HockeyOne: Round Five Preview: Defending champs face early exit, table-toppers collide in blockbuster clash

It’s getting spicy as round five dishes up a possible season upset and the top teams collide in a potential Grand Final preview.

It’s all on the line for our teams as they race to make the Road to Hobart Finals Series. Here’s your fifth-round preview for all of the 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 at INTIX.

NSW PRIDE v PERTH THUNDERSTICKS

Friday, 7.00pm AEDT (Men) 8.30pm AEDT (Women)

Macarthur Regional Hockey Complex, NSW

A huge match opens round five as NSW Pride continue its regional tour of the state in Macarthur this Friday night. It’s all on the line for the men’s side as they look to bounce back from last weekend’s loss against HC Melbourne. They’ll be coming up against a Perth outfit that is on a roll, having won their last three matches, albeit with small margins. The biggest omission in the Thundersticks lineup is Campbell Geddes, but they welcome Kookaburra James Collins back into the fold for what will be a tight affair in Macarthur.

In the women’s match, the Pride will be out to end Perth’s unbeaten run in 2024, and they’ll welcome the news of some major changes in the Thundersticks camp. Hockeyroos stars Kaitlin Nobbs, Karri Somerville, and goalkeeper Aleisha Power are sitting out the trip to NSW. While the Pride will be without their Olympic goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram and Hockeyroo Greta Hayes. In their place, Aleisha Newman will step into the goal for the Pride while a big name, Hockeyroo Grace Stewart also returns for round five. It will undoubtedly be a fiery affair as the Pride attempt to further solidify their spot in the finals.

TEAM LISTS

NSW Pride Men v Perth Thundersticks Men

NSW Pride Men: 3. Nathan Ackroyd (gk), 5. Ash Thomas (gk), 7. Richards Daine, 8. Nathanael Stewart ©, 9. Nathan Czinner, 11. Dylan Downey, 12. Jared Findlay, 14. Dylan Martin, 15. Miles Davis, 18. Toby Mallon, 20. Ky Willott, 21. Luke Noblett, 23. Ryan Woolnough, 32. Callum Mackay, 34. Thomas Miotto

Perth Thundersticks Men: 2. William Battistessa, 3. Brayden King, 4. Jake Harvie, 5. Tom Wickham ©, 8. Coby Green, 9. James Day, 11. Tom Harvie, 13. Samuel Ashton, 14. Chaz Davies, 15. Matthew Bird, 16. Brodee Foster, 18. Ben Rennie (gk), 22. Max Freedman, 24. Matthew Willis, 26. Fraser Heigh, 26. James Collins

NSW Pride Women v Perth Thundersticks Women

NSW Pride Women: 4. Kendelle Tait, 6. Ella Carr, 7. Grace Stewart, 8. Makayla Jones, 10. Hannah French, 11. Emma Scriven, 14. Emmalee Croker, 16. Alana Kavanagh, 17. Estelle Hughes, 18. Lucinda Preeo, 20. Madii Smith, 22. Zoe Newman (gk), 23. Abby Wilson, 24. Mariah Williams ©, 32. Grace Young

Perth Thundersticks Women: 1. Phillipa Morgan, 3. Neasa Flynn, 5. Courtney Schonell, 6. Lexie Pickering, 7. Penny Squibb ©, 10. Jesse Reid, 12. Liné Malan, 14. Elizabeth Duguid (gk), 15. Belle Ramshaw, 17. Annie Gibbs, 24. Eva Drummond, 28. Georgia Wilson, 33. Candyce Peacock

FORM

TASSIE TIGERS v CANBERRA CHILL

Saturday, 3.00pm AEDT (Men) 4.30pm AEDT (Women)

The Tasmanian Hockey Centre

Arguably, the biggest match of the round awaits first up in Hobart on Saturday night, with a blockbuster men’s clash between the Tassie Tigers and Canberra Chill, who are in a battle for points at the top of the table. Can Tassie become the only team to beat Canberra this season? They’ll start largely unchanged for their second clash at home in two weeks, with Jack Pritchard in for Oliver Smith. Canberra are travelling to Tasmania with two changes: Jesse Absolom and Sean Baker are in, while Theophile Ponthieu and Oscar Smart are out.  The Chill are fresh for Saturday night’s affair after a bye last weekend, yet Tassie are on a roll, having won their last two matches against the defending champs Brisbane and Perth.

All eyes will be on the Tigers team’s revival in the following women’s match as they come up against the Chill and look to extend their winning streak to three matches. The Tigers have credited a culture shift and their international talent, combined with up-and-coming local talent, for their 2024 resurgence, which has seen them win three in four matches. The Chill are heading to Hobart fresh off a bye and will be looking to amend their third-round loss to Brisbane. Both sides are unchanged heading into the match.

TEAM LISTS

Tassie Tigers Men v Canberra Chill Men

Tassie Tigers Men: 1. Magnus McClausland, 4. Hayden Beltz, 6. Joshua Brooks, 7. Joshua Mardell, 9. Jeremy Edwards, 11. Eddie Ockenden, 12. Jack Pritchard, 13. Joshua Beltz ©, 14. Jack Welch, 15. Oscar Pritchard, 17. Oliver Pritchard, 18. Grant Woodcock (gk), 19. Tim Deavin, 20. Ehren Hazell, 22. Oliver Stebbings, , 28. Lachlan Rogers

Canberra Chill Men: 2. Ben Staines, 3. Anand Gupte, 5. Jesse Absolom, 6. Xavier Gispert, 8. Sean Baker, 11. Garry Backhus, 12. Jake Staines, 13. Dylan Brick, 15. Hayden Dillon ©, 17. Aiden Dooley, 18. Kaito Tanaka, 23. Jay Macdonald, 24. Davis Atkin, 26. James Jewel, 30. Andrew Charter © (gk)

Tassie Tigers Women v Canberra Chill Women

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, 18. Kacee Ponting (gk), 19. Sarah Robertson, 20. Beth Dobbie, 23. Holly Gilbar 25. Evelyn Dalton (gk)

Canberra Chill Women: 1. Mikayla Evans, 2. Giselle Ansley, 3. Grace Balsdon, 6. Emma Davidsmeyer, 7. Naomi Evans, 8. Ellie Rayer, 10. Georgina West, 11. Taquira McGrath, 13. Edwina Bone, 16. Georgie Smithers, 18. Olivia Martin, 21. Mikaela Patterson, 25. Lauren Yee, 28. Catriona Bailey-Price ©, 31. Sarah Steinhardt (gk)

FORM

BRISBANE BLAZE v HC MELBOURNE

Saturday, 3.00pm AEDT (Men) 4.30pm AEDT (Women)

Queensland State Hockey Centre

The defending champs are back on home soil, and they’ve pulled out all the stocks for their must-win men’s clash against HC Melbourne. The Blaze have failed to win a match in 2024, and anything other than a clear win over Melbourne could deny them a spot on the Road to Hobart Finals Series. In a timely return, Kookaburras stars Corey Weyer and Tim Howard return for the do-or-die clash, fresh off the plane after competing in the European hockey leagues after the Paris Olympics.  Howard’s return will see him take over the captaincy while HC Melbourne welcomes back Craig Marais. Melbourne is holding onto the last remaining finals spot in fourth on the standings and will be motivated to deny Brisbane a last-minute dash to finals contention.

Melbourne needs a season-reviving performance in the women’s match against the Brisbane Blaze, who will be determined to turn around their performance after last weekend’s loss to Tassie. HC Melbourne have made one change, with Charlotte Hodgson back in for Kary Chau, following last weekend’s heavy five-goal loss to the NSW Pride. While Brisbane has a big-name player returning to their line-up. With Hockeyroo Steph Kershaw back in the line-up for their home clash in Queensland.

TEAM LISTS

Brisbane Blaze Men v HC Melbourne Men

Brisbane Blaze Men: 2. Shane Kenny, 3. Corey Weyer, 4. Noah Fahy, 6. Kyle Jeffrey-Prestwich, 8. Adam Imer, 9. Jacob Anderson, 10. Daykin Stanger, 11. Michael Francis, 13. David Hubbard, 15. Jayden Atkinson, 16. Tim Howard ©, 17. Scott Boyde, 21. Max Harding, 22. Matthew Finn (gk), 25. Hayden Pease, 32. Mitchell Nicholson (gk)

HC Melbourne Men: 1. Craig Marais, 2. Peter Scott, 3. Jonathan Bretherton, 4. Liam Henderson, 5. Douglas Buckley, 6. Damon Steffens ©, 10. Brad Marais, 11. Cooper Burns, 12. Connar Otterbach, 14. Rana Waheed, 15. Josh Simmonds, 18. Johan Durst (gk), 20. Nye Roberts, 21. Connor Tuddenham, 22. Ben White

Brisbane Blaze Women v HC Melbourne Women

Brisbane Blaze Women: 1. Savannah Fitzpatrick, 2. Rosie Malone, 3. Kendra Fitzpatrick, 4. Claire Colwill, 5. Morgan Gallagher ©, 7. Hannah Cullum-Sanders, 8. Dayle Dolkens, 9. Casey Dolkens, 10. Madison Fitzpatrick, 11. Morgan Mathison, 12. Jade Smith, 14. Stephanie Kershaw, 15. Jade Reid, 21. Renee Taylor, 75. Emily Witheyman-Crump 88. Jordan Bliss (gk)

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