After a messy 2016 that saw him miss the Rio Olympics and left him without a contract in 2017, and a new coaching staff that made sweeping changes to the team, it looked as though Govers’ international hockey career was over.

It was something he didn’t want to admit to himself, so he continued working towards a return to the national setup, all the while preparing for life after hockey in Wollongong.

“There were times I didn’t think I’d return to the national squad,” Govers said. “You’re always thinking about retirement and life after hockey. Obviously stuff happens in sport and you don't want to believe it, but it does happen and you have to be prepared.

“The best thing for me was the coaches and myself were open and honest with each other, they never said I was gone, it never was ‘Never again’. They just said play along, don't get injured, ‘If you’re still good enough, we’ll assess you’. I’ve been in Perth for a couple of camps with the squad and I kept training hard.”

On Friday he was officially elevated to the Australian Men’s Hockey Squad, moving him closer to representing the Kookaburras for the first time since November 2016. Govers admits it’s a selection he wasn’t expecting. 

“I knew there was an opportunity and deep down you hope and you wish, but at the end of the day you don’t expect it.

“There’s nothing better than hearing the coach saying we'll put you back in the squad. I nearly cried, it was good, but the hard work is just beginning. This is chapter two of my hockey career and I won’t leave any stone unturned.”

After missing out on the 2017 squad, Govers spent a season playing professionally in the Netherlands , before returning home and leading Albion Park to an Illawarra premiership and Sutherland to a Sydney premiership.

It was an opportunity to develop as a person away from the spotlight and fall in love with the sport again. 

“I think the past year has brought a better person out of me,” Govers said. “I've matured off the field in my life, recently getting engaged to my partner, everything's panned out well.

“I’ll put that maturity back into my hockey career. Even though I'm experienced, I’m still learning from the younger kids. They’re pushing me and I’m pushing them to get a starting spot back.  

“I’ve got good energy back in my life, the best thing is I’m enjoying my hockey again. Twenty-sixteen was a bit of a bummer year, but I’ve learnt from that, I’m a better person and it’s helped me with my hockey.”

With his love for the sport renewed, Govers feels he is in the perfect position to return to the Australian squad.

His focus now turns towards earning selection in his third World Cup squad, before pursuing a second Olympic berth in 2020. 

“We’ve got the World Cup in November and December that I’ll aim for. That’ll be my third, then the next goal is Tokyo. It’s the end goal for now, I’m not looking beyond that at the moment.”