Kookaburras have imposing record but only gold will do at Rio Olympics

GOLD has eluded the Kookaburras at the past two Olympics and now the team with one of world sport’s most imposing recent records wants to make up for that disappointment.

Jamie Dwyer is among the Kookaburras’ stars. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

AUSTRALIA’S Kookaburras don’t just want to win elusive gold in Rio, they want to annihilate their opposition.

They call it Blue Sky Thinking, the ability to dominate rivals by so much that even if they don’t produce their best they still come out on top.

Gold might have eluded Australia at the past two Olympics, but since London 2012 they have the record to match their lofty ambition.

The team that starts its Rio campaign against New Zealand on Saturday night (AEST) has one of world sport’s most imposing recent records.

They are the current holders of every major trophy in hockey bar the Olympics — the Commonwealth Games gold medal (the past five trophies), the World Cup (2014), the World League title and the Champions Trophy.

Members of the Australian men's hockey team pose in front of Christ the Redeemer at Corcovado Mountain ahead of the Games in Rio de Janeiro. Picture: AAP Image/Getty Images

Now according to Kookaburras player Simon Orchard it is time to prove what they have been building since London defeat to eventual gold medallists Germany.

“Blue sky thinking is something which our psychology team put in place for us. It is about blue sky between us and the opposition,’’ he said.

“We have been on top of the world for the past six or eight years and we want to increase the gap.

“The difficult part about the Olympics is you need so much to be right to be successful.

“It’s not like swimming or aths where you can be the fastest and it becomes easier to predict.

“In hockey so many things need to happen to win. Hopefully if some things go wrong in Rio there is still enough room.”

In that London semi-final Australia panicked when attempting to hold on to a lead, and have spent the time since then working on “pressure signatures” when under the pump.

“We have done a lot of work on pressure signatures which is recognising when people are under pressure. We know each other quite intimately and can predict how we are all feeling,” Orchard said.

Kookaburras captain Mark Knowles says Australia’s determination to distance itself from its rivals is about building confidence rather than complacence.

“We are very, very good and we know that. It’s one of those things where we have to live with it, we have had a lot of expectation,’’ he said.

“Blue sky thinking is about being in the moment and not getting caught up. With quarters now (instead of halves) it’s hard to get on teams and stay on top, so we can’t let discipline issues affect us. We want to be down in the red, blue sky thinking is so important.

Kookaburras captain Mark Knowles is confident. Picture. Phil Hillyard

“We have been really good at it at the World Cup and Commonwealth Games, they were the result of a lot of hard work.

“But this is a real test.”

Germany holds the past two Olympic titles despite Australia’s years of non-Olympic dominance but Knowles says the Australians will still go in with real confidence.

“We had a good hitout on Sunday against them. It was still only a practice match but we have also beaten them in five of the six matches in the past four years.

“Still, the Olympics is where they are renowned for being at their best. In the last four years we have prided ourselves on winning big matches.”