Dwyer wins third world player of year title

THE Kookaburras will go into today's Champions Trophy gold medal clash against Germany with extra incentive after striker/midfielder Jamie Dwyer was just announced as the 2009 World Hockey Player of the Year.

Announced at half-time of the bronze medal clash between the Netherlands and Korea at Melbourne's State Netball and Hockey Centre, the title could just give the home side what it needs to get over the line against the top-ranked team in the world.

Dwyer also won the prestigious award in 2004 and 2007, making the 30-year-old only the second international player to have won the title three times behind Dutchman Tuen de Nooijer, who was recognised in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

Dwyer is best known for his match-winning goal in extra time at the Athens Olympics which gave the Australian men's hockey team its first ever Olympic gold medal.

The result was made more noteworthy considering Dwyer had suffered a nasty knee injury 12 months before at the 2003 Champions Trophy, which placed his career in serious doubt.

Originally from Queensland, Dwyer is a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and also played in the victorious Australian team's 2005 and 2008 Champions Trophy. He was also part of the Kookaburras squad that won the bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Dwyer plays club hockey abroad at HC Bloemendaal alongside Dutch star Tuen de Nooijer.

Australia takes on Germany at 3.45pm today.

Australia's 20-year-old Hockeyroos player Casey Eastham took out the best young women's award, while England's Ashley Jackson became the first player from his country to win the World Young Player of the Year. The best women's player award was a tie between Argentina's Luciana Aymar - for the sixth time - and the Netherlands' Naomi van As.