Kieran Govers retiring from Hockey, final game against brother Blake

Aussie hockey brothers Kieran and Blake Govers will face off for the first time and last time this weekend with one of the Olympic champions set to hang up his sticks for good.

Sibling match ups on a sporting field aren’t uncommon but for Aussie hockey brothers Kieran and Blake Govers tomorrow’s Hockey One clash will be their first battle and most likely their last with one of the champions set to retire.

Veteran Kieran, 35, has made the difficult decision to hang up his hockey sticks, for the second time.

The clash is more than a chance for the brothers to go toe-to-toe though.

Kieran and the Adelaide Fire need to beat his brother’s NSW Pride team to keep their chances of playing in next week’s finals series alive.

Blake, 27, and Kieren have played on the same side plenty of times during their careers, domestically and internationally.

But never against each other.

“When I played my first international match with Blake it was my 100th game for Australia so to play my last game against him will be pretty cool,” Kieran said.

“We play the same position and have the same skills but we approach the game completely the opposite.

Kieran Govers and his younger brother Blake will play against each other for the first and last time this weekend. Photo: Supplied

“At the end of the day he is just another opposition player, he’ll want to tackle me, run past me and beat me as much as I want to do that too.

“But as soon as we walk off the pitch everything will be back to normal. It’s just that competitive nature that is grounded into you.”

It is Kieran’s second retirement after thinking hip surgery at the end of last season would put an end to his career.

But the surgery went better than expected allowing Kieran one more chance to play the sport he has dedicated his life to.

Unlike his retirement from the Kookaburras five years ago Kieran said this time he was ready.

“I always wanted to have one last crack and just make sure my decision was right,” Kieran said.

“Playing in the Hockey One this season has cemented my decision that I’m in a mentally good state to be able to hang it up and be confident of what I’ve done in my career and be able to enjoy being satisfied with everything.

“Every stone has been unturned and I’m happy about that.”

Kieran made his international debut in 2010 – taking the pitch for the Kookaburras 126 times and scoring 60 goals before retiring from the national team in 2018.

He was part of the team that won bronze at the 2012 Olympics and gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. His career highlights also include two World Cup titles in 2010 and 2014.

Kieran Govers in action for the Kookaburras. Picture: David Smith

Adelaide Fire could progress through to the finals if they get the win over NSW Pride at Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre this weekend.

It won’t be an easy ask though. Pride are on top of the table with four wins from their five games – Adelaide have two wins.

“They are a good side, well coached and we are going to have to pull a rabbit out of the hat to be honest to stay in it,” Kieran said.

If Adelaide are knocked out this weekend Kieran said he won’t have any regrets.

Instead he will turn his focus to spending more time with his family, his career as a coal miner and working as a freelance hockey coach.

Adelaide Fire will play NSW Pride on Saturday at 6.30pm (AEDT).

Originally published as Kieran Govers retiring from Hockey, final game against brother Blake