The Kookaburras have ended their FIH Pro League season with a 3-1 defeat to world No.2 Belgium on a wet night in Antwerp.
After pushback was delayed by 20 minutes because of thunder and lightning, the hosts and reigning Olympic champions took a one-goal lead into halftime.
Loick Luypaert's second put Belgium 2-0 up in the 41st minute before Blake Govers' 132nd international goal sparked life into the Kookaburras.
Any hopes of a comeback evaporated when Nicolas de Kerpel was fastest to react to a rebound from a Belgium penalty corner in the 56th minute, knocking the ball home to seal the win.
"It's disappointing. Belgium is a class outfit and they showed that tonight," said Jeremy Hayward, who captained the team.
"Belgium had the ball for far too long and we need to be better.
"It was tough conditions but they just adjusted better to them.
"We don't like losing. We've got a young group and are experimenting but that's no excuse.
"We want to win every game so we'll regroup, learn from this and improve."
The Kookaburras will now head to Paris for two international matches against France on June 23 and June 25 before returning home to prepare for the Oceania Cup against New Zealand in August.
The tournament doubles as Olympic qualifiers.
