The wait is over and hockey is back! The Liberty Hockey One League season is set to get underway tomorrow.
Here’s all the information you need ahead of all of the Round 1 action.
Every match of the Liberty Hockey One League 2024 Season is LIVE and free on 7plus.
Memberships and tickets for all matches are available now through Intix.
ADELAIDE FIRE v HC MELBOURNE
Friday, 7.30pm AEDT (Men) 9.30pm AEDT (Women)
MATE Stadium, Adelaide
Adelaide gets home advantage for the opening match of 2024 as the men’s Adelaide Fire host HC Melbourne in what is set to be a fiery encounter between the two sides. Despite narrowly missing out on a semi-final spot, Adelaide men beat HC Melbourne 3-2 away from home in 2023, as the Melbourne outfit went on to claim bronze in season four. Returning with plenty of firepower, Adelaide will need to rely on their power striker Jack Holland & a reliable midfield to get past a world-class wall of defence in goal with Johan Durst.
The women’s match which follows on the very same ticket features a tight encounter between two sides who are desperate to book that finals spot this season, in a women’s competition stacked with huge international signings, Olympians and explosive up-and-coming players. Adelaide, captained by Hockeyroos defender and new Olympian Hattie boast two huge international signings with Dutch superstar Margot van Geffen and Great Britain’s Shona McCallin. But they’ll come face-to-face with one of the best players in the world, Germany’s Charlotte Stapenhorst.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
MEN
Adelaide Fire: Jack Holland, Jed Snowden, Lucas Toonen, Fred Gray
HC Melbourne: Liam Henderson, Cooper Burns, Ben White & Paris Olympics 2024 reserve goalkeeper Johan Durst
WOMEN
Adelaide Fire: Margot van Geffen (NED), Shona Mccallin (GBR), 2024 Hockeyroo Lucy Sharman & Paris 2024 Olympian Hockeyroo and Adelaide captain Hattie Shand
HC Melbourne: Sophie Taylor, Kristina Bates, Josie Lawton, Charlotte Stapenhorst (GER), Hannah Cotter (NZL)
2023 OVERALL POSITION
MEN
Adelaide Fire: 5th
HC Melbourne: 3rd – Bronze medal
WOMEN
Adelaide Fire: 6th
HC Melbourne: 5th
2023 HEAD-TO-HEAD
Adelaide Fire Men v HC Melbourne Men
October 13 – Adelaide Fire won 3-2 away from home in Melbourne
Adelaide Fire Women v HC Melbourne Women
October 13 – HC Melbourne won 2-1 in Melbourne
TEAM LISTS
Adelaide Fire Men
1. Jed Snowden (gk), 2. Luke Anderson, 3. Lucas Toonen, 4. Jack Holland, 5. Trent Symss, 7. Geoff Abbott, 8. Seb Foster, 9. Fred Gray ©, 15. Fraser Bowden, 16. Hugh Snowden, 19. Tom Brown, 20. Daniel Sibbald, 21. Jethro Eustice, 25. Landon Morley, 27. Oliver Higgins (gk), 33. Mitchell Dell
HC Melbourne Men
2. Peter Scott, 3. Jonathan Bretherton, 4. Liam Henderson, 6. Damon Steffens ©, 8. Kade Leigh, 10. Brad Marais, 11. Cooper Burns, 13. Andrew Scanlon, 15. Josh Simmonds, 17. Will Carruthers, 18. Johan Durst, 19. Jordan Rees, 20. Nye Roberts, 22. Ben White, 26 Eden Davis, 99. William Johnson *E GK
Adelaide Fire Women
1. Bridget Laurance (GK), 3. Sherilyn Cass, 4. Teyiah Abell, 5. Holly Evans, 7. Linzi Appleyard, 8. Miki Spano, 9. Britney Desilva, 10. Tyler Pedley, 11. Lucy Sharman, 13. Hattie Shand ©, 16. Casey Crowley 19. Julia Van de Heuvel, 21. Amy Hammond (gk), 23. Margot van Geffen, 24. Shona McCallin, 29. Rosario Villagra
HC Melbourne Women
1. Sophie Taylor, 2. Aisling Utri, 5. Kristina Bates, 6. Josie Lawton, 7. Ciara Utri, 8. Hannah Cotter, 10. Emily Hamilton-Smith, 12. Charlotte Stapenhorst, 14. Laura Barden, 15. Olivia Downes, 20. Zali Ward, 22. Charlotte Hodgson, 25. Hannah Gravenall ©, 27. Rachael Lynch (gk), 31. Evie Stansby, 99. Olivia Souter *E GK
TASSIE TIGERS v NSW PRIDE
Saturday, 3.00pm AEDT (Men) 4.30pm AEDT (Women)
The Tasmanian Hockey Centre
The Tassie Tigers will be hoping to get their first taste of what it feels like to win at home when they host NSW Pride in Hobart on Saturday. With all teams competing for a spot in the top four and a place in the all-new Road to Hobart Finals series, Tasmania is arguably motivated to want it more, knowing they’ll have a passionate home crowd behind them. The men finished in fourth last year, just one spot shy of the medals and will be looking forward to welcoming back 5-time Olympian Eddie Ockenden in round two. For this round, they have plenty of firepower in what will be a tight match up as the Beltz brothers bring experience and plenty of grit in the defensive midfield while Jack Welch and Ehren Hazell give opposition defences a big headache. Both are lethal from the top of the circle on penalty corner attack as well as having the ability to score freakish field goals.
In the women’s match, it will be an array of international signings living it up in Tasmania, up against a stacked NSW Pride team full of Hockeyroos, including Grace Young and Greta Hayes in the opening round. Tasmania finished up bottom of the table in 2023 while the Pride made the finals to finish fourth. Both sides will be looking to go better and Tassie could be the underdogs of the tournament, led by hometown hero and Paris 2024 Olympian Maddi Brooks. She heads a side full of new signings including the UK’s Holly Hunt and Fiona Crackles and Gitte Michels from Amsterdam.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
MEN
Tassie Tigers: Ehren Hazell and Jack Welch, brothers Hayden and Josh Beltz and Eddie Ockenden
NSW Pride: Nathan Czinner, Kookaburra Ky Willott & rising next-gen talent Toby Mallon
WOMEN
Tassie Tigers: Holly Hunt and Fiona Crackles from the UK, Gitte Michels from Amsterdam, and Sarah Robertson, plus our “hometown hero” Maddi Brooks!
NSW Pride: Hockeyroos Grace Young, Alice Arnott & Greta Hayes. Plus, GB international signing & Paris 2024 Olympian Hannah French
2023 POSITION
MEN
Tassie Tigers: 4th
NSW Pride: 2nd – Silver medal
WOMEN
Tassie Tigers: 7th
NSW Pride: 4th
2023 HEAD-TO-HEAD
Tassie Tigers Men v NSW Pride Men
November 4 – Both sides drew 1-1 away in Sydney
Tassie Tigers Women v NSW Pride Women
November 4 – NSW Pride won 8-1 at home in Sydney
TEAM LISTS
Tassie Tigers Men
1. Magnus McCausland (gk), 4. Hayden Beltz, 6. Joshua Brooks, 7. Joshua Mardell, 9. Jeremy Edwards, 13. Joshua Beltz ©, 14. Jack Welch, 15. Oscar Pritchard, 16. Alexander Hogan-Jones, 17. Oliver Pritchard, 18. Grant Woodcock, 19. Tim Deavin, 20. Ehren Hazell, 22. Oliver Stebbings, 26. Oliver Smith, 28. Lachlan Rogers
NSW Pride Men
5. Ash Thomas (gk), 7. Richards Daine, 8. Nathanael Stewart ©, 9. Nathan Czinner, 10. Liam Alexander, 11. Dylan Downey, 14. Dylan Martin, 15. Miles Davis, 16. Joshua Gregory, 17. Nicholas Mcewen, 18. Toby Mallon, 23. Ryan Woolnough, 32. Callum Mackay, 34. Thomas Miotto, 36. Michael Taylor
Tassie Tigers Women
1. Sarah McCambridge, 2. Jemma Kenworthy, 3. Fiona Crackles, 4. Maddison Brooks ©, 5. Taylor Brooks, 8. Ruby Harris, 9. Holly Hunt, 10. Louisa Jacobson, 13. Phillida Bridley, 14. Gitte Michels, 15. Lucy Cooper, 19. Sarah Robertson, 21. Lauren Canning, 23. Holly Gilbar 25. Evelyn Dalton (gk)
NSW Pride Women
4. Kendelle Tait, 5. Chelsea Holmes, 6. Ella Carr, 8. Makayla Jones, 9. Amalia Patterson, 10. Hannah French, 11. Emma Scriven, 12. Greta Hayes, 14. Emmalee Croker, 17. Estelle Hughes, 18. Lucinda Preeo, 22. Zoe Newman (gk), 23. Abby Wilson, 24. Mariah Williams ©, 32. Grace Young
CANBERRA CHILL v PERTH THUNDERSTICKS
Sunday, 2.00pm AEDT (Men) 3.30pm AEDT (Women)
National Hockey Centre, Canberra
It’s a fiery affair for a balmy spring day in the capital when Canberra take on Perth. The Thundersticks are on the road this week and the women’s side face a tough challenge first up in what is a duel between the 2nd ranked Chill side and 3rd ranked Thundersticks from last season. The WA outfit this year are stacked full of Hockeyroos with hometown heroes Penny Squibb and Karri Somerville returning, as well as the welcome news of Hockeyroo Courtney Schonell’s return after a gruelling 24 months plagued with injury.
In the men’s match, Kookaburras Jake Harvie and Tom Wickham lead the charge for Perth, as their stacked squad looks to go better than their sixth-place finish last year and they look poised to do it. They’ll be up against teammate and Australia’s great wall of defence, Andrew Charter who is leading the way for Canberra this year at the back in goal. Keep an eye on Canberra’s skipper Ben Staines who scored seven goals last season. They also welcome Spain’s Xavi Gispert, who is arguably the biggest name signing of the 2024 Hockey One League, with the 25-year-old at the peak of his powers following 79 international appearances, including being a travelling reserve for the Paris Olympics.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
MEN
Canberra Chill: Captain Ben Staines, Olympian Xavi Gispert (ESP), Australia’s most-capped goalkeeper ever Andrew Charter, Theo Ponthieu (FRA)
Perth Thundersticks: Kookaburras Jake Harvie, Tom Wickham, & Harvie’s brother Tom Harvie
WOMEN
Canberra Chill: Georgina West, Edwina Bone, Emma Davidsmeyer (GER), Giselle Ansley, Grace Balsdon, Ellie Rayer (all GBR)
Perth Thundersticks: Hockeyroos Penny Squibb, Karri Somerville, Paris 2024 reserve goalkeeper Aleisha Power and returning Hockeyroo Courtney Schonell
2023 POSITION
MEN
Canberra Chill: 7th
Perth Thundersticks: 6th
WOMEN
Canberra Chill: 2nd – Silver medal
Perth Thundersticks: 3rd – Bronze medal
2023 HEAD-TO-HEAD
Canberra Chill Men v Perth Thundersticks Men
October 7 – Perth Thundersticks won 4-1 at home in Perth
Canberra Chill Women v Perth Thundersticks Women
October 7 – Perth Thundersticks won 4-1 at home in Perth
TEAM LISTS
Canberra Chill Men
2. Ben Staines, 3. Anand Gupte, 5. Jesse Absolom, 6. Xavier Gispert, 8. Sean Barker, 11. Garry Backhus, 12. Jake Staines, 14. Theophile Ponthieu, 15. Hayden Dillon, 17. Aiden Dooley, 18. Kaito Tanaka, 23. Jay Macdonald, 24. Davis Atkin, 26. James Jewel, 27. Max Robson (gk), 30. Andrew Charter © (gk)
Perth Thundersticks Men
3. Brayden King, 4. Jake Harvie ©, 5. Tom Wickham, 7. Dane Gavranich, 8. Coby Green, 9. James Day, 10. Joshua Bowen, 11. Tom Harvie, 13. Samuel Ashton, 16. Brodee Foster, 18. Ben Rennie (gk), 20. Angus Adamson, 22. Max Freedman, 23. Campbell Geddes, 24. Matthew Willis, 99. Brendan Hill *Emergency GK
Canberra Chill Women
1. Mikayla Evans, 2. Giselle Ansley, 3. Grace Balsdon, 5. Claudia Johnston, 6. Emma Davidsmeyer, 7. Naomi Evans, 8. Ellie Rayer, 10. Georgina West, 13. Edwina Bone ©, 14. Lucinda Nash, 18. Olivia Martin, 21. Mikaela Patterson, 25. Lauren Yee, 28. Catriona Bailey-Price, 30. Gabrielle Millan (gk), 31. Sarah Steinhardt (gk)
Perth Thundersticks Women
1. Phillipa Morgan, 3. Neasa Flynn, 4. Elyssa Melville, 5. Courtney Schonell, 6. Lexie Pickering, 7. Penny Squibb ©, 10. Jesse Reid, 12. Liné Malan, 15. Belle Ramshaw, 17. Annie Gibbs, 19. Aleisha Power (gk), 20. Karri Somerville, 22. Jolie Sertorio, 28. Georgia Wilson, 33. Candyce Peacock, 99. Kayley Boyce *Emergency GK
Hockey One
