Comeback complete for Corey Weyer as Kookaburras remain unbeaten in Paris

After being declared as having ‘the best story in the team’, inspirational Kookaburra Corey Weyer has sweetened his return to the national team by scoring in Monday’s victory over Ireland.

Gold Coast hockey player Corey Weyer only wanted one assurance ahead of the career revival that culminated in the Olympic match-winner which kept the Kookaburras unbeaten in Paris.

“Is there still a chance or have you blacklisted me?” he asked Colin Batch after the Kookaburras coach had dumped him from Australia’s elite squads over his lack of fitness.

Batch feared Weyer had run his race in late 2022 given he had never found a way to combine application with his world-class skills but told him the door was slightly ajar.

Eighteen months later the defender has revealed how being cut loose from that professional program was the haymaker he needed to finally pull his head in.

A series of 5am gym sessions five days a week and a full season of local hockey in Perth sparked the flame that would see him back in Australia’s side as they prepare to face the Belgian side which beat them in a gold medal match at the Tokyo Olympics.

Corey Weyer has a fantastic story. Picture: Getty Images

Not for nothing has coach Batch called Weyer the “best story in the side” given he has come from so far back in a short space of time.

“I made the decision early last year that this is what I wanted to have a go at and everything else took a back seat,” he said after his lethal roofed flick from short range against Ireland.

“It was a focus to get in shape physically and mentally and just start enjoying hockey again and have fun. It took a couple of weeks (after being dropped) but I went back in and had a deeper chat (with Batch) and I asked the question.

“Is there still a chance or have you blacklisted me? And he said, No, there’s still a chance. We haven’t blacklisted you. And to his credit, he kept his word.

“I decided this was my last chance to have a crack and I didn’t want to get to the end of my career and have excuses. If I had been fit I was good enough. I didn’t want any excuses.

How far can the Kookaburras go in Paris? Picture: Getty Images

“So a mate goes to the gym five days a week. I said pick me up on your way there and if I am not there ring me and I will get up. There were some dark, cold mornings in Perth but there was plenty of belief in my hockey ability. It was just about getting my body right.”

Coach Batch was thrilled Weyer was able to get onto the scoreboard along with Blake Govers’ penalty stroke in the 2-1 win over Ireland to validate his hard work.

“He has scored a couple of goals that have been disallowed in the Pro League so it’s nice to see him awarded one. He has got very soft hands and he can score in those situations, he is a very good decision maker.”

Australia will hope to top its pool to avoid a quarter final crossover against a force like the Netherlands, so Batch believes this is the right time to take on Tokyo gold medal conqueror Belgium.

“We will be ready for them, they had a rest day today, we have a 30 hour recovery and you will see a pretty good game for those who want to turn up.

“We have built some momentum. We are getting better but we are nowhere near where we need to be, but this will be a good test. The second half was very good from a control point of view and we had a number of corners and only isolated attacks from them so we are very pleased with that. We have got some resilience in our group. We are building.”

How the match unfolded

On Monday morning in Paris as the Kookaburras remained unbeaten with a 2-1 victory over Ireland, it was comeback kid Weyer capping his incredible return to the Australian squad.

Weyer’s clinical flick past the right ear of Irish goalkeeper David Harte and a penalty flick goal from ruthlessly efficient Blake Govers kept Australia on track ahead of a clash with Olympic champion Belgium.

It was the Belgians that beat Australia with a nerve-jangling penalty shootout to deny them Tokyo gold.

But on Monday it was all about Weyer, an impetuous talent but too chilled for his own good until the penny finally dropped.

As Australia sparkled with attacking intent after struggling to break down dour Argentina in a 1-0 opener, he was able to finish with a quick flick after Gover’s initial strike from a first-half penalty corner hit the left upright.

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Australia had a third goal overturned after a Tom Wickham strike but as Ireland pushed hard late they still found the defensive intent to kill off chances as their forwards then showed strong clock management to run down the final minutes.

This tournament will be impossibly tight given the depth of talent as Australia endured plenty of nervous moments but also showcased their attacking arsenal.

Govers, who scored in every game of the Tokyo tournament for seven total goals, set up Weyer but also scored the match-winner from the penalty spot.

His low flick to the right bottom corner never gave Irishman David Harte a chance.

But after creating so few chances given Argentina parked the bus in the opening game Australian will feel like they are well in this tournament and improving with every game.

Weyer, five-time Olympian Eddie Ockenden and Matt Dawson continue to shut off opposition advances in defence and while the penalty corner battery needs work after some misfires against Ireland the stage is set for an epic pool encounter.

Originally published as Comeback complete for Corey Weyer as Kookaburras remain unbeaten in Paris