#Glasgow2014 Preview: Hockey

Published On: 22 July 2014

Glasgow's National Hockey Centre. Home to the Commonwealth Games hockey matches

Despite Australia’s Commonwealth Games dominance in both men’s and women’s hockey, the strength of talent throughout the Commonwealth nations ensures that these medals will be highly competitive and captivating viewing at the Glasgow Games.

The Kookaburras and Hockeyroos have claimed gold at every Commonwealth campaign since its inception to the Games, and will head into Glasgow as firm favourites in both. This success however, belies the threat that nations such as New Zealand, England, India and Pakistan represent.

Western Australian hockey fans will have plenty of familiar faces to cheer on throughout the tournaments, with Ashleigh Nelson and Jayde Taylor selected for the Hockeyroos, whilst Fergus Kavanagh, Aran Zalewski, Trent Mitton and Kiel Brown have all travelled with the Kookaburras squad.

The Hockeyroos kick-start their campaign on the first day of the Commonwealth Games against Malaysia in their first pool game from 4.00pm Perth time, Thursday July 24. The Hockeyroos will also play Wales, home-nation Scotland and arch-rivals England to complete their group-stage.

The girls won gold in Delhi, via a heart-stopping penalty stroke win over New Zealand in the gold medal match. The Hockeyroos head into Glasgow in full confidence, having reached the final at this year’s World Cup in the Netherlands.

Semi-finals are scheduled for Friday August 1, with the medal round on Saturday August 2.

The Kookaburras will be confident of qualifying out of their pool, opening their tournament with a clash against Wales on Saturday July 26 from 9.00pm Perth time. The Kookaburras will also clash with South Africa, India and tournament host Scotland.

The Glasgow Games marks the Kookaburras’ first competitive competition since the retirement of long-term coach Ric Charlesworth, who called time on a stellar career after guiding the team to a World Cup win in the Netherlands less than two months ago.

There is plenty of skill and talent within the Australian line-up, and anything less than gold would be considered a disappointment, by their own high standards.

Men’s semi-finals are played on August 2, with the medal matches on the final day of the Commonwealth roster, Sunday August 3.

The matches will be hosted at the Glasgow Hockey Centre, located in Glasgow Green, within the city’s oldest public park, near the banks of the river Clyde.