Hayden Beltz earns call up to Australian hockey team

When Hayden Beltz has previously been pulled aside by the Australian hockey coach, the news hasn’t been good. Now he’s a chance of living out his Olympic dream alongside his brother.

Jack Welch in action. Picture: Sam Volker / Solstice Digital

Hayden Beltz has earned a sensational elevation into the Kookaburras tour of Europe to rocket firmly into Paris Olympic selection contention, alongside Tasmanian trio Eddie Ockenden, Jack Welch and older brother Josh.

Beltz, 26, has had a taste of international hockey with seven caps but officially sits outside the national squad of 27 athletes that claimed a clean sweep in their five-test series against India

Kookaburras coach Colin Batch has turned to Beltz for defensive steel, while overlooking six national squad members including Craig Marais, Jacob Anderson, Jayden Atkinson, James Collins, Ash Thomas and Joel Rintala.

Beltz admitted the news stunned him after he had a feedback session with Batch just prior to the recent India series, and he returns to the squad for the first time since April last year.

“(Batch) pulled me aside at training which was a bit of a surprise. Normally in the past, it’s been to tell me I haven’t been going. But this time he told me I was selected,” Beltz said.

“When I missed out on selection for the India series, I didn’t think there was any chance I’d be selected for Europe, but then every time I trained well, I had a little voice in the back of my head that said, “why not me?

“I think when you’re just outside the squad like I’ve been, you don’t have any choice but to train hard and be prepared, so I always have to be ready for any opportunity.”

Hayden Beltz in action. Photo: Steve Bell/Getty Images.

There are some similarities between Beltz’ call up, to his brother Josh’s elevation from travelling reserve for Tokyo 2021 to playing and scoring on his Olympic debut.

“I suppose there is some similarities between selections for Josh and I, to be given an opportunity when we were both just outside selection originally,” he said.

“The chats I’ve had with him have been all about how this is a free swing for me and how I can play without any selection pressure.

“All that’s left for me to do now is replicate his form from Tokyo.”

Beltz said he’ll forever cherish the moment where he video called his parents to let them know the news, before then receiving the congratulations from Josh, who is delighted to re-join him in the green and gold.

“Some of the toughest matches I’ve had have been in the backyard against Hayden growing up,” Beltz senior said.

The Kookaburras have a record of 11 wins from 12 matches and the 22-athlete travelling party will play eight Pro League matches in Europe, starting with Belgium on May 30.

They will then take on Argentina, Great Britain and Germany before the squad is shortened to the final 16-man squad for Paris, and two additional travelling reserves that can substitute in for injuries.

The Kookaburras currently sit second on the FIH Pro League standings.

Originally published as Hayden Beltz earns call up to Australian hockey team