Two of the Netherlands’ greatest ever players Eva Drummond and Margot van Geffen will feature in the Liberty Hockey One League this season
Affectionately known on The Shootout (the Liberty Hockey One League’s Official Podcast) as “The Mouth from the South”, Tassie’s Adam Clifford puts pen to paper on what could be the League’s most exciting offseason to date…
The Liberty Financial Hockey One League is set to reach a whole new level this year, with a Dutch former World Player of the Year headlining an influx of international stars ready to make waves across the women’s competition.
Season 2024 will feature no less than 34 international players, a League record, and includes some of the biggest names of world hockey. There can be little doubt that the Liberty Hockey One League can lay claim to being the strongest women’s hockey league on the planet right now!
Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect from the new faces for your women’s club.
Adelaide Fire addition Margot van Geffen arrives with a CV that others dream of
Margot van Geffen, Julia van den Heuvel, Puck de Beijer (all Netherlands), Shona McCallin (Great Britain), Rosario Villagra (Argentina), Casey Crowley (New Zealand)
Analysis:
The power brokers at the Fire have had a busy off-season with a plethora of big signings, including starving off stiff competition for the signature of van Geffen. If you’re wondering how much of a star of Dutch hockey she is, consider this: Van Geffen was capped 265 times for the world number one ranked side and out of all those matches, she only played in thirteen losses across her career! The three-time Olympian has two gold medals and a silver in her cabinet to go with three World Cup titles and a reputation for her outstanding positional awareness, tough tackling and tactical intelligence that is feared by opponents. Supported by 122-times capped Great Britain midfielder and two-time Olympian McCallin, the Fire look set to scorch their opposition.
FIH Rising Star of the Year nominee Claire Colwill will be back in action for Brisbane
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Analysis:
The defending champions couldn’t possibly squeeze an international player into their stacked squad of current, former and emerging Hockeyroos. Led by the likes of Paris Olympic heroes Claire Colwill, Steph Kershaw and Renee Taylor, the Blaze will likely be the competition’s benchmark. All eyes will also be on cross-code star Rosie Malone as 106-game striker returns to the Blaze line-up with a point to prove, after narrowly missing the final Olympic side.
GB’s Giselle Ansley joins a Chill team looking to go one better
Giselle Ansley, Ellie Rayer, Grace Balsdon (all England), Emma Davidsmeyer (Germany)
Analysis:
After their astute signings last campaign, the Chill look to again pulled off a remarkable off-season headlined by Ansley’s signing. The 221-times capped Great Britain defender has been a key component of their backline and possesses a wicked aerial. Another international recruit with an Olympic gold medal in her locker, also famously won the 2022 Commonwealth Games with England. Countrywoman Balsdon (138 caps and 37 goals) is a massive threat on penalty corners and has a reputation for seizing on the big moments, as evidenced by her winning goal in the bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics, while Rayer (114 caps and 16 goals) is regarded as one the quickest players in world hockey! The striker famously played with a broken nose in Great Britain’s Tokyo bronze medal run and had represented Wales as a 400m sprinter.
Germany’s Stapenhorst promises to significantly bolster HC Melbourne’s firepower
Charlotte Stapenhorst (Germany), Hannah Cotter, Hannah Gravenall (New Zealand)
Analysis:
Fresh off her third Olympics, the 29-year-old has been in career best form in 2024 and her thirst for scoring goals from anywhere in the circle presents a scary proposition for opposing defences. The German goal-scoring dynamo averages more than a goal every three games across her 171 international matches, including eight goals against world number two Argentina across her career to-date. Her highlights reel is untouched, with an array of 3D skills and tracer-bullet shooting making her a force (if you don’t believe me, search YouTube!). After little sister Kaitlin made such an impression twelve months ago, Hannah Cotter returns alongside national teammate Gravenall to return HC Melbourne to the finals.
It’ll be strike power aplenty when GB’s Hannah French joins the Pride’s already formidable forward line
Meike van Haeringen (Netherlands), Hannah French (England)
Analysis:
Formally Hannah Martin, the 150 gamer has flourished since making her international debut in 2017 and has regularly found the back of the net, scoring 58 international goals already. Hannah will excite fans with her dazzling stick skills and ball control, acting as a focal point alongside Hockeyroos Grace Stewart and Alice Arnott. French scored four goals in Great Britain’s Tokyo Olympic bronze medal performance, after returning just four months after sustaining a broken leg and ankle ligament damage. Fresh from the Paris Olympics, French will complement coach Scott Barker’s aggressive game style perfectly.
Is this the signing of the season? Get ready Perth fans – Eva Drummond (pictured right) is not to be missed
Eva Drummond (Netherlands)
Analysis:
Put simply: the Thundersticks won the off-season. Drummond (nee de Goede) was arguably the best women’s player since Argentinian Lucia Aymar, claiming the FIH World Player of the Year twice (2019, 2020). After 266 international matches, including three Olympic and three World Cup gold medals, Drummond has achieved everything the sport had to offer, except the Liberty Hockey One League. That final mountain could be claimed, with the star midfielder set to link up with Hockeyroos pair Kaitlin Nobbs and Courtney Schonell. Hockey purists will relish in observing Drummond’s ability to control the pace of the game and make critical plays under pressure. There’s a reason she was twice recognised as best in the world!
A new Tiger on the hunt. Tassie welcome GB’s Fiona Crackles to the Apple Isle
Fiona Crackles, Sarah Robertson, Holly Hunt (all Great Britain), Gitte Michels (Netherlands)
Analysis:
If you don’t already know Fiona Crackles (80 caps), prepare yourself to be impressed by the defensive midfielders strong receiving skills and ability to shield her back four. The Tassie Tigers supporter base will be roaring will praise for the no-nonsense player who contributed to Great Britain’s Olympic bronze medal effort in Tokyo aged just 21 years. Alongside forwards Hunt (37 caps) and Robertson (200 caps), the Tigers have a forward line that can propel them all the way to a home finals series, while Michels can literally send the ball into orbit from the free hit with a 75m aerial range and penalty corner prowess.
Season four hits off on 11 October with the Brisbane Blaze igniting their triple-title defence, while the challengers race to make the all-new Road to Hobart Finals Series and end Brisbane’s run.
The Liberty Hockey One League will be broadcast live and free on 7plus, with 2024 season tickets and memberships available now here.
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