The men’s team, featuring Illawarra players Heath Ogilvie, Jack Hayes and Alexander Mackay, finished in fourth place after falling to Iran in the bronze medal match. 

The result marked a significant improvement on the team’s 10^th place finish at the 2015 championships.

Australia finished second in Pool A, with three wins, one draw and one loss, behind eventual runner-up Germany. 

Hayes starred in the team’s quarter-final victory over Belgium, scoring two goals as the team progressed through to the semi-final with a 4-2 victory. 

The dream run would come to an end against Austria, however, with a late goal from a penalty corner handing Austria a spot in the final. The Australians fought hard throughout the entire match, ultimately falling 2-1.

Austria defeated Germany in a penalty shootout in the final.

All three Illawarra players found the back of the net throughout the tournament, with Hayes scoring nine goals.

The women also did their country proud, with the team progressing through to the quarter-finals before running into a red-hot Belarusian side.

The Australian side, featuring Wollongong’s Emma McLeish, finished third in their pool, with two wins, two draws and one loss. 

Belarus, however, proved too good for the side in the quarter-final, rounding out winners five goals to two.