Corey Weyer

Kookaburras defender Corey Weyer is the comeback kid of the Australian men’s hockey team. 

Corey, who grew up in Biggera Waters on Queensland’s Gold Coast, made his debut for the Kookaburras back in 2017 and racked up 43 appearances for the national team between then and 2020.

But then his international career stalled and he focused on playing domestic hockey in Belgium and anchoring the defence for the Brisbane Blaze in the Hockey One League.

In 2023 however, on the back of strong form for the Blaze, Kookaburras coach Colin Batch called him back into the national side.

Corey played his first games with Labrador Hockey club in 2001 as a five-year-old.  

He represented Australia at both U18 and U21 level, going to the 2014 Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China, with the U18 team. Australia won gold at that tournament, defeating Canada in a penalty shootout. 

In 2016, he was a member of the U21 side that won gold at the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia and finished fourth at the Junior World Cup in Lucknow, India.

Corey was part of the Queensland side that reached the 2017 Australian Hockey League final, where his displays earned him his maiden international call-up.  

More recently, Corey has built a reputation as an endurance machine for the Brisbane Blaze, who won the 2023 Hockey One league.

In one match he covered a dizzying 8.2km – the team average was 6.19km – and topped the sprint and speed charts, clocking up 809 sprint metres.

“Corey was a well-deserved selection too following his Hockey One performances this year,” Batch said, after naming his 2024 squad. “Despite not being included in the squad this time last year, he has since regained enthusiasm for hockey and developed his physical capabilities to force his way back in the squad. It’s a great example of self-drive that has been rewarded with another opportunity.”

At the Paris 2024 Olympics Aran and the Kookaburras defeated Argentina (1-0), Ireland (2-1) and New Zealand (5-0) in the group stage, which included losses to India (3-2) and Belgium (6-2). Corey found the back of the net once against Ireland.

Through to the quarter-finals, that's where their campaign would end with a 2-0 loss to the eventual Olympic gold medallists, the Netherlands.

Teammate Tim Howard described Corey as a “pretty relaxed guy” both on and off the field. “He looks like he mopes around the field a little bit, but he reads the game really well,” Tim said. “He’s super smart and he has a lot of x-factor, a really good eye and really good hands as well.”