Donald's Story
1941 –
The men’s hockey team won its first Olympic medal, a bronze behind India and Pakistan, at Tokyo 1964. At Mexico City 1968, the team finished second to Pakistan after defeating India in the semi-final. Don McWatters, from Queensland, chosen for both teams. He scored four goals in Australia’s defeat of Great Britain at Tokyo, in a match that confirmed Australia’s arrival as a power in world hockey. He was selected as the captain of the team to Mexico City but succumbed to a shoulder injury and Brian Glencross ended up leading Australia in all the matches. McWatters debuted for the national team in 1961.
He was the Australian coach (1977–81) when the men’s hockey team was withdrawn competing at Moscow 1980. In 2009, he was inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame.
Tokyo: Merv Crossman, Paul Dearing, Ray Evans, Brian Glencross, Robin Hodder, Don Martin, John McBryde, John McCormack, McWatters, Pat Nilan, Eric Pearce, Julian Pearce, Des Piper, Don Smart, Anthony Waters, Graham Wood
Mexico City: Arthur Busch, Paul Dearing, Ray Evans, Brian Glencross, Robert Haigh, Don Martin, James Mason, McWatters, Pat Nilan, Eric Pearce, Gordon Pearce, Julian Pearce, Des Piper, Fred Quine, Ron Riley, Don Smart.
