Kookaburras star Aran Zalewski admits he missed the support of friends and family at the Tokyo Olympics, where fellow co-captain Eddie Ockenden also cut a drained figure after collecting a silver medal.
Australia lost their gold-medal match to fellow men’s hockey heavyweights Belgium in heartbreaking fashion on Thursday night, going down 3-2 in a penalty shootout after being locked at 1-1 in regular time.
The squad have been away from home since mid-July, while they face a fortnight in hotel quarantine before seeing loved ones again.
“Of course, I’m struggling, I’m pretty fatigued as well,” Zalewski said, describing his “raw emotion”.
“I’m just – not sad – but it was a real shame we didn’t have any fans, friends and family here.
“I know they offer so much support for us players and keep us really grounded at tournaments like this, when we’re away from home for so long.
“I know they’ll be super proud of us.”
Ockenden was overcome with emotion when asked about wife Louise and their sons.
“I miss them a lot,” the veteran told the Seven Network at the end of his fourth Olympics.
“I know that they support me.
“I have been focusing so much on here.
“I’ve got a family that loves me at home, which I’m looking forward to getting back to.”
Ending a gold-medal match with one-on-ones, especially after a five-year wait since Australia’s quarter-final loss at Rio 2016, has reignited debate about whether the sport should find a better way to separate sides.
Zalewski and Ockenden both indicated their preference would be to return to extra time, which was in use when the Kookaburras won gold at Athens 2004.
“If you let it go to a shootout it can be a bit of a coin toss sometimes,” Australia keeper Andrew Charter said, having been the difference in a quarter-final shootout.
Charter added he and teammates would support Jake Whetton.
Whetton twice missed Australia’s final shot of the Olympics, with officials allowing him a retake after a video review found Belgium keeper Vincent Vanasch illegally erred.
“He won’t be alone tonight,” Charter said.
“All of us have something that we could have done a little bit better … we all feel the pain together.”
The women’s hockey bronze-medal and gold-medal matches are on Friday, but the Hockeyroos won’t take part in either after their shock quarter-final loss to India.
AAP
