South West’s Aran Zalewski and Jake Harvie in Kookaburras team for 2022 Commonwealth Games

Luke McPhersonSouth Western Times
Camera IconKookaburras half-back Jake Harvey and midfielder Aran Zalewski. Credit: Catherine Massey/South Western Times

The South West’s Aran Zalewski and Jake Harvie have booked their seat to Birmingham in search of the duo’s second straight Commonwealth Games gold.

The duo have both been selected in the Australian men’s hockey team for the 2022 Birmingham Games which start late next month, where they will be looking to bring home an unprecedented seventh straight gold medal for the side.

The Kookaburras — who are ranked No.1 in the world — have remarkably won every Commonwealth Games men’s hockey gold medal since the sport was introduced to the competition in 1998.

Camera IconAran Zalewski during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Credit: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Margaret River’s Zalewski will co-captain the team and is on the hunt for a third gold of his own, having achieved the feat at the 2014 Games in Glasgow and the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast.

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Meanwhile, Dardanup product Harvie will be looking to make it two from two, having played alongside his Margaret River counterpart in Queensland four years ago.

The 24-year-old missed out on selection for the 2022 Tokyo Olympic Games, having not missed a competition in the 4½ years leading up to the Games.

“It was obviously a very challenging experience not to be selected for the Tokyo Olympics, however, I am hopeful of future opportunities to represent Australia,” he said.

Zalewski was co-captain of the Kookaburras side which claimed a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics after losing 3-2 to Belgium in a shootout.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games are from July 28 to August 8.

Camera IconAran Zalewski with his silver medal. Credit: James Chance/Getty Images

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