Paris 2024: Dawson admits finger fears as Kookaburras gear up for knockout quarterfinal
The Kookaburras are gearing up for a knockout quarterfinal in Paris despite suffering a shock loss to India. But it won’t be easy for the Aussies with a star defender carrying injury concerns.
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Kookaburras defender Matthew Dawson admits he feared for his Paris tournament hopes after seeing “stars” when he copped the first hit on his amputated right ring finger.
But Dawson and his Kookaburras teammates have successfully qualified for the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics despite India relegating Australia to third spot in the pool with a shock 3-2 victory.
Australia had beaten India in all five Perth series clashes in April and in a pair of Pro League clashes in India in February.
But amid a hail of missed chances as the Kookaburras nailed only two of 19 shots they squandered the opportunity to get the best possible crossover match-up for the quarterfinals in two days time.
Belgium is unbeaten in pool B but Australia had entered the final pool clash second on nine points after three victories and a draw, with Tokyo bronze medallists India on seven points after two wins and a draw.
After the Indian victory they jump to 10 points (behind Belgium’s 12), with Australia on nine and Argentina able to leap over them with a victory over Belgium later on Friday.
On the other side of the draw Spain is already locked into fourth spot against the pool B winner, with the Netherlands on top of that pool after five games but Germany and Great Britain able to leap over them in their final pool games.
Australia conceded early goals to Abhishek Abhishek from a well-directed follow-up shot past goalkeeper Andrew Charter, then minutes later a drag flick penalty corner effort from captain Harmanpreet Singh.
And while Australia was able to drag a goal back after Tom Craig’s back post tap in from a Flynn Ogilvie cross _ Craig’s first goal of the tournament _ Harmanpreet Sing struck again from a penalty stroke.
Coach Colin Brand will be desperate to tighten his defence and find a more lethal attacking edge away from the penalty corner given how challenging the path to a repeat Olympic final will be.
Dawson has played every game as a rock in defence alongside Eddie Ockenden, playing his 450th contest against India on Friday at Yves du Manoir.
He told News Corp he was in great shape despite some early worries after having the top third of his ring finger amputated after it was mashed beyond recognition in a hockey injury only days before Australia flew out for Paris.
“I had surgery on Thursday, picked a stick up on Sunday, and then was probably into hockey training on the Monday. But it only sort of really started to settle down once we got here (to Paris). It wasn’t that cold in Perth, but the cold weather in Perth didn’t really help,” he said
“The first training session here, I hit my finger on the ground, and as the surgeon said, if I hit it early on, I’ll probably see stars. And that’s exactly what happened. So I guess I started to doubt whether I could actually do it.
“But I had the full support of the coaching staff and the medical team around me to put things in place that allowed me to best prepare and best play for this competition.
“The stitches are out. It’s feeling really good, It’s what I have for the rest of my life. So I have got to deal with it now.”
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