Eddie Ockenden Interview (Brink Vault)

The 'vault' opens back to 2011 as Ben brings you his interview with the only athlete he can say he used to compete against in field hockey player Eddie Ockenden. Eddie talks about his amazing career in the sport, his time at the Olympics and talks about the memories of playing against Ben back in their junior days.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Please note this is an automated transcript that may contain errors.

BEN WATERWORTH: Welcome back to Off The Podium, An Olympics Podcast, continuing on our vault interview series with Olympic athletes from our parent show's history, The Brink, that I hosted for 11 years. And today's interview is a bit of an interesting one, a bit of a, almost a personal connection, I guess you could say. I mean, obviously myself, not the most exciting or, you know, capable athlete, hence why I've never competed in the Olympics, and I talk about it instead. But I guess this might have been the closest I knew to an Olympic athlete or I guess can claim to know at least a person, or played against an Olympic athlete. I'm speaking of Eddie Ockenden, Australian field hockey player, and somebody who, yes, I played against. Growing up, I used to play field hockey, and I was a goalkeeper. You will hear me talk about this throughout this interview. And Eddie used to play in my league, and used to severely thrash me, of course, being a goalkeeper, he used to score lots of goals against me. But he's gone on to become one of the best field hockey players ever to grace this earth. I mean, if we're gonna be completely honest, he's won numerous world awards, field hockey players of the year, multiple Olympian having competed in the three Olympics, a two-time bronze medallist, bronze in Beijing, bronze in London, World Cup gold medallist, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Champions Trophy gold medallist. He's had a stellar career, still going strong as well, and proud Tasmanian, of course, the Tasmanian connection. But yes, he's interviewed with some 2011 Eddie Ockenden field hockey player. Let's listen to this chat right now.

BEN WATERWORTH: Eddie Ockenden grew up in Hobart, and played for the Northwest graduates, including Estella Junior Korea. After being recruited by the AIS, Eddie moved to Perth, where he was soon selected to play for the Kookaburras, and was part of their bronze medal-winning team at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. After being named Hockey's Young Player of the Year in 2008, Eddie has gone on to become one of the most exciting players in the world of field hockey, and I spoke to Eddie during his recent visit in Hobart for the Oceana Cup. Eddie, pleasure having you company here on the program this morning. Now, obviously last week in town for the Oceana Cup, now how was it playing in the green and gold in front of your home fans out at the Hockey Centre at Cornelian Bay?

EDDIE OCKENDEN: Yeah, it was great. I love playing in Australia anyway, and especially in Hobart. I think a lot of friends can come out and watch and just get the opportunity to show some people what they've been doing back in person, how hard we work as a team. So, you know, it's really, really good. I love coming back to Hobart, especially to play.

BEN WATERWORTH: Now with Australia, of course, having gained automatic selection to the Olympics next year after withdrawal for Fiji, was it still important to get a big competitive hit out against New Zealand in the lead up to the Olympics next year?

EDDIE OCKENDEN: Yeah, well, any games we play that are high intensity and very competitive, which they always are against New Zealand are good for us. We're always looking for match practice. And we're also after ranking points and those kind of things. Even though we have automatic selection, it's still important to get ranking points for things like funding for next year and also have something like an Olympics seeding where we would want to stay number one in the world.

BEN WATERWORTH: And the facilities out, of course, at Canillian Bay, I was mentioning some of the best in Australia. And of course, being a local boy, obviously, very proud to have that behind you. How would you rate the facilities out in Canillian Bay compared to some of the other stadiums you've played?

EDDIE OCKENDEN: Yeah, look, it's world class, really. It's great to have that here at Hobart. And the guys really appreciate having such good facilities to come and play at. Like I said, it's definitely one of the best in Australia, best in the world. I've played a lot of places, and it's really, really, really good. So, you know, very happy to have that at home, definitely.

BEN WATERWORTH: And big crowds coming out to watch over the weekend too must have been great as well.

EDDIE OCKENDEN: Yeah, we get really good support in hockey from the Tasmanian community and the Hobart community. I think it's just a really strong community field, the hockey down in Tassie. And even when we play for Tasmania and the AHL, we get good crowds, and you know, especially with the Australians then coming to town, it's great for them to be able to come and have a look at some really good hockey. So yeah, we get great support.

BEN WATERWORTH: And you're based in Perth now, of course, Eddie. So I mean, any chance you got to come home, visit the family, visit your friends, I mean, to get up to a bit where you're here in your spare time?

EDDIE OCKENDEN: Yeah, not too much. I'm pretty busy. I was only there for a week, but yeah, I rarely see any chance to get home, even if it's a fleeting visit. So I caught up with some people and went home for a dinner or two.

BEN WATERWORTH: I'm sure they appreciated all that time. And of course, you were part of the bronze medal winning Kookaburra side in Beijing in 2008. Now, for London next year, is it gold or nothing for you, Losh?

EDDIE OCKENDEN: I think, well, basically our aim for any tournament, and the Olympics is no different, is our aim is to get to the last day, which is always the final. So that's the gold medal playoff. And the most disappointing thing from Beijing is that we didn't get a chance to go for gold on the last day. But I think if we keep that in mind, it's not gold or nothing, but I think that's a bit more of a realistic target is to try and first to get to the semifinals, and then when you're playing in the main game, anything can happen, because it's a really close competition, especially at the Olympics.

BEN WATERWORTH: And after, of course, the Kukaburras won gold finally in Athens, I mean, it must have been a big weight off the shoulder for the team. I mean, he's one of the most successful sides, I suppose, in international hockey. Never claimed the gold, but now that that's behind you, I mean, that obviously brings it extra confidence for the boys.

EDDIE OCKENDEN: Yeah, that Athens, those Athens games were fantastic. And I was watching guys like Matthew Wells from Tasmania, winning a gold medal in the hockey, it was a real highlight for our sport. And we've still got some guys from that team, quite a few, playing now. So we talk about it a lot, and pity we couldn't replicate it in Beijing, but we got another chance next year, and everyone is really looking forward to it, because that's the ultimate goal, it's the pinnacle to get the gold medal.

BEN WATERWORTH: And obviously that you've got a bronze medal though, an Olympic medal in your pocket. I mean, does that even rate even among the Commonwealth Games gold, World Cup gold medals, all those sorts of awards? I mean, it's an Olympic medal, Eddie, surely that's the most important one.

EDDIE OCKENDEN: I think I said it after the Olympics, it was a bit disappointing, maybe a bit rude to say that Olympic bronze medal is a bit disappointing, but like you said, we have really high hopes. And I think when you do look back on your career, it's definitely out there with another medal because some of our coaches didn't win one, you know what I mean? And World Cup was also fantastic, so they're probably together as the biggest two. But yeah, Olympic medal, it's good to have that in the pocket as ready as you said.

BEN WATERWORTH: I'm sure, of course, this time next year, if we were to talk to you, hopefully you'll have the gold medal in your pocket, Eddie. Now look, getting very close to the end of this interview, we will wrap it up with a set of five questions we like to ask all our guests. But look, I'm not sure you wouldn't remember, of course, because you played against so many people in your time. I actually played junior hockey against you, Eddie. I played for Prince of Wales, and I was the big fat lump of a goalkeeper that you probably scored about 30 goals against every single game. So I almost would like to try and take a bit of credit for giving you some shooting practice. Because I mean, back in the days you were winning best and fairest for under 12s, I'm probably the one there that you got all the goals against.

EDDIE OCKENDEN: No, I totally appreciate that. I should give a bit of credit to everyone. I've played with them again. So yeah, thanks very much for that. It definitely helped me get the confidence up.

BEN WATERWORTH: That's fine. I'm always happy to help the future Olympic champions. I have no sporting ability, Eddie. So look, you know, anything I can help you guys like you, I'm happy for it.

EDDIE OCKENDEN: I forget you had a training.

BEN WATERWORTH: I'll keep that in mind next time the cookaburras come to town. Now, Eddie, we like to wrap up every interview with a set of five questions, probably the easiest questions you'll get asked in your career. So if you're nice and set, I'll start with question number one. Eddie Ockenden, what is your favourite type of cheese?

EDDIE OCKENDEN: Any Tasmanian cheese, like the King Island 3, something like that.

BEN WATERWORTH: Yep, popular choice here, and it's good to hear that you're sticking with the Tasmanian options. Question number two, are you a folder or a scruncher?

EDDIE OCKENDEN: I haven't actually classified myself as either.

BEN WATERWORTH: Oh, right. Don't really pay too much attention to it?

EDDIE OCKENDEN: Not really, unclassified.

BEN WATERWORTH: Well, next time you go, you'll probably take a bit of notice. So, unclassified.

EDDIE OCKENDEN: See, I'll send you a text or something, you know when I'm taking more notice.

BEN WATERWORTH: Drop us an email. I like the fact that you said unclassified. I like that one. We'll use that as an option in the future. Grolag Arp, who was the celebrity crush? Did you have any posters on your wall?

EDDIE OCKENDEN: No, I didn't. It's probably a bit embarrassing if I say it now, but I mostly had Geelong footy posters, or cricket posters, or hockey posters, so that's part of that.

BEN WATERWORTH: You've got to have the sporting here. I should be obviously very happy then, recently on the weekends. Celebrating that one out there on the bit. Our co-host is actually a Geelong supporter, so I'm very humble to speak to Geelong supporters, because if Collingwood had won, they would have been all in your face. Geelong supporters, you're just nice and relaxed about it.

EDDIE OCKENDEN: Yeah, well, I think all those hard times.

BEN WATERWORTH: You're used to it. Question number four, also growing up, what was your dream job?

EDDIE OCKENDEN: I always wanted to be an architect, but of course I wanted to play hockey for Australia or cricket for Australia.

BEN WATERWORTH: You used to have plenty of time to work on the architecture career after you were a child.

EDDIE OCKENDEN: No, give up on it?

BEN WATERWORTH: You never know. One day you might wake up and ignite the flame again. And final question, when it comes to lollies, do you like to crunch them straight away or do you like to suck on them for a while and savour the flavour?

EDDIE OCKENDEN: I'll probably get impatient and eat them. I love them a lot.

BEN WATERWORTH: You can fit more in there. You're not wasting any time sucking them.

EDDIE OCKENDEN: And then you don't have to share as many.

BEN WATERWORTH: Exactly. They've gone quick enough. Nobody gets the lollies. Well, Eddie Ockenden, thank you very much for your time here in the show this morning, mate. Appreciate it. Good luck for the rest of the career in hockey and hopefully gold medal next year in London. Still, to this day, just, you know, at least I got close to an Olympic athlete when I came to competing against them. And, you know, as I mentioned in the interview, gave him plenty of practice for getting all those goals. So, there you go, Eddie Ockenden. More of these, still to come, plenty more. And we're looking forward to bringing them to you. Subscribe on iTunes, give us feedback. We love the feedback, we always ask for it, because we like it. We like seeing how much you hate our show, and love it too, of course. And also Facebook, like us, we put a bit of information there too. So, yes, anyway, we appreciate your support. As always, thank you for tuning in to Off The Podium. And wherever you're listening to us from, we will speak to you next time.