The two-time Olympian enjoys giving back to budding hockey stars through his work with the Ciriello Coaching Academy.

Ciriello made his debut for the national side in 2008 and has since become one of the most dangerous players in world hockey and one of the best drag flickers in the history of the game.

In 2014, Ciriello slotted a hat trick of goals in both the finals of the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games, leading Australia to victory.

At the World Cup, Cirello was the second highest scorer of the tournament with seven goals, while at the Commonwealth Games he led the field with nine.

Unfortunately, the only major title that has escaped him is an Olympic gold medal, with the Australians falling short at both London in 2012 and Rio last year. 

“It’s just that one elusive thing, which is pretty painful, but it still drives me to do what I need to be able to do,” Ciriello said.

“We’ve had chances both in London and Rio, but strange things happen to people under pressure.

“I got really sick in Rio and picked up a virus that affected my heart, so I was indecisive if I was going to play up until less than 48 hours before the first game.

“I lost five-and-a-half kilos.

“You fight four years to make it there and when those things happen, they happen.

“You can’t pick and choose when things happen, you’ve just got to fight with them and I did that, but it wasn’t the outcome we wanted.”

Ciriello has spent some time away from the game to get his body right and hopes to push for a national return in August.

“I had stress fractures in my back when I was 11 or 12 and I’ve had to manage that and get a stronger core around it,” he said.

“Once you go for a long time you sort of put it in the background, but I’ve had a few months off just to get myself right.

“I love competing and I know I’ve competed against some of the best players in the world.

“It’s not only competing against others, it’s competing against yourself to know you can give it your all.

“When you play for your country and you beat other teams, you realise how exciting it is.”

Ciriello stressed the importance of developing regional hockey talent.

“Between 40 and 60 per cent of people who play for Australia come from the country.” Ciriello said.

“I played with some really good players growing up, so I’m looking forward to developing a few more.

“The kids have done about 12 hours on the pitch, so if they only train once a week, that’s 12 weeks, which is nearly half a season.

“To see these kids improve is just phenomenal.”

Ciriello admitted he is very tempted to keep himself in national contention for the Commonwealth Games on home soil on the Gold Coast next year.