Hockey's Transformers: Jamie Dwyer
Five-time FIH World Player of the Year Jamie Dwyer played over 350 matches for Australia, scoring over 220 goals and competing at three Olympic Games, three World Cups, three Commonwealth Games and nine Champions Trophy tournaments. He won gold with his teammates at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.
On a scorching 40°C day in Perth, the legendary Australian player shared insights from his remarkable journey as a young hockey enthusiast in Queensland to an international player and successful hockey entrepreneur who has had a profound impact on the game.
On his passion for hockey
Hockey has been a part of my life since I was a toddler: my mum played, and she got my dad into it. I was particularly drawn to bat and ball sports and by the age of three, I was inseparable from a hockey stick. My passion ignited at 13 during the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games. I watched every hockey match I possibly could during those Games, then I’d go into the backyard and try to get better.
On playing professionally in India and the Netherlands and how this helped shape him as a player
Each country offered unique experiences. India was a culture shock, and it’s full-on, but enriching because they love their hockey while the Netherlands, which hosts the world's best competition league provided unparalleled growth opportunities. My time there, playing for Bloemendaal HC, was transformative: it absolutely enhanced my skills and understanding of the game.
On influential players during his career
Teun de Nooijer from Holland was a standout, fundamentally changing the game, alongside Christopher Zeller and Moritz Fürste from Germany. Their unique playing styles inspired us to innovate and adapt. But Teun was the best I’ve played with and against and we still keep in touch.
On the significant skills changes in field hockey since the early 2000
The Tomahawk: The acceptance of the backhand, was huge. When I first came into the Australian squad in 1999, it was a bit frowned upon to take backstick shots like that, but it’s changed the game and most goals are now scored off the backhand.
Aerial Shots: The overheads, the scoops, the aerials - whatever you want to call them. These days there's so many of them. That came in early on in my career as well.
Self- pass Rule: Midway through my career was when the self-pass rule came in and I think that was the best rule change that came into hockey, as it made the game flow much faster.
Different rules came in over my career and looking back I’m pleased that I was able to adapt to those changes and make them work in my favour. I tried to master them to become better than the opposition before they caught up.
On the changes in field hockey equipment in recent years
There's been a push for lighter, more flexible equipment, from sticks to protective gear. The sticks are lighter, with bigger bends and the shin guards and gloves are getting lighter, which all adds up to quick skills and more power in your pushes and slaps. The carbon is getting better all the time.
On the difference between winning gold and silver
Winning gold in field hockey requires unparalleled commitment. Back in 2003 and 2004, our team's dedication surpassed our rivals. I'm 100 per cent sure that the Kookaburras trained harder than the opposition to win gold in 2004.
You've got to do all those little half-percentages and if everyone in your team does that and you have trust that everyone's done that, all those little things add up. When you're with your teammates out on the field, it gives you that belief and you have 100% trust in each other. That’s when all those hours grinding it out in the gym or out running or on the bike together and putting in those hard yards that you didn't have to do, but you did really count.
On winning Olympic gold with the Australian team at Athens 2004 after 48 years of frustration for the Kookaburras
It felt like time had stopped for a few seconds and I was thinking ‘Did that go in? Yes, the umpire just blew the whistle. We've just won our first-ever gold medal and I hit the winning goal.’ It was the biggest relief and excitement. It's hard to describe, but if you could bottle it up and sell it, you'd be a billionaire. It’s that good of a feeling: for your family and for your teammates, your teammates’ family, for people that have been and tried before and having finally won, it just was a very special, weird feeling, which even now feels like it just happened.
It was my first Olympics and a very special group of guys; we all still keep in touch. We're having our 20-year reunion this year, with people coming from the west coast of Australia and all over the world to the Gold Coast in Queensland.
On the rise of Hockey 5s and where he sees the sport heading?
Hockey 5s has the potential to transform the sport, much like Rugby Sevens and T20 cricket did for theirs. It's a dynamic format that could significantly increase hockey's appeal and accessibility.
On what excites him most about the future of field hockey
With the Olympics coming up and with the 2026 World Cup, I think it's going to be an outstanding few years. I really hope Hockey5s goes another step or two as well. And I would love to see a Hockey5s tournament at the 2026 World Cup as an add-on feature.
The men’s competition in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is going to be so tight. Germany, Australia, Belgium, Holland, India, Spain, Argentina, England, they can all realistically win the gold, so it is going to be great to watch. In the women’s competition, the Netherlands are probably odds-on favourites to win, but you never know – they've got everything to lose.
On what lies ahead for him and his brand, JDH…
Our focus on innovation and supporting athletes at every level is something I'm deeply passionate about. We sponsor the JDH Hockey One League, which is Australia’s premier domestic hockey league, and that’s been exciting for me, in addition to just making the best gear possible.
When I go over to the factory in Pakistan, I try all the sticks. I try different makeups; I try everything, and I hit balls when I'm there. I'm not like a bigger brand that’s also in other sports. I really want to make the best hockey sticks and I think I'm the only company in the world where an international athlete owns 100% of the brand and is doing everything with it. I love it, basically.