Eddie Ockenden’s retirement revelation as Kookaburras reach quarter final with win over NZ

Tom Wickham’s insane mid-air deflection and a Blake Govers’ hat trick helped Australia smash NZ 5-0, as a Kookaburras legend made a revelation about his future.

Australia's players celebrate theirin the men's pool B field hockey match between New Zealand and Australia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Colombes on August 1, 2024. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP)

Australian flag-bearer Eddie Ockenden says he isn’t ruling out a remarkable push for a sixth Olympic Games after his diving save encapsulated the Kookaburras’ desperation in a 5-0 rout that sealed a Paris quarter finals berth.

Australia beat Trans Tasman rival New Zealand for the third Olympics in a row to notch their third pool game from four contests, assuring them of a quarter finals berth.

It took a freakish mid-air deflection from Tokyo Olympics hero Tom Wickham and an Olympic hat trick from lethal striker Blake Govers to set up that comprehensive scoreline.

Govers struck twice from the penalty corner battery and has already scored six times in Paris as Australia finally threw off their attacking rust.

As Tokyo hero Wickham looked to elude captain Aran Zalewski’s thundering strike from the top of the circle, he leapt into the air then thrust his stick between his legs in a frantic attempt to redirect the shot.

Somehow it deflected into goal but not before bouncing between Dixon’s legs and off his groin into the New Zealand goal.

Wickham, from Morgan in South Australia’s Riverland, had come in as a reserve in Tokyo and scored six times, including the single Australian goal in the silver medal performance against Belgium.

Kookaburras star Tom Wickham pulled off a superb mid-air deflection to score a cracking goal against New Zealand. Picture: Getty Images

In moments star striker Blake Govers had scored his fourth goal of the tournament after Wickham’s deliberate deflection bounced off the right post and saw Govers pounce on the deflection to flick the ball home.

Wickham then set up Australia’s third goal, dancing past his opponent then setting up the simplest tap-in goal to Ky Willott in front of the New Zealand goal.

Ockenden is Australian hockey’s iron man and will mark the 450-cap milestone in the Kookaburras’ last pool game against India this week.

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As Australia defended that lead he sprinted back to defend a breakaway attack and was crunched between in a tangle of bodies but eventually staggered to his feet after cutting off another attacking thrust.

He is known as the Mayor of Tasmania in Australian hockey and will retire in his home state with his wife Louise and three boys after cutting his teeth as a young hockey star in Hobart.

But white Australia has plenty left to achieve in this tournament, he is open to continuing on to the LA Olympics in 2028 after dodging injuries in recent years.

Eddie Ockenden hasn’t closed the door on pushing for a sixth Olympics campaign. Picture: Getty Images

“I think I will just wait and see. I don’t really know. I have to be realistic,” he told News Corp.

“After Tokyo I knew I would be fine (to keep going) for Paris but even three years ago I did say I would keep playing year by year.

“I don’t want to be the guy who can’t train, can’t run fast and isn’t fit any more. I am not in that position yet.

Australia's Tom Wickham and Blake Gover combined for four goals. Picture: AFP

“Realistically I am not playing forever, but I feel like I can improve on a lot of things. I feel like every week I go out to train and get better, and I have a lot of drive to make this team better.”

“I am definitely lucky. I am dedicated and very committed, but I haven’t done more than the next person. With my body composition, I have an athletic frame and I am skinny. I don’t carry a lot of weight. I played every sport as a kid and was always running around. Maybe there is something in that. But I have also had a whole lot of luck.”

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Australia had started the tournament with impressive wins (1-0 over Argentina, 2-1 over South Africa) but were thumped 6-2 against Paris gold medallist Tokyo in their third pool game.

Coach Colin Batch would have been worried about the lack of firepower given in the opposite pool Germany had poured in 14 goals and the Netherlands nine.

But despite that brutal Belgian takedown Australia could finish second in its pool given it jumped over third-placed India, with Belgium unbeaten in its four games.