When it comes to the Olympic Games, Kookaburras coach Colin Batch knows a thing or two about uncertainty. 

As an athlete, his Olympic debut for the men’s hockey team was thwarted in 1980 when Australia missed the Moscow Games in support of the US-led boycott protesting the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. 

Despite the setback, he went on to represent Australia at the 1984 and 1988 Games and has been to another four Games in a coaching role; the highlight being gold in 2004 and bronze in 2008 as an Assistant Coach with the Kookaburras. 

Reflecting on his own journey, Batch says his uncertain start in the sport at an Olympic level gave him a better insight into how his players felt when the Games were postponed last year. 

“I’d just made the Australian team and hadn’t been in there for 12 months, so it was all new to me,’’ he remembers. 

“One thing I felt was I had a lot of opportunity in front of me, but you can never be too sure of that. But when the Olympics were cancelled last year, I did reflect on it. 

“It did give me a better perspective of what an athlete might be going through.” 

Ask Batch for one word to describe the Kookaburras’ tumultuous lead into the Tokyo Olympic Games and his response takes four: “difficult, uncertain, well-planned, confident.” 

“I know it's not one word, but that's what comes into my head,” he says of the past 18 months due to the Covid 19 pandemic. 

“I'm happy with the way we've been really resilient as a group and handled the difficult situation.  

“You always want it to be a little bit different.” 

Australia has played just six international matches against NZ since Match last year. This is in stark contrast to previous Olympic campaigns where they travelled globally and faced-off against powerhouse nations Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany prior to the Games. 

But on a positive note, Batch says the Kookaburras have used the time to develop other areas of their game. He says respect and adaptability will underpin the team’s campaign.

“We can't look too much at the opposition,” he said. 

“We know we have to scout them at the right time, but it's more about our preparation, and the way we continue to improve during a tournament.  

“The impact of the pandemic on our preparation has given us a chance to work and develop other areas of our game, which we may not have been able to do if we were in competition the whole time.” 

Excitement in the Kookaburras camp has heightened since arriving in Tokyo. Time is spent between training, village life and playing cards – 500 and Euchre the favourite – with flashy forward Lachi Sharp the team’s card shark. 

“We're just so pleased to be here. I'm very grateful we've had the opportunity to play at the Olympic Games,” Batch says. 

“For me, it’s a grounding thing because there are other people suffering through this pandemic. Everything's changing by the moment for everyone in Australia and the world.  

“A lot of adversity has been thrown at us and we keep finding answers. We haven't got the solution yet, but we keep finding short-term answers; it’s a matter of staying grounded.”

Catriona Dixon

#HaveAGo at Hockey