The end to the 138-Test career of Launceston’s Tim Deavin should be reviewed prior to the Commonwealth Games in 2018, according to retired great Jamie Dwyer.
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The five-time world player of the year believes Deavin’s omission from the 23 players named in the 2017 Australian training squad only came down to his age, not form.
“Because of our result at Rio, I think the new coach wanted to look to the next Olympics,” Dwyer, 37, said.
“If Tim was 23-24, there’s no doubt he’d still be in the squad, but because of his age is the only reason he’s not.”
Kookaburras coach Colin Batch gave the nod to Tassie trio Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz and Jeremy Edwards, but axed the 32-year-old Tamar Churinga star.
Dwyer’s brother-in-law, Australian captain Mark Knowles, is the only over-30 Rio Olympian remaining.
Dwyer said Deavin, a defender renowned for high levels of fitness, had a “great 2015” and a “good last year”.
The 19-year Australian Test veteran has called on the Scotch Oakburn College product to be offered a contract to play in 2018 that ends with a World Cup campaign.
“He could still make the team again – I’m not too sure if he’s completely retired or what’s going on,” Dwyer said.
“If there is going to be an opportunity, whether it’s injury or whatever, who knows what could happen next?
“I was sort of dropped a few years ago by Ric (Charlesworth) and I had a chance, I came back for the last two years of my career.
“I have just texted him a bit, but I am yet to speak in person or sit down with him.”
Dwyer said it was “pretty disappointing” that Deavin – unlike the four-time Olympian – may well not go out on his own terms.
“If he is retired, he’s done a wonderful job for his country, that’s for sure,” he said. “If he does decide to give it one more shot, he’s going to have to play well and make the most of every opportunity.”
Dwyer returns for the first time to Launceston since 2009 to conduct a series of junior hockey clinics next Thursday and Friday.