good and that’s why I keep going.”

HOCKEY AUSTRALIA