So this is it: the Commonwealth Games gold medal game between Australia’s Kookaburras and New Zealand’s Blacksticks, on the Gold Coast. Join The Roar for live scores and blog from 9:15pm AEST.
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Australia will look to defend their way to the Gold medal, given that they’ve only conceded three goals so far.
It’s characteristic of the best teams this Games, that the good ones tend to hold onto the ball, particularly in the first couple of quarters.
Both sides have had plenty of the pill, in their earlier matches, strangling lesser teams out of the equation, but it’s a different story against each other.
Australia and New Zealand came first and second in their pool, as both India and England fell to them in the semis.
In the pool game, the Kookaburras got home, but only just, as New Zealand looked to knock them over, scoring a late goal to give Australia a scare, and will look replicate the women’s great win over Australia.
Early scoring could be the key, as the Aussies poured on a total of seven goals in the first quarters of two of their games.
New Zealand really looked to shut down Mark Knowles, during the pool game, with him being the danger man for the men in green and gold.
Penalty Corners are crucial in this sport, and limiting your own defensive ones can be critical to winning or losing.
Over this tournament, teams have played defensively against both Australian sides, which can work, but crowding the circle is very linked to discipline; as I’ve said before, the more players in the circle, the more foot-related penalties can be given.
Expect Australia not to butcher both Gold Medal games, and look for the Kookaburras to beat New Zealand.
Prediction
Australia 3-1 New Zealand.
Join The Roar for live scores and blog starting from 9:15pm AEST.
Tom English
Roar Guru
So the Medal Ceremony is coming up at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre, but I'm going to leave you for now. Thanks for joining me for the Hockey throughout these Games!
Tom English
Roar Guru
The rest of the rankings are: 4th: India 5th: Malaysia 6th: Scotland 7th: Pakistan 8th: Canada 9th: Wales 10th: South Africa
Tom English
Roar Guru
Cheers mate!
Tom English
Roar Guru
So the Top 3 are: Gold: AUSTRALIA. Silver: New Zealand. Bronze: England.
Blue
Guest
Thank you again, Thomas English for all the updates.
Tom English
Roar Guru
Full Time 0' - AUSTRALIA WIN! They've done it, and win the Gold Medal! Australia: 2 New Zealand: 0
Blue
Guest
Congratulations Australia
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Australia looked a class above in this competition.
Tom English
Roar Guru
1' - Q4 30 seconds left, Aus with a free! Australia: 2 New Zealand: 0
Tom English
Roar Guru
2' - Q4 NZ finally combining, but the shot at goal is dangerous. Australia: 2 New Zealand: 0
Tom English
Roar Guru
3' - Q4 Three minutes remaining, why can't Aus just hit it long n hope someone runs onto it?! Australia: 2 New Zealand: 0
Tom English
Roar Guru
4' - Q4 Numbers for Australia, but they can't capitalise. Australia: 2 New Zealand: 0
Tom English
Roar Guru
5' - Q4 The Goalkeeper is back! How good! OHH the Penalty Stroke is slightly wide! Australia: 2 New Zealand: 0
Tom English
Roar Guru
Pretty sure you can only score from inside the D. Not 100% confident.
Tom English
Roar Guru
6' - Q4 Whetton with a great run! Brilliant pass across field, now the Kicking Fullback goes for the ball and we're reviewing a possible penalty stroke/ penalty corner for dangerous ball. Australia: 2 New Zealand: 0
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Are Australia allowed to bomb the ball at goal from defense if the keeper is out.
Tom English
Roar Guru
7' - Q4 Who doesn't love a goalkeeper substitution? Australia: 2 New Zealand: 0
Tom English
Roar Guru
7' - Q4 Nick Ross is back on, goes for a sideline run- just took the ball over. Very unprofessional. Australia: 2 New Zealand: 0
Tom English
Roar Guru
8' - Q4 Good point just made on the coverage, NZ are too deep, and simply don't have any men up front to target with the long pass, thus turning it over. Australia: 2 New Zealand: 0
Blue
Guest
Thanks for the update, Thomas. Appreciate your commentary.