Wearing the famous #7, Sandy Pisani captained Australia from 1985-86, and later became the spiritual leader of the national team.
It was 30 September 1988 and as the bus left the Seoul Olympic Village taking the nervous Hockeyroos to their treasured Olympic gold medal game, Sandy Pisani gazed out the window.
A very heavy-hearted Opals’ group was arriving back at the Village having just lost their Olympic basketball semi-final in dramatic and heart shattering circumstances.
In that moment, Sandy Pisani’s already powerful resolve was fueled with fire. She silently vowed that this would not be happening to her beloved Hockeyroos team today.
Australia, with Pisani, had also lost out on a medal at the 1984 Games – finishing fourth after a desperate penalty shoot-out, lost 5-10 to the US.
Her ferocious zeal for victory within the next few hours now would not be contained.
The Hockeyroos had gone through this Olympic campaign undefeated, and they were facing the home team, South Korea.
Wearing the famous #7, Pisani had previously captained Australia from 1985-86, and although no longer the captain, she was the spiritual leader of this group.
Her presence on and off the field was powerful, always demanding more from her peers, intimidating opponents, and giving every ounce of herself.
Ultimately, the Hockeyroos claimed a famous 2-0 win over South Korea for the gold medal in Seoul, and decades later, the team still catches up every five years or so.
This pioneering win set up a 12-year campaign for the Hockeyroos which held them in the top positions of global rankings through to the year 2000. The players that would come after would rightfully idolise this group.
Sandy Pisani, among others, is not there at the team’s catchups. She passed away at the young age of 63 but has left an indelible mark on hockey in this land.
On her passing, her partner, Olympic gold medallist Mike Turtur and daughter Elli released this statement: “She loved her family and friends with great passion and heart, fiercely loyal and feisty, compassionate and kind, we will cherish all of our special memories and times shared in our hearts forever.”
Olympic gold medalist, Juliet Haslam, holds Pisani’s influence preciously. At just 21, Juliet had been appointed captain of the SA State team, replacing Sandy who was retiring. Overawed by the leadership responsibility at a tender age, Juliet confided to Sandy about her anxieties.
Sandy Pisani then selflessly opted to play one more year – with an injured knee – in order to mentor Juliet in that leadership role, a role with which Pisani was intimately familiar. Juliet remembers a steep learning curve thanks to Sandy’s example and teaching.
The hockey clubs of Burnside and Port Adelaide will cherish her influences too: Burnside as a player and Port as a successful coach bringing multiple State league championships during the 90s. Port in particular thrived under Pisani’s confidence and strength as a leader.
During the 90s also, Pisani was at the head of the Hockeyroos’ selectors, making hard calls on an abundance of squad talent, and overseeing what is now considered the ‘golden era’ of women’s hockey in Australia.
These are yet other examples of Sandy Pisani’s many legacies.
