Watch out for our penalty corners: Jeremy Hayward of Soorma Hockey Club

Jeremy Hayward also spoke about his memories from the previous version of the Hockey India League.

The Hockey India League is a crucial step since it can provide a pipeline for the Indian teams, both men and women. The best in the world participating in the tournament, which will go on for more than a month. One of the various overseas stars present in the tournament, is Australian defender Jeremy Hayward.

Hayward was purchased at a price of Rs 42 lakhs by the Soorma Hockey Club, making him the third most expensive overseas player. Jeremy Hayward has been part of a national side, which has dominated field hockey for a long period. He was part of squads that won the 2014 World Cup and clinched the silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. With 233 caps and more than 120 international goals, the drag-flicker’s experience will be a huge asset to the side.

Soorma Hockey Club had its training in Chandigarh, before they moved to Rourkela, where most of the matches are taking place—at the glorious Birsa Munda Stadium, which is the largest fully seated hockey arena in the world. Hayward was kind enough to take some time aside and give Khel Now an exclusive interview.

The 31-year-old drag-flicker discussed about his memories from the previous version of the Hockey India League, sharing drag-flicking duties with Harmanpreet Singh and his role in the Australian team, as it undergoes transition.

Experience till now

The 31-year-old from Darwin trained in Chandigarh for nearly a week. He has clearly enjoyed his time in India, till now.

“My experience in India has been really good. I left in the morning on the 17th. It was a long flight and then I stayed for a night in Delhi. Then, I went to Chandigarh, got to meet the guys. It’s been a really good experience, meeting all the new foreign and Indian players straight away. We have a very good hotel and good training facilities. Soorma Hockey Club is taking care of us fantastically.”

Also Read: Men’s Hockey India League 2024-25: Updated schedule, fixtures, results, live streaming details

Response from other Australians

Australia being one of the best teams in the world, there is no dearth of players from the nation in the Hockey India League. The likes of Jake Whetton, Blake Govers, Nathan Ephraums, Aran Zalewski, among others, are all participating in the competition. Hayward spoke about the Australians’ love for playing in India.

“They are really excited. Whetton also was lucky to have previously done some Indian league tournaments. Blake’s first Hockey India League. They are both excited, as are the other Australians. We love coming to India—the culture, the passion, the excitement, the smiles. It is a fantastic place to play hockey.”

Memories from the first version of HIL

Notably, Hayward has played in the previous editions of the Hockey India League. Interestingly, he was already a World Cup winner in 2017, when a certain Harmanpreet Singh, who was his teammate at the Dabang Mumbai, was adjudged as the Upcoming Player of the Tournament. The Australian has fond memories from those times.

“I really loved the first version of the league. We were able to travel around all of India: Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Mumbai, Delhi, Bhubaneshwar. It was really good to travel around the whole country, experience different things and food. This time we are staying in Rourkela. I am sure that, as we cement our base for the Hockey India League, we will travel around and do what we did in the previous HIL.”

Also Read: Top 10 players to watch out for in men’s Hockey India League 2024-25

Sharing drag-flicking duties with Harmanpreet

Seven years gone; Harmanpreet has experienced an unreal trajectory. The Indian team skipper now has more caps than Hayward and has scored 212 international goals, establishing himself as one of the best drag-flickers in the world. The two now have re-united together at the Soorma Hockey Club.

With the likes of Nicolas Della Torre present too, there is no dearth of options during penalty corners. The Australian, though, acknowledges that Harmanpreet, the FIH Player of the Year 2024, will be the leader.

“Harman is my senior, so he tells me what to do. He has scored 200 and something international goals. Him and Hendrickx are the best drag-flickers in the world. I will have to listen to Harman. If he is on the bench, I still have to fight with Nicolas Della Torre, Boris Bukhardt. Victor Wegnez can drag flick the ball too.

“I might be number #3 on the list. We will be a nightmare for other teams. We have a strong penalty corner battery. So, watch out for Soorma Hockey Club and their penalty corner attack.”

Evolution of the game

Hayward has the experience of 230+ international games. He has the experience of featuring in three Olympics and World Cups each. Having debuted for the senior side 10 years ago, he has seen the game undergo a huge metamorphosis.

“It’s evolved rapidly. The overhead rule is one thing. The rules are sort of changing, but the speed of the game is quite impressive now. It’s really good to watch—fast, physical, skillful. The game is a really good spectacle at the moment.”

Penalty corner defence

Penalty corner defence, especially, has become stronger with more data being available on drag-flickers now. However, merit is always rewarded and the best drag-flickers in the world always find a way out. Hence, the role of a rusher can never be overstated. In Belgian Victor Wegnez, they have one of the best in the world.

“As the skills develop, the players become better and better. We have got one of the best runners in the world, in Victor Wegnez. But I wish good luck to other teams, whether they can thrust off Harman, thrust off Della Torre, thrust off Bukhardt.”

Also Read: India goalkeeper Savita Punia on learning to live in the present and why Hockey India League will be crucial to build careers

Handling transition in the hockey team

The Australian team has had a tumultuous time off late. After failing to medal at the FIH World Cup 2023, the team went through a change, with a number of young players coming in. While they did win the FIH Pro League 2023-24, securing qualification for the FIH World Cup 2026, the team still hasn’t fully settled down and reached the level they are known to play at.

The side blew hot and cold in the league stage at the Paris Olympics, before losing 0-2 to eventual gold medallists Netherlands. Hayward, as a senior player, has a big role in stabilizing the side.

“We had an influx of young guys. So, I am there to help and guide, about professional sport—professional hockey in particular, lifestyle and how you have to prepare. The youngsters are really skillful. Where they can improve is their mental game and their approach to the sport. So, it’s an important period.”

Looking forward to the World Cup and the Olympics

As professionals, staying in the present is important. However, it is also crucial to keep an eye and plan for the future. The Australian said that he does have the FIH World Cup 2026 (co-hosted by Wavre, Belgium and Amstelveen, Netherlands) and the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 deep down in his head but knows there is time to get set.

“We have got the World Cup in 2026 and further from that is the Olympics in LA. We have got some time to improve and prepare, but it’s going to be a very exciting period. Two years is a long time in hockey. There have been some retirements and some new players coming through. It’s an experimental phase for us.

“Having a World Cup in Europe is going to be an exciting experience. They love their hockey as much as India. It’s always in the back of our mind, preparing for that.”

Banter with Leon Hayward

Jeremy Hayward’s brother Leon plays for the New Zealand National Hockey Team. The goalkeeper has 49 caps for the side and has played in big tournaments, including the Tokyo Olympics 2020, the FIH World Cup 2023 and the Commonwealth Games 2022. When asked if the two had any banter when the Trans-Tasman rivals play, the Australian had a cheeky answer.

“Leon is a goalkeeper, so he can’t score. I just keep the score between myself and Leon. The worse I can do is a draw.”

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