Kookaburras Win Bronze in Bevan’s Last Hurrah
The Australian men’s hockey team finished off their Olympic campaign in Beijing in style after thumping the Netherlands 6-2 in the bronze medal match.
Three West Australians featured, with Captain Bevan George, Fergus Kavanagh and Kiel Brown all collecting medals for the Kookaburras.
After the heartbreak of being eliminated by Spain in the semi-final last week, the Kookaburras produced a stunning opening half with young gun Eddie Okenden in particular in devastating form.
Okenden bagged himself two goals in the first six minutes of the match, finishing off a David Guest cross after good work on the wing before a sharp effort off a Liam De Young hit just moments later.
Australia’s other young star Des Abbott made it 3-0 on nine minutes with a beautiful strike that left Dutch keeper Guus Vogel with no chance after some good work in attack by Jamie Dwyer.
The Netherlands refused to concede defeat however, and launched a stirring comeback with goals to Taeke Taekema from a penalty corner and Teun de Nooijer from a clever deflection.
Australia regained the ascendency ahead of half time with a fourth goal in the half for Australia, scored by Eli Matheson to give the Kookaburras a 4-2 lead at the break.
Defender Robbie Hammond effectively killed off Dutch hopes at the start of the second half after racing into attack and delivering a sweetly timed reverse stick shot that found the back of the net for a 5-2 lead.
The scoring was complete in the 62nd minute when Luke Doerner capitalised on an Australian penalty corner to round off a 6-2 Australian success.
The bronze medal represents a changing of the guard for Australian hockey with Bevan George, Travis Brooks and Matthew Wells all calling time on glittering careers whilst Coach Barry Dancer has also decided to move on.