Jamie Dwyer's field hockey record when read reads like an astonishing publication of endeavour, performance, celebrations, victories, world hockey acknowledgment, achievements and a statement of a dream for all young hockey players.
The World Hockey Player for a number of years, a Gold Medallist at Olympic, World Cup and Champion's Trophy levels... and then a bomb shell.
Two years out of the Rio Olympics Jamie Dwyer was left out of the Rio Olympic training squad. Jamie Dwyer got on his bike (as it were) and produced a fresh batch of on field results that the new coach and national selectors believed demanded a realignment of the training squad - he was put back into the squad and then secured his place in the Rio Olympic 'final cut'.
Hockey Australia founds itself between the proverbial. If they didn't include Jamie Dwyer they'd be hauled over hot coals... or worse... history is no friend of selection errors. But if, for whatever reason he was dropped from the squad in the first place, then they included him, followed by a Kookaburras poor showing, such as the Silver Medal, Australian hockey could itself be bought under scrutiny.
Dwyer was born in March 1979 – this made him 37 years of age. Age itself is not the sole issue. Argentina the eventual Gold Medallists at the Rio Hockey Olympics, had the oldest team in the tournament, their super star fullback was likewise 37 years of age. There was something other than age.
Other things need to be taken into consideration such as - strategy, tactics, circle penetration, penalty corner scenarios ... these are on field issues.
As an author of 5 books on field hockey and hockey writer for The Australian newspaper for 24 years to 1994 covering Olympics, World Cups and Champion's Trophies, it became obviously clear as to where the problems were arising at Rio.
The Australian Men's Hockey stats at Rio
Aust 2 – NZ 1
Belgium 1 – Aust 0
Spain 1 – Aust 0
Aust 2 – Great Britain 1
Aus 9 – Brazil 0
Quarter Final
Netherlands 4 – Aust 0
Artificial turf came into Olympic hockey in 1976 and the Australians have been in the top 6 since (Champions Trophy level). Rio was an unheard of result. The Kookaburras were the Gold Medal favourites.
The Kookaburra's greatest of all skills at world hockey level has been their penetration tactics – ie getting into the circle area to even have a shot on goal. If a team is unable to penetrate the circle, then no goal is even possible. Penalty corners cannot be milked. Scoring a goal becomes impossible. Frustration creeps in. Bad decisions become the norm. Poor passing becomes a consequence. One thing follows another.
At the Rio Olympic Hockey Tournament the Kookaburras did the same as all the teams – played right, played left, centre drills – the difference was – the Australian players were unable to penetrate the circle zone as had been their custom.
Their major opposition outfits figured out how to prevent this from happening, and very effectively. For example, I watched Spain very closely, they grouped and regroup around the outside of the circle zone and whatever the Kookaburra's tried - it was truncated by the defense.
Jamie Dwyer constantly found himself with two or three defenders on him – nowhere to move – no passing possibilities – and if all his skills couldn't get through ..... therein the focal point issue was thwarted with the Kookaburras at Rio.
Their opponents had figured out the nature of 'Kookaburra' success and established workable scenarios to put paid to it. Such is sport.
Mark Tronson is an author of five hockey books and wrote hockey for The Australian for many years. He retains an avid interest in all thing hockey with his most illustrious article being from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics hockey tournament where he re-phrased "ice hockey" terms for the "field hockey" - an article that was syndicated around the world.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html