HockeyOne: Perth Thundersticks v Brisbane Blaze: Team Selection

The Perth Thundersticks teams are in for the side’s final home matches of the 2024 Liberty Hockey One season in a blockbuster double-header against the Brisbane Blaze.

WOMEN

The Perth Thundersticks women’s team is gearing up for a crucial clash against the reigning champions, the Brisbane Blaze, and will be bolstered by the inclusions of two Hockeyroos.

Kaitlin Nobbs is set to make her return to the side for her fourth appearance this season and will provide much needed experience and dash heading into the finals series.

Joining her in the side is defensive stalwart Karri Somerville.

Somerville will add additional defensive help against a Brisbane Blaze side who is making a charge towards finals while coming off a dominant 4-1 win over Hockey Club Melbourne.

The two inclusions will see almost 200 games of international experience injected into the side ahead of the bye and the eventual finals series in Tasmania in two weeks’ time.

Neasa Flynn (omitted) and Candyce Peacock (injured) make way for the Hockeyroos duo.

The ladder-leading Thundersticks women are in a prime position to make history in a potential first-ever win over the blaze after being unable to defeat them in their previous four meetings since the inaugural season in 2019.

A win over the Blaze will also notch another record, completing a perfect regular season run of six wins from six matches.

In: Kaitlin Nobbs, Karri Somerville

Out: Neasa Flynn, Candyce Peacock

MEN

Two emerging stars will return for the Perth Thundersticks men’s team searching for their fourth outright win in a row this Sunday.

21-year-old Angus Adamson will return for his third appearance this season, providing added defensive and midfield support with James Collins ruled out with an injury.

The move will provide Adamson some further top-level experience heading into the Perth Thundersticks’ finals series which has now been clinched off the back of last week’s win over the NSW Pride.

Scotsman Fraser Heigh will also return to the fold for his fourth game of the season.

Heigh is set to provide some of the run and carry up front that will be lost due to Matt Willis sustaining an injury that will see him miss this week’s clash.

The last time the Perth Thundersticks men faced off against the Brisbane Blaze, the Thundersticks suffered a 5-1 drubbing to end their season.

The Thundersticks men will not only hope to claim their second ever win over the Blaze, but to also build on their hot streak heading into the bye and a rest next week ahead of the finals series the week following.

In: Angus Adamson, Fraser Heigh

Out: James Collins, Matt Willis