We’re in Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide! As round three of the Liberty Hockey One League gets underway this Friday night.
Here’s your third-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 through Intix.
BRISBANE BLAZE v CANBERRA CHILL
Friday, 7.30pm AEDT (Men) 9.00pm AEDT (Women)
Queensland State Hockey Centre, Brisbane
Our defending champs are at home for the first time this season, as they get set to host a cracker of a match. The Blaze men didn’t get off to a winning start last weekend, in front of a sold-out Newcastle crowd, when they went down 2-3 to the Pride and they’ll be looking to recover their season quickly, as they sit in 6th on the ladder after a bye and a loss first up. But they’re in for a barn-storming affair in Queensland and will need their home crowd behind them to halt Canberra’s unbeaten start to the 2024 season. The Chill are heading into the match unchanged, and why wouldn’t they as they sit three points clear at the top. Keep an eye on last week’s star debutant Dylan Brick, who scored a hat-trick on debut, and their Kookaburras captain Andrew Charter in goal. The Blaze have made one change with Kookaburra Jacob Anderson out and Scott Boyde in, they’ll be looking to rely on a fine performance from their captain Jayden Atkinson and Diarmid Chappell again this week.
It’s a juicy double-header when the women’s match follows, showcasing a match-up between the 2nd and 3rd ranked sides after two rounds and the first clash between the two sides since last year’s grand final when the Blaze won 4-1. The Chill recovered from a brutal first-round loss to beat Adelaide 4-2 last weekend and they’ve opted for no changes for this huge clash when they come up against the Blaze who are unbeaten after one game. Yet, the Blaze has already suffered a rough double blow with news that Hannah Callum-Saunders and Madison Fitzpatrick are out this week. Hannah went down in last week’s match with a knee injury and the Blaze will be sure to miss goal scorer Madison, whose brace helped win them the match in last week’s outing against the Pride.
FORM
MEN
Brisbane Blaze: – L
Canberra Chill: W W
WOMEN
Brisbane Blaze: – W
Canberra Chill: L W
LEAGUE POSITION
MEN
Brisbane Blaze: 6th
Canberra Chill: 1st
WOMEN
Brisbane Blaze: 2nd
Canberra Chill: 3rd
LAST TIME THEY MET
Brisbane Blaze Men v Canberra Chill Men
November 10 – Brisbane Blaze won 6-4 away from home
Brisbane Blaze Women v Canberra Chill Women
November 26 – Brisbane Blaze won 4-1 in the grand final in Canberra
2023 LEAGUE RESULT
MEN
Brisbane Blaze: Champions!
Canberra Chill: 7th
WOMEN
Brisbane Blaze: Champions!
Canberra Chill: 2nd – Silver medal
TEAM LISTS
Brisbane Blaze Men
1. Will Mathison, 2. Shane Kenny, 5. Tyler Spry, 6. Kyle Jeffrey-Prestwich, 8. Adam Imer, 11. Michael Francis, 13. David Hubbard, 15. Jayden Atkinson, 17. Scott Boyde, 19. Luke Randle, 20. Tom Campbell, 21. Max Harding, 22. Matthew Finn (gk), 23. Daniel Beale ©, 24. Diarmid Chappell, 32. Mitchell Nicholson (gk)
Canberra Chill Men
2. Ben Staines, 3. Anand Gupte, 6. Xavier Gispert, 11. Garry Backhus, 12. Jake Staines, 13. Dylan Brick 14. Theophile Ponthieu, 15. Hayden Dillon ©, 16. Oscar Smart, 17. Aiden Dooley, 18. Kaito Tanaka, 23. Jay Macdonald, 24. Davis Atkin, 26. James Jewel, 30. Andrew Charter © (gk)
Brisbane Blaze Women
1. Savannah Fitzpatrick, 2. Rosie Malone, 3. Kendra Fitzpatrick, 4. Claire Colwill, 5. Morgan Gallagher ©, 6. Camryn Mathison, 8. Dayle Dolkens, 9. Casey Dolkens, 11. Morgan Mathison, 12. Jade Smith, 13. Karissa Van der Wath, 21. Renee Taylor, 22. Britt Wilkinson, 25. Kyra Livermore, 30. Madyson Jones * E GK, 88. Jordan Bliss (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)
HC MELBOURNE v PERTH THUNDERSTICKS
Saturday, 6.30pm AEDT (Men) 8.00pm AEDT (Women)
State Netball & Hockey Centre, Melbourne
After a bye in the second round, HC Melbourne are back and they’re playing at home for the first time this season, with a feisty match-up against the Perth Thundersticks. Opening the evening, the Perth Thundersticks men will be desperate to pull out a statement performance as they teeter in fifth place on the standings after two underwhelming performances for a stacked side first up. Co-captains, Kookaburras Jake Harvie and Tom Wickham know they need a big performance to contend with the top four spots on the Road to Hobart Finals Series. While the Thundersticks have only made one change with Matthew Bird in and Josh Bowen out, HC Melbourne has made three changes. Notably, Melbourne is unleashing their brand new international signing, Pakistani striker Rana Waheed. His speed, agility and goal-scoring ability will complement the likes of Cooper Burns and Ben White and he’s often turned the game around for Pakistan at the top level. He’ll be hoping to make the same impact on debut in the Liberty Hockey One League on Saturday night.
Melbourne women will be looking to build on their opening-round shootout win against Adelaide and they’ll need to as they face off against the tournament favourites Perth who are creating a storm early in this competition. The ladder leaders are sitting pretty on top and benefitted from the return of Hockeyroos midfield star Kaitlin Nobbs last week and their star signing, Eva Drummond. Also making an impact on her return from injury is former Hockeyroo Courtney Schonell, as she continues to audition for her spot back in the national set-up. Melbourne’s star German international signing Charlotte Stapenhorst made a huge impact in game one and Melbourne will be hoping that continues on Saturday night.
FORM
MEN
HC Melbourne: W –
Perth Thundersticks: L W
WOMEN
HC Melbourne: W –
Perth Thundersticks: W W
LEAGUE POSITION
MEN
HC Melbourne: 3rd
Perth Thundersticks: 5th
WOMEN
HC Melbourne: 4th
Perth Thundersticks: 1st
LAST TIME THEY MET
HC Melbourne Men v Perth Thundersticks Men
October 29 – HC Melbourne won 6-2 away from home in Perth
HC Melbourne Women v Perth Thundersticks Women
October 29 – Perth Thundersticks won 1-0 at home in Perth
2023 POSITION
MEN
HC Melbourne: 3rd – Bronze medal
Perth Thundersticks: 6th
WOMEN
HC Melbourne: 5th
Perth Thundersticks: 3rd – Bronze medal
TEAM LISTS
HC Melbourne Men
2. Peter Scott, 3. Jonathan Bretherton, 5. Douglas Buckley, 6. Damon Steffens ©, 8. Kade Leigh, 9. Oliver Will, 10. Brad Marais, 11. Cooper Burns, 13. Andrew Scanlon, 14. Rana Waheed, 15. Josh Simmonds, 17. Will Carruthers, 18. Johan Durst (gk), 19. Jordan Rees, 22. Ben White, 27. George McGeoch (gk)
Perth Thundersticks Men
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, 21. Christian Starkie (gk), 23. Cambell Geddes, 24. Matthew Willis, 25. Fraser Heigh, 26. James Collins, 88. Ed Arnold *E GK
HC Melbourne Women
1. Sophie Taylor, 2. Aisling Utri, 3. Kary Chau, 5. Kristina Bates, 6. Josie Lawton, 7. Ciara Utri, 8. Hannah Cotter, 10. Emily Hamilton-Smith, 11. Rene Hunter (gk), 12. Charlotte Stapenhorst, 14. Laura Barden, 15. Olivia Downes, 20. Zali Ward, 25. Hannah Gravenall ©, 27. Rachael Lynch (gk), 31. Evie Stansby
Perth Thundersticks Women
1. Phillipa Morgan, 3. Neasa Flynn, 5. Courtney Schonell, 6. Lexie Pickering, 7. Penny Squibb, 10. Jesse Reid, 12. Liné Malan, 15. Belle Ramshaw, 17. Annie Gibbs, 18. Kaitlin Nobbs, 19. Aleisha Power (gk), 20. Karri Somerville, 22. Jolie Sertorio, 24. Eva Drummond, 33. Candyce Peacock ©, Daisy Caink* E GK
ADELAIDE FIRE v TASSIE TIGERS
Sunday, 3.30pm AEDT (Men) 5.00pm AEDT (Women)
MATE Stadium, Adelaide
Adelaide Fire men will be considering this Sunday’s clash a near must-win game, when they take on the Tassie Tigers on their home turf. Tassie were on the wrong side of the shootout in Perth when neither side could get a goal on the board across the first 60 minutes and they’ll be in Adelaide with plenty of work ons to get the job done over the Fire. Tassie enter the match virtually unchanged on last week, with five-time Olympian Eddie Ockenden back on the park, while the Fire have made one change with Bryce Hammond in and Richard Pautz out.
In the women’s match straight after, both sides will be hunting their first win of the tournament, after the Tassie Tigers went down to Perth last weekend and the Adelaide Fire went down to Canberra. Both sides are well matched, as they have both been close this season. Round one saw both teams suffer a narrow loss in a shootout and they’ll know this is their chance to make a big push to eye a top four spot on the ladder. Leading the packs are two very familiar friends and teammates, Hockeyroos Hattie Shand and Maddison Brooks.
FORM (Round One)
MEN
Adelaide Fire: L L
Tassie Tigers: W L
WOMEN
Adelaide Fire: L L
Tassie Tigers: L L
LEAGUE POSITION
MEN
Adelaide Fire: 7th
Tassie Tigers: 2nd
WOMEN
Adelaide Fire: 6th
Tassie Tigers: 7th
LAST TIME THEY MET
Adelaide Fire Men v Tassie Tigers Men
November 11 – Adelaide won 3-1 in Hobart
Adelaide Fire Women v Tassie Tigers Women
November 11 – Adelaide won 2-1 in Hobart
2023 POSITION
MEN
Adelaide Fire: 5th
Tassie Tigers: 4th
WOMEN
Adelaide Fire: 6th
Tassie Tigers: 7th
TEAM LISTS
Adelaide Fire Men
1. Jed Snowden (gk), 2. Luke Anderson, 4. Jack Holland, 5. Trent Symss, 7. Geoff Abbott, 8. Seb Foster, 9. Fred Gray ©, 10. Thomas Wycherley, 12. Lachlan Arneil, 16. Hugh Snowden, 17. Bryce Hammond, 19. Tom Brown, 20. Daniel Sibbald, 25. Landon Morley, 27. Oliver Higgins (gk) 33. Mitchell Dell
Tassie Tigers Men
2. Harvey Bessell, 4. Hayden Beltz, 5. Max Johnstone, 6. Joshua Brooks, 9. Jeremy Edwards, 11. Eddie Ockenden, 13. Joshua Beltz ©, 14. Jack Welch, 15. Oscar Pritchard, 16. Alexander Hogan-Jones, 17. Oliver Pritchard, 19. Tim Deavin, 20. Ehren Hazell, 21. Leon Hayward (gk), 26. Oliver Smith
Adelaide Fire Women
1. Bridget Laurance (gk), 3. Sherilyn Cass, 4. Teyiah Abell, 7. Linzi Appleyard, 8. Miki Spano, 9. Britney Desilva, 10. Tyler Pedley, 11. Lucy Sharman, 13. Hattie Shand ©, 15. Beatriz Monger-Molowny, 16. Casey Crowley 19. Julia Van de Heuvel, 21. Amy Hammond (gk), 23. Margot van Geffen, 24. Shona McCallin, 29. Rosario Villagra
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, 20. Beth Dobbie, 23. Holly Gilbar 25. Evelyn Dalton (gk)
Hockey One
