Commonwealth Games 2022: Dardanup’s Jake Harvie to play for Kookaburras in Birmingham alongside Aran Zalewski

Dardanup hockey prodigy Jake Harvie says he is not worried about the pressure he and his teammates are under as they look to continue one of the most incredible streaks in international sport.

Harvie — who is one of four South West athletes who will be competing at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games which begin on Thursday — is part of a Kookaburras side looking to bring home an unprecedented seventh straight gold medal in the event.

The 24-year-old already has one gold medal under his belt having played in the Australian team in 2018 on the Gold Coast alongside current Kookaburras co-captain and Margaret River’s Aran Zalewski — who also earned gold in Glasgow in 2014.

But despite carrying the weight of continuing a streak that began at hockey’s entrance to the event in 1998, Harvie said he is not deterred by the added pressure of making history.

“I am sure there is a bit of extra pressure in the background but the focus is always primarily on our match performances and progress as a group,” he said.

“It is good to be under pressure for us as a group so we can continue to grow and challenge ourselves with the aim to always continue to raise the bar.”

The Kookaburras will enter the tournament ranked first in the world, with the fifth-ranked Indian team being the next highest seeded side heading into the Games.

Harvie said despite being clear favourites for the event, his team were not getting ahead of themselves.

“I am always confident in our group when we go in to a tournament,” he said.

“There are some really good teams in this Commonwealth Games who will be very challenging but I always have the upmost confidence in our group to get what needs to be done done.”

Having not played at a major international hockey tournament since the 2018 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup, Harvie said he was stoked to be back on the big stage.

“It’s fantastic to be back at a major tournament and I am very grateful for the opportunity,” he said.

“They have been few and far between due to COVID the last few years so I am really looking forward to putting my best foot forward and for the team to put out some great performances.”

Harvie and Zalewski will face Scotland in their first match of the tournament on Sunday night.