Jeremy Hayward approaching 250 game mark as Darwin gears up for Oceania Cup

The Territory’s own Jeremy Hayward is fast approaching the major 250-game milestone with the Kookaburras and may well make the achievement on his return to Darwin in the Oceania Cup.

BHUBANESWAR, INDIA- JANUARY 13. FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023. Jeremy Hayward celebrates after scoring goal for Australia. (Photo by WorldSportPics/Frank Uijlenbroek)

The Territory’s own Jeremy Hayward is fast approaching the major 250-game milestone with the Kookaburras and may well make the achievement on his return to Darwin in the Oceania Cup.

Hayward is the most experienced player named in the recent Kookaburra’s squad by coach Mark Hager and is a leading chance to be named captain in the upcoming FIH Pro League.

From there the Kookaburras will return to the Territory for the Oceania Cup, which will take place in September and will be a major homecoming for Hayward.

The Cup is also an important qualifying event ahead of the 2026 Hockey World Cup, set to be held in Belgium and the Netherlands.

It forms part of a huge year of upcoming developments for NT Hockey, which has powered on in recent months to prove its place on the national landscape.

Hockey NT Jason Butcher said the Territory was proud of Jeremy’s achievements and looked forward to having him in Darwin for the Oceania Cup later this year.

Jeremy Hayward ahead of the first Festival of Hockey match between the Territory Stingers and Brisbane Blaze. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“We’re incredibly proud of Jeremy and the way he continues to represent the Territory on the world stage,” Hayward said.

”He’s a role model for our next generation, not just for his talent, but for the way he carries himself.

“To have the Oceania Cup coming to Darwin later this year, and the chance for him to play in front of family, friends, and Territory kids, is something really special.

“We’re looking forward to releasing tickets and kicking off full promotions in the coming weeks, it’s going to be a huge moment for our sport and our community.”

Hayward was named alongside prolific goal scorers Blake Govers, Tom Craig, and midfield maestro Lachlan Sharp, who make their return to international competition.

Kookaburras coach Hager said it was great to name an experienced squad full of players who had pushed the side to recent wins over Olympic champions the Netherlands and Belgium.

“The biggest bonus for us is having the full squad together again, with the exception of a few who were unavailable for selection due to injury,” he said.

“It’s the first tour since I’ve been at the helm where we have the luxury of a near full squad.

“We’ve had players in the India Hockey League, playing in Europe or being managed through injury, so to have a high percentage of the squad in Europe is a big plus.

“This is a great group, with plenty of speed, particularly through the midfield, along with a lot of experience, but we know we need to hit the ground running when we arrive in Belgium.”

Originally published as Jeremy Hayward approaching 250 game mark as Darwin gears up for Oceania Cup