Kookaburra Josh Beltz joined Brent and Painey to discuss heading to his second Olympics, learning from the heartbreak in Tokyo and playing with Eddie Ockenden.
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SEN Tassie
Kookaburra and Olympian Josh Beltz (05/07/24)
Welcome back to the show, our Olympic team building nicely and a few Tasmanian starting to join it as well. A good wake for us with Eddie Okden off to his fifth Olympics. Manny Brooks has been named as a travelling reserve as well and this man is also part of the Cookaburras heading off to Paris. It's Josh Belts. Hey Beltsy, welcome back to the show, mate. Good to talk to you, mate. How are you feeling? Big wake. You're named off to your second Olympics, of course. You must be absolutely over the moon. Yeah, it's obviously really, really exciting and I'm looking forward to the opportunity. It's been three years since we went away to Tokyo and the team's in a really good position. So looking forward to getting out there in Paris. Josh, what did you learn from your last Olympic experience in Japan that you can use for this one, albeit the first one was unusual circumstances during COVID, but there must be some things you can take from that into Paris. Yeah, for sure. I think, apart from obviously the final hurdle, the campaign in Tokyo was really successful for our team and yeah, I think there's a lot of stuff that we can take out of there just in terms of our preparation and yeah, even the way we applied. So there's definitely been some things we've taken out of Tokyo, but like you said, there's going to be a whole lot of different elements now with crowds, families over in Paris and that sort of thing. So a few different things to contend with, but at the same time, we're really looking forward to it. Exciting week for you, mate. Tough week from a family perspective, I guess, though, with your brother Hayden missing out. He's been around the Kookaburra set up a lot in recent times. How much would you have loved to play with him at the Olympics and what have you said to him since Monday's announcement? Is he a little disappointed? Yeah, he's disappointed and I think that probably shows just how close he was to making the team. Yeah, like it would obviously be an absolute dream for myself to play alongside him at the Olympics, but this year we've got to play quite a few games for the Kookaburra's together, which has been incredibly special for me, but also I guess my family as well. And yeah, I think I guess I've been in a similar position to him in Olympia has gone past where maybe the section hasn't quite gone the right way and he's responded really well to that. So he's a bit younger than I am and still running around pretty well, so I'm sure that I was opportunity. Yeah, in a few years, hopefully. Mate, what about your fellow Aussie teammate and Tasmania in Eddy Ocken? And we'll make history by becoming the first Australian hockey player to appear at five Olympics. It's an extraordinary effort. What's he like to be around both on and off the field? Yeah, it's incredible isn't it? Oh, he's just, I think it's just a true profession or the way he goes about it. Both on and off the field is, yeah, second to none. And it's, I think, really no surprise when you look at the way he trains and the way he prepares that he's able to achieve something like this. So, I guess from here, it's pretty exciting that I get a pretty good seat to watch the Eddy Ocken in the show. And yeah, I think for him and for Tasmania and his family as well, it's quite a proud achievement. How much longer do you reckon he's got in him and have you seen any dip in his performance? I get asked that a bit. And like honestly, no, I don't think there's been any decline or whatever you want to call it. I think he always talks about how much he loves it. And I think that's probably a consistent across the board within the team. We all love playing. I think as long as he's loving it and obviously performing to the standard that he is then. Yeah, I guess I'm sure he can keep going. Josh Belts is our guest here on SCN Tezi Breakfast, our latest Olympian out of Tasmania. I listened to Ed the other day at the press conference. He certainly didn't rule out LA, I didn't think. You see he said if he's playing well, even though what could happen. Brent, who would rule out LA if you had a chance? Let's be honest. Absolutely. That's where you want to be. Hey, heartbreak in Japan a few years ago, Beltsi, when you lost to Belgium in that penalty shootout, do you think the group has what it takes to take that extra step this year? Yeah, I believe so. Like obviously lots of earnings out of that that outcome and obviously heartbreak at the end. But there was a lot of positive stuff like I was saying before out of that campaign. So yeah, we've definitely learned from that, I guess the shooter component of it. And yeah, we'd love to get back to that stage to have another opportunity again. But there's a lot of games, obviously, between our first one and hopefully some sort of final. So yeah, we've got to do the right things throughout the pool stage, which is going to be no easy feat, but we're really looking forward to it. Josh, we have plenty of hockey people on over the last sort of 12 months since this show started and asked them all the same question. Why is it that Tazzy continually punch above their weight in in hockey and Australian representation? Do you think? Yeah, there's probably there's probably a few elements and maybe I won't hit them all on the head. But I think one just like the Tazzy hockey community is obviously in a really sort of encouraging and supportive environment. Yeah, I grew up in that system and had great coaches and great people around me, which obviously helped. And I think particularly on the men's side that we've had role models to look up to as we've progressed through the genius. Like I've had posters of Eddie on my wall and still do. And there's guys like Kim Devan, Matt Wells, Jesse, those sort of guys who have come before me who in essence I would aspire to be like. And you mentioned Maddie Brooks there in the women as well. And that's great that she's got that opportunity. And hopefully there's young girls in Tazzy who want to be the next Maddie Brooks. So yeah, I think there's definitely some role models that help inspire the Tazzy community. Hang on, Bertie, you just said you've still got a poster of Eddie on your wall. Is that correct? It's done with you all. I love it. How much pride do you get from representing not only a country, but Tazzy on the world stage, but? Oh, yeah, it's incredible. It's like I was just saying before, the Tazzy hockey community is so unique and they really get behind everyone that comes from that environment. So yeah, the amount of messages that I get that my wife, my family get, they love supporting me and the other Tazmanias. And I think that's really special. And obviously whenever I get to get home and play a game or see people from that community, they work on me with open arms, which is quite special. I can just take you back, sorry, to the heartbreak in Japan a few years ago and how the group, I know it's four years on, but how do you deal with that? Was that something that you spoke about before you sort of pressed on and set goals for the next four years? Yeah, like it was spoken about and I shoot out in any sport and sometimes, you know, in it, one team performs on the day and one doesn't and there's such sort of, I guess, micro influences in why that goes one way or the other. So I think it was important to acknowledge it and obviously there's some bit of disappointment. But then I would say sort of park that and look forward and just that when we get the opportunity again, we'll be better for that experience. And the guys who take the shootouts are definitely keen to step up the opportunity if it arises this time. For the guy who built you, what are the next couple of weeks look like mate before you head off to Paris? Yeah, it's an exciting couple of weeks. We've obviously got lots of training and that's sort of really starting to ramp up and lots of meetings around that. But there's also a couple of cool little like Olympic functions and they just advanced outside it where you get to catch up with people who have supported, I guess, hockey, but also the Australian Olympic team in some way into the lead-up. So lots of little events like that which are exciting and just spending a few more weeks with the group and yeah, getting ready to head over to Paris. Very nice mate. I wish you all the very best. We love your work and can't wait to see how you and the Cookabaras go over there at the Olympic Games. Thanks so much for taking our call. You're a couple of hours behind over there in Perth. So appreciate you getting up early and thanks for chatting to us on SCN. Tassie Brecky. No, my pleasure, Grant and Tim. Thanks, Gus. Josh Belts, what a start. He is off to the Paris Olympics. He's second as an Olympian. Can't wait to see how he goes. Yes, Tim. One of the names you mentioned there, Matty Wells. What's he up to these days? I think he was coaching. Yeah, I think he was coaching Queensland. I'm pretty sure. Yeah. Yeah. He was just testing the hockey plan. Blake as well. Well, was he? Certainly. Hey, Tim, you know how we've got the T-Bays in the studio here in our country? Well, it's just gone on ad break, but the Aussies were flying, one for 80 odd. Dunkies going well is on 20 off about eight, I think it was. Yeah, maybe you can have a chat to Dunkie. Good mates with Dunkie. We can certainly tell. You can certainly tell the guys that have been training, Brent. I think that's fair to say. Now, I've actually got a personal text message that's come through from Tim Call on behalf of the Wii Keepers Guild. And he said, "You are on your first warning, wearing a floppy, calling not." Yeah, he was. He was coyly. He was. I was meant to get a photo of it, actually. I'm off to go back and do that. Hey, we're going to go to our last break. If it sounds out tomorrow, I'll have it on again against South Africa. Great. Yeah, that's for you, take me on, Tim. See what time to get us quickly on the hardcore. It's open line this morning. hardcore. It's results for you 0437 5535. It's breakfast, powered by Kubota. Take on any job with Kubota's range of tractors, mowers and utility vehicles. We're back to line up the show next.