Australia:
Jeremy Hayward has had a day to remember at the India Hockey League auction, after becoming the third most sought-after international to be picked up on the opening day.
The Darwin-raised Kookaburras defender was bought for 42 lakhs (AUD 74,116) by Punjab-based team Soorman Hockey Club just three months after he became a two-time Olympian at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He led the way in an auction that saw Australian hockey talent heavily sought after, with 11 more of Hayward’s teammates snapped up for big money.
“It was a nice little surprise yesterday!” Jeremy Hayward said.
“These auctions can sometimes be down to a bit of luck and to be drawn on the first day definitely helps.
“I love playing in India and I’m excited to meet my new team and play in the Hockey India League for Soorma Hockey Club.”
The 2020 Tokyo Olympic silver medallist has been a stalwart in the Kookaburras side for the last ten years since his debut in 2014. More recently, he helped the Kookaburras to the FIH Pro League 2023/24 title, one year after cementing himself as the ‘Best Defender’ at the 2023 World Cup.
Hayward will line up alongside India’s most-loved skipper, star defender Harmanpreet Singh, who was also picked up by Soorman Hockey Club with a League record-shattering signing of 78 lakhs (AUD 137,575).
“I’m over the moon to finally be on the same side as Harmanpreet,” Jeremy said.
“He has been such an important player for India for many years and now I can learn off him and play alongside the Indian captain.”
Australia’s world-class defenders are proving to be sought after at the HIL, with Kookaburras extended squad defender Hayden Beltz also picked up on the opening day by the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for 13 lakhs (AUD 22,929).
The Kolkata-based franchise is making its debut in the League which is returning this year after a seven-year hiatus and they’ve recently signed former Kookaburras coach Colin Batch, after he stepped down from the national role last month.
It’s the second time Batch has called upon Tasmania’s Hayden Beltz this year after he was called up to the Kookaburras squad ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics when he travelled to Europe and helped the side win the FIH Pro League.
Beltz will join Kookaburra Lachlan Sharp at the club after they finish up in the Liberty Hockey One season. The Lithgow midfielder was picked up by Batch on day two of the auction for 18 lakhs (AUD 31,777).
Kookaburras captain Aran Zalewski led the way on day two as he and nine more of his teammates were bought for the five-week season. The Margaret River midfielder was picked up by the Kalinga Lancers for 27 lakhs (AUD 47,666).
Three of the Kookaburras’ most prolific strikers were picked up by Chennai-based club Tamil Nadu Dragons. Blake Govers went for 27 lakhs (AUD 47,666), while Tom Craig was picked up for 20 lakhs (AUD 35,308) and Nathan Ephraums sold for 17 lakhs (AUD 30,012).
The New South Wales Kookaburra duo of Flynn Ogilvie and Ky Willott will star for the newly launched Dehli SG Pipers after they were picked up by Aussie coach Graham Reid for 10 Lakhs (AUD 17,654) and 10.5 Lakhs (AUD 18,537) respectively.
Willott and Ogilvie will come up against another NSW duo when they take on the Hyderabad Toofans. Two-time Olympian Tim Brand was the second most expensive Kookaburra, selling for 28 lakhs (AUD 49,432), alongside defender Matt Dawson who sold for 10 lakhs (AUD 17,654).
Queensland’s Tim Howard will join Team Gonasika after he was picked up for 20 lakhs (AUD 35,308) by the Visakhapatnam-based side.
The Hockey India League auction runs across three days in New Dehli, with the women’s auction taking place on the final day on Wednesday 16 October.
Over 400 domestic men’s players from India and 150 international men’s players went under the hammer for the five-week Hockey India League competition which runs from December 28 – February 1.
Full list of Kookaburras in the Hockey India League:
Jeremy Hayward – NT – Soorman HC – 42 lakhs
Tim Brand – NSW – Hyderabad Toofans – 28 lakhs
Aran Zalewski – WA – Kalinga Lancers – 27 lakhs
Blake Govers – NSW – Tamil Nadu Dragons 27 lakhs
Tom Craig – NSW – Tamil Nadu Dragons – 20 lakhs
Tim Howard – QLD – Team Gonasika – 20 lakhs
Lachlan Sharp – NSW – Rarh Bengal Tigers – 18 lakhs
Nathan Ephraums – VIC – Tamil Nadu Dragons – 17 lakhs
Hayden Beltz – TAS – Rarh Bengal Tigers – 13 lakhs
Ky Willott – NSW – Delhi SG Pipers – 10.5 lakhs
Mathew Dawson – NSW – Hyderabad Toofans – 10 lakhs
Flynn Ogilvie – NSW – Delhi SG Pipers – 10 lakhs
