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Wednesday, June 29, 2016

2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil - Australia Pick Six First-Timers for Olympics Hockey Squad Wednesday June 29,2016


Reigning world hockey champions Australia on Wednesday June 29,2016 named six players with no previous Olympic experience to their 16-man squad for the Rio Games starting on August 5,2016

In the last two years, Australia has held every major title in world hockey 2014 World Cup, 2015 Hockey World League (HWL) and 2016 Champions Trophy.

World Player of the Year in 2014 Mark Knowles will lead the side in Brazil, backed by an extremely powerful leadership group.

The side will capitalise on the experience of central defender Knowles and fellow triple Olympian Jamie Dwyer, as well as dual bronze medallists Eddie Ockenden and Fergus Kavanagh who will line up for their third Games.

At 37 years, Dwyer will make history as Australia's oldest hockey player at an Olympics. 

Chris Ciriello, Simon Orchard, Glenn Turner, Matthew Swann, Matt Gohdes and Tim Deavin will all take to the field at their second Games, while Blake Govers, Daniel Beale, Jake Whetton, Matthew Dawson, goalkeeper Andrew Charter and Tristan White will don the Olympic uniform for the first time.

Knowles and Dwyer were part of the gold medal winning squad in the 2004 Olympic Games and won bronze medals in the last two Games. And for these two, it will be a great moment to end their Olympic dreams with another gold.

When the competition begins on August 6, the Aussies will face trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand in the preliminary round as well as Britain, Belgium, Spain and the hosts, Brazil.

The top four from each of two pools will progress to the all-or-nothing quarter-finals, with Rio 2016 being the first Olympic Games to feature the new format, all building to the gold medal match on August 18.

These 16 athletes take the overall 2016 Australian Olympic contingent to 216 from 21 sports, with an expected final team of around 440 athletes.

Australian Hockey Squad
Daniel Beale, Andrew Charter (goal-keeper), Chris Ciriello, Matthew Dawson, Tim Deavin, Jamie Dwyer, Matt Gohdes, Blake Govers, Fergus Kavanagh, Mark Knowles, Eddie Ockenden, Simon Orchard, Matthew Swann, Glenn Turner, Jake Whetton, Tristan White

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