Hockey 5s a challenge for Australia
A new hockey format designed to get more countries playing the sport could prove to be Australia's undoing at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing.
The hockey fives format is making its maiden appearance at these Games, replacing field hockey.
Australia were undefeated when they won the boys field hockey at the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore four years ago.
But the team in Nanjing have struggled to find their footing in the new tournament.
After winning their opening match against Bangladesh 5-2 - a team who has lost all their matches at these Games - the hockey powerhouse went on to lose their next two matches.
This includes a 6-5 loss to South Africa despite a five-point lead at halftime, followed by a 6-7 defeat to Spain.
The Aussies on Thursday managed to turn things around with a 5-2 win over Canada, putting them in second place in their pool and into the quarterfinals.
Coach David Guest says its early losses demonstrate the way things can change when teams play in three periods of 12 minutes and players can shoot from anywhere rather than within a shooting circle.
"Five a side isn't safe like it is in 11 a side," he said.
"The other team's always in it, and there's always a chance to snag a couple of goals."
But he says it's better that Australia lost some of its pool matches than during the business end of the tournament.
"I've said to the group, we're learning at every game," said the Beijing 2008 Olympic gold medallist.
"You're going to get some things right, and there's some things you're not going to do right."
The Kiwis, on the other hand, appear to have adapted to the new game quickly, winning three of their four group matches and drawing 6-6 with Pakistan on Thursday.
Meanwhile, in swimming, Australia's love affair with bronze continues after Ami Matsuo, Amy Forrester, Ella Bond and Brianna Throssell finished the 4x100 freestyle behind silver medallists Russia as China took gold.
This marks Australia's seventh bronze medal in swimming.
