The final weekend of the JDH Hockey One League 2023 regular season is guaranteed to be full of drama and intrigue as teams vie for positions in the all-important top four and stamp their ticket to the Finals Main Event.
The most significant women’s match is between HC Melbourne and Canberra Chill tomorrow night at Melbourne Sports Centre – Parkville (the HC Melbourne v Canberra Chill double header will be broadcast LIVE and free on 7plus in both English and Hindi).
In what is an early elimination final, Canberra Chill heads into the clash in the box seat, sitting three points ahead of their Victorian opponents and with a superior goal difference.
HC Melbourne must win outright to dislodge the Chill in the top four and secure their finals berth. Both teams have made two changes, with experienced duo Edwina Bone and Roisin Upton in for the Chill, while HC Melbourne is without Amy Lawton due to international duties with the Jillaroos, but have captain Hannah Gravenall back.
Friday night’s men’s match between the franchises also has plenty hinging on the result. An outright win by HC Melbourne Men would catapult them into the top four where they would stay providing Adelaide Fire and Perth Thundersticks do not win.
HC Melbourne welcome back their Burras contingent for the vital clash before the quartet head to the Men’s Junior World Cup in Malaysia.
With teams getting five points for an outright win, three points for a shootout win and two points for a shootout loss, the Men’s race is a mouth-watering scenario with four teams in the running for two finals spots.
Adelaide Fire Men (who did not register a win in the first two seasons) enters the final round in fourth spot. They face arguably the toughest assignment in Hockey One on the road against a formidable NSW Pride outfit, but stranger things have happened.
Notably, the match will pit Govers brothers Kieran and Blake against each other for the first time. The high profile pair, who have represented the Kookaburras in decorated international careers (a combined total of 272 games), will face off in what could be Kieran’s final match before retirement if Adelaide Fire miss the finals.
Regardless of their result against the defending champions, the Fire could still make the finals if HC Melbourne and the Perth Thundersticks both do not win outright.
It will all come to a head on Sunday when Brisbane Blaze host the Perth Thundersticks in the final double header of the round.
Come Sunday the Thundersticks Men will know what is required to sneak into the top four. One thing is certain – they must take points from the match to be any chance of advancing.
For the Blaze Men, their spot in the top two is secure and will be a matter of seeing who they will face in the knockout semi finals. Notably, last year’s leading scorer Joel Rintala has been named to make his first appearance of the season, while Adam Imer, who represented Brazil at the 2016 Rio Olympics, will also run out for the Blaze.
The Tassie Tigers, who have the bye in the final round, will be looking on with interest as they enter the weekend sitting precariously in third.
Capping off Round 7 is a top of the table women’s showdown between the Blaze and Thundersticks with the minor premiership on the line.
The home side needs an outright or shootout win to leapfrog the Thundersticks at the top and go into the finals as the number one ranked women’s team.
NSW Pride Women could also claim top spot with a big win over the Adelaide pending Sunday’s result between the Blaze and Thundersticks.
The Pride teams will field a host of debutants including 33 year old goalkeeper Nathan Ackroyd and 21 year old Michael Taylor, plus Ellie Baldwin, Ella Carr and Miri Maroney.
The One Hockey Cup, awarded to the franchise that ranks highest based on the aggregate scores of their Women’s and Men’s teams at the end of the regular season, will also be decided this weekend. The inaugural winner of the One Hockey Cup will either be NSW Pride or Brisbane Blaze.
Every match of the JDH Hockey One League 2023 Season is LIVE and free on 7plus. Tickets are available through Intix.
JDH Hockey One League 2023 Season – Round 7 Fixtures
HC Melbourne v Canberra Chill
Friday 17 November 2023
Melbourne Sports Centre – Parkville
Start Times: Men’s 6:30pm local (6:30pm AEDT), Women’s 8:00pm local (8:00pm AEDT)
Tickets: Click here for ticketing details
Broadcast: LIVE and free on 7plus (in English and Hindi) #HCMvCCH #HockeyOne
Umpires: Ben Hocking and Jim Unkles (Men’s), Rhiannon Murrie and Nicola Brown (Women’s)
HC Melbourne Men’s team: 1.Craig Marais, 4.Liam Henderson, 5.Douglas Buckley, 6.Damon Steffens (c), 7.Nathan Ephraums, 8.Lachlan Steinfort, 11.Cooper Burns, 12.Connar Otterbach, 14.James Knee, 15.Josh Simmonds, 18.Johan Durst (gk), 19.Jordan Rees, 20.Nye Roberts, 22.Ben White, 26.Eden Davis
Ins: 1.Craig Marais, 4.Liam Henderson, 11.Cooper Burns, 20.Nye Roberts
Outs: 9.Nathan Copey, 10.Brad Marais, 13.Jayshaan Randhawa, 29.Nicholas Fitzgerald
Canberra Chill Men’s team: 2.Ben Staines, 4.Jaume Torras, 6.Connor Tuddenham, 8.Sean Baker, 9.Jamie Hawke, 10.Owen Chivers, 12.Jake Staines, 14.Koby Johnstone, 15.Hayden Dillon (c), 16.Oscar Smart, 18.Jeremy Hopkins, 22.Jay Macdonald, 24.Davis Atkin, 32.Brendan Hill (gk), 33.Rupinder Pal Singh
Ins: 9.Jamie Hawke, 16.Oscar Smart, 18.Jeremy Hopkins, 32.Brendan Hill (gk)
Outs: 11.Garry Backhus, 17.Aiden Dooley, 26.James Jewel, 27.Max Robson (gk)
HC Melbourne Women’s team: 2.Aisling Utri, 3.Nicola Hammond, 5.Krissy Bates, 7.Ciara Utri, 9.Carly James, 10.Rosario Villagra, 11.Joanne Peeters, 13.Megan Alakus, 14.Laura Barden, 15.Olivia Downes, 18.Amelie Green, 20.Zali Ward, 23.Samantha Snow, 25.Hannah Gravenall (c), 27.Rachael Lynch (gk)
Ins: 18.Amelie Green, 25.Hannah Gravenall
Outs: 4.Amy Lawton, 22.Charlotte Hodgson
Canberra Chill Women’s team: 1.Mikayla Evans, 2.Katie Mullan, 5.Claudia Johnston, 6.Roisin Upton, 7.Naomi Evans (c), 8.Sarah Hawkshaw, 11.Tamsin Bunt, 13.Edwina Bone, 16.Georgie Smithers, 17.Kaitlin Cotter, 18.Olivia Martin, 21.Mikaela Patterson, 23.Kalindi Commerford, 25.Lauren Yee, 32.Rene Hunter (gk)
Ins: 6.Roisin Upton, 13.Edwina Bone
Outs: 9.Samantha Economos, 24.Sarah White
NSW Pride v Adelaide Fire
Saturday 18 November 2023
Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre
Start Times: Women’s 6:30pm local (6:30pm AEDT), Men’s 8:00pm local (8:00pm AEDT)
Tickets: Click here for ticketing details
Broadcast: LIVE and free on 7plus #NSWvADL #HockeyOne
Umpires: Michelle Farnill and Cassidy Gallagher (Women’s), Zeke Newman and Daniel Johnston (Men’s)
NSW Pride Women’s team: 1.Alice Arnott, 2.Ellie Baldwin, 3.Jocelyn Bartram (gk), 4.Ella Carr, 7.Laura Reid, 8.Greta Hayes, 10.Chelsea Holmes, 15.Hannah Kable, 17.Miri Maroney, 20.Kaitlin Nobbs, 24.Maddison Smith (c), 26.Grace Stewart, 27.Kendelle Tait, 31.Abby Wilson
Ins: 2.Ellie Baldwin, 4.Ella Carr, 10.Chelsea Holmes, 17.Miri Maroney
Outs: 14.Makayla Jones, 16.Alana Kavanagh, 30.Mariah Williams, 32.Grace Young
Adelaide Fire Women’s team: 2.Brittany Wang, 3.Sherilyn Cass, 4.Chloe Holland, 5.Holly Evans-Gill, 6.Euleena Maclachlan (c), 7.Ella Du Preez, 9.Marjolein Ceulen, 13.Hattie Shand, 14.Asta Fisher, 15.Brooke Peris, 19.Rachel van der Ploeg, 22.Zoe Newman (gk), 26.Linzi Appleyard, 27.Gabriella Mitreska
Ins: 3.Sherilyn Cass, 7.Ella Du Preez, 9.Marjolein Ceulen, 14.Asta Fisher, 19.Rachel van der Ploeg, 22.Zoe Newman (gk), Abbey Mitton
Outs: 1.Chloe Carter, 8.Miki Spano, 11.Lucy Sharman, 17.Katie Sharkey, 18.Anna Crowley, 21.Amy Hammond (gk), 25.Jane Claxton
NSW Pride Men’s team: 1.Lachlan Sharp, 2.Tom Craig, 3.Nathan Akroyd (gk), 7.Daine Richards, 8.Nathanael Stewart, 9.Nathan Czinner, 13.Blake Govers, 14.Dylan Martin, 19.Jack Hayes (c), 23.Ryan Woolnough, 28.Sam Gray, 29.Tim Brand, 32.Callum Mackay, 34.Thomas Miotto, 36.Michael Taylor
Ins: 1.Lachlan Sharp, 3.Nathan Akroyd (gk), 23.Ryan Woolnough, 36.Michael Taylor
Outs: 5.Ash Thomas (gk), 20.Ky Willott, 22.Flynn Ogilvie
Adelaide Fire Men’s team: 1.Kieran Govers, 3.Lucas Toonen, 4.Jack Holland, 6.Matthew Magann, 7.Peter Scott, 9.Fred Gray (c), 10.Lachlan Arneil, 11.Kyton Rayner, 12.Mitchell Dell, 14.Fraser Heigh, 15.Paxton Silby, 16.Hugh Snowden, 17.Charl Ulrich, 21.Jed Snowden (gk), 25.Jethro Eustice
Ins: 15.Paxton Silby, 25.Jethro Eustice
Outs: 2.Connor Richmond-Spouse, 13.Alastair Oliver
Brisbane Blaze v Perth Thundersticks
Sunday 19 November 2023
Queensland State Hockey Centre
Start Times: Men’s 2:00pm local (3:00pm AEDT), Women’s 3:30pm local (4:30pm AEDT)
Tickets: Click here for ticketing details
Broadcast: LIVE and free on 7plus #BBZvPTX #HockeyOne
Umpires: Aaron Gotting and Steve Rogers (Men’s), Deborah O’Connell and Aleisha Neumann (Women’s)
Brisbane Blaze Men’s team: 1.Will Mathison, 2.Shane Kenny, 3.Corey Weyer, 5.Lucas Brown, 8.Adam Imer, 10.Cale Cramer, 12.Jake Whetton (c), 13.David Hubbard, 14.Tyler Gaddes, 16.Tim Howard, 17.Scott Boyde, 21.Max Harding, 24.Diarmid Chappell, 27.Joel Rintala, 32.Mitchell Nicholson (gk)
Ins: 1.Will Mathison, 8.Adam Imer, 27.Joel Rintala
Outs: 7.Liam Hart, 11.Michael Francis, 19.Luke Randle
Perth Thundersticks Men’s team: 1.Matthew Bird, 4.Jake Harvie, 5.Tom Wickham, 9.James Day, 11.Tom Harvie, 12.Alistair Murray, 13.Brayden King, 14.Matthew Willis, 15.Liam Flynn, 16.Brodee Foster, 17.Aran Zalewski (c), 18.Ben Rennie (gk), 20.Frank Main, 25.Trent Mitton, 26.James Collins
Ins: 12.Alistair Murray
Outs: 6.Bryn De Bes
Brisbane Blaze Women’s team: 1.Savannah Fitzpatrick, 2.Rosie Malone, 3.Kendra Fitzpatrick, 5.Morgan Gallagher (c), 8.Dayle Dolkens, 9.Casey Dolkens, 10.Madison Fitzpatrick, 11.Morgan Mathison, 13.Rebecca Greiner, 14.Stephanie Kershaw, 16.Keeley Walker, 17.Camryn Mathison, 21.Emily Kingston (gk), 22.Britt Wilkinson, 30.Georgina West
Ins: 13.Rebecca Greiner, 17.Camryn Mathison, 22.Britt Wilkinson, 30.Georgina West
Outs: 4.Claire Colwill, 6.Hannah Cullum-Sanders, 12.Tatum Stewart, 23.Ruby Harris
Perth Thundersticks Women’s team: 1.Pippa Morgan, 3.Neasa Flynn, 6.Sarah Byrnes, 7.Penny Squibb, 8.Georgia Wilson, 9.Shanea Tonkin, 10.Jesse Reid, 12.Liné Malan, 13.Lexie Pickering, 14.Elizabeth Duguid (gk) (c), 15.Belle Ramshaw, 17.Annie Gibbs, 18.Renee Rockliff, 19.Georgina Dowd, 20.Karri Somerville
Ins: 15.Belle Ramshaw, 19.Georgina Dowd
Outs: 4.Elyssa Melville, 11.Rachel Frusher
Tassie Tigers – BYE
Hockey One
