Canberra, Newcastle & Perth are up! As round two of the Liberty Hockey One League gets underway this Friday night.
Here’s your second-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.
CANBERRA CHILL v ADELAIDE FIRE
Friday, 6.30pm AEDT (Women) 8.00pm AEDT (Men)
National Hockey Centre, Canberra
This Friday, Canberra Chill women kick off proceedings in the capital and they’ll be eager to bounce back from last Sunday’s loss to the Perth Thundersticks. Coming up against the tournament favourites proved a shock to a Canberra side stacked full of international players and they’ll be motivated to swiftly turn their season around against Adelaide. The Fire had a nail-biting shootout loss at home as their star imports and Olympians shone on the park. Adelaide captain Hockeyroo Hattie Shand and her international stars Margot van Geffen and Julia Van der Heuval from the Netherlands will be keen to see their hard work pay off this week.
The Canberra Chill men are eager to treat their home fans in the capital for the second week running, in what is a short turnaround from Sunday’s 4-3 shock win over the Perth Thundersticks in round one. Starting the season off with a confident victory certainly helps as they held off a second-half fightback from the visitors. Hat-trick star scorer Aiden Dooley remains in the lineup and they’ll be looking to get off to another hot start against Adelaide who are motivated to bounce back from their narrow 3-4 loss first up to HC Melbourne. They’ll be head-coached by player-coach Jethro Eustice this weekend after he suffered a brutal knee injury in last weekend’s match which could see him sidelined for the rest of the season. Eustice will be pleased by the Fire’s fightback last weekend and they’ll need that to continue against Canberra.
FORM (Round One)
WOMEN
Adelaide Fire: Shootout Loss
Canberra Chill: Loss
MEN
Adelaide Fire: Loss
Canberra Chill: Win
LEAGUE POSITION
WOMEN
Adelaide Fire: 5th
Canberra Chill: 7th
MEN
Adelaide Fire: 5th
Canberra Chill: 1st
LAST TIME THEY MET
Adelaide Fire Women v Canberra Chill Women
October 21 – Canberra Chill won 2-2 (3-2) in a shootout away from home
Adelaide Fire Men v Canberra Chill Men
October 21 – Canberra Chill won 2-2 (3-1) in a shootout away from home
2023 LEAGUE RESULT
WOMEN
Adelaide Fire: 6th
Canberra Chill: 2nd – Silver medal
MEN
Adelaide Fire: 5th
Canberra Chill: 7th
TEAM LISTS
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, 30. Gabrielle Millan (gk), 31. Sarah Steinhardt (gk)
Adelaide Fire Women
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, 99. Kayley Boye* Emergency 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, 27. Max Robson (gk), 30. Andrew Charter © (gk)
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, 19. Tom Brown, 20. Daniel Sibbald, 22. Richard Pautz, 25. Landon Morley, 33. Mitchell Dell, 99. Brendan Hill *Emergency GK
NSW PRIDE v BRISBANE BLAZE
Saturday, 3.00pm AEDT (Women) 4.30pm AEDT (Men)
Newcastle International Hockey Centre, NSW
An almost sold-out Newcastle will be treated to arguably the two biggest matches so far in the Liberty Hockey One League when the Brisbane Blaze launch their title defence in 2024. And what better match first up than a blockbuster women’s clash between the Blaze and the NSW Pride. Coming off a nail-biting shootout win over the Tassie Tigers last weekend the Pride have pulled out all their top stocks this weekend to face the Blaze. The Hockeyroos powerhouse goalscoring prowess of Alice Arnott and Grace Stewart will combine against Rosie Malone and Savannah Fitzpatrick for the Blaze. Who will need to get past in-form Hockeyroos goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram who’s making her opening appearance since being snapped up in the Hockey India League. Hockeyroos star Mariah Williams will lead the Pride’s charge, coming up against FIH Rising Star of the Year finalist, Claire Colwill on the Blaze’s defensive line. In short, two stacked teams will battle it out for the first honours in this ever-familiar rivalry as both sides eye the finals on the Road to Hobart. The last time the two sides met, NSW won 3-1.
Following a huge opening match is the re-match of last year’s Liberty Hockey One League Grand Final. The memory of a devastating 3-3 (3-5) shootout loss remains in the minds of the NSW Pride who will be looking to deny Brisbane a winning start. Newcastle hometown hero, Kookaburra and Olympian Ky Willott’s playing in his first match of the League and is motivated to beat the Blaze on his home soil, in front of a packed crowd with friends and family. The Blaze arrive with plenty of talent ready to go back-to-back in the League. Led by Kookaburra Daniel Beale, he’s joined by Kookaburras teammates Jacob Anderson and Jayden Atkinson with both sides ready for a finals-worthy round two repeat.
FORM (Round One)
MEN
NSW Pride: Loss
Brisbane Blaze: N/A – Bye Round One
WOMEN
NSW Pride: Shootout win
Brisbane Blaze: N/A – Bye Round One
LEAGUE POSITION
MEN
NSW Pride: 7th
Brisbane Blaze: 4th
WOMEN
NSW Pride: 2nd
Brisbane Blaze: 6th
LAST TIME THEY MET
NSW Pride Men v Brisbane Blaze Men
November 26 – Brisbane Blaze won the grand final 3-3 (5-3) in a shootout
NSW Pride Women v Brisbane Blaze Women
October 14 – NSW Pride won 3-1 away from home
2023 POSITION
MEN
NSW Pride: 2nd – Silver medal
Brisbane Blaze: Champions!
WOMEN
NSW Pride: 4th
Brisbane Blaze: Champions!
TEAM LISTS
NSW Pride Men
3. Nathan Ackroyd (gk), 5. Ash Thomas (gk), 8. Nathanael Stewart ©, 9. Nathan Czinner, 10. Liam Alexander, 12. Jared Findley, 14. Dylan Martin, 15. Miles Davis, 16. Joshua Gregory, 17. Nicholas Mcewen, 20. Ky Willott, 21. Luke Noblett, 23. Ryan Woolnough, 32. Callum Mackay, 34. Thomas Miotto, 36. Michael Taylor
Brisbane Blaze Men
1. Will Mathison, 2. Shane Kenny, 5. Tyler Spry, 6. Kyle Jeffrey-Prestwich, 8. Adam Imer, 9. Jacob Anderson, 11. Michael Francis, 13. David Hubbard, 15. Jayden Atkinson, 19. Luke Randle, 20. Tom Campbell, 21. Max Harding, 23. Daniele Beale ©, 24. Diarmid Chappell, 32. Mitchell Nicholson (gk), 99. Ryan Oschladeus *E GK
NSW Pride Women
1. Alice Arnott, 4. Kendelle Tait, 5. Chelsea Holmes, 6. Ella Carr, 7. Grace Stewart, 8. Makayla Jones, 10. Hannah French, 12. Greta Hayes, 14. Emmalee Croker, 17. Estelle Hughes, 18. Lucinda Preeo, 19. Jocelyn Bartram (gk), 22. Zoe Newman (gk), 23. Abby Wilson, 24. Mariah Williams ©, 32. Grace Young
Brisbane Blaze Women
1. Savannah Fitzpatrick, 2. Rosie Malone, 3. Kendra Fitzpatrick, 4. Claire Colwill, 5. Morgan Gallagher ©, 7. Hannah Cullum-Saunders, 8. Dayle Dolkens, 9. Casey Dolkens, 10. Madison Fitzpatrick, 11. Morgan Mathison, 18. Madeline Kenny, 21. Renee Taylor, 22. Britt Wilkinson, 25. Kyra Livermore, 88. Jordan Bliss (gk)
PERTH THUNDERSTICKS v TASSIE TIGERS
Sunday, 5.30pm AEDT (Men) 7.00pm AEDT (Women)
Perth Hockey Stadium, Curtin University
If the Perth Thundersticks women’s 10-3 win over Canberra Chill last weekend wasn’t intimidating enough, they’ve pulled in two of the world’s best for their round two clash against the Tassie Tigers. Netherlands triple Olympic gold medallist Eva Drummond is set to make her long-awaited Liberty Hockey One League appearance in Perth on Sunday evening as well as Hockeyroos defender Kaitlin Nobbs. The duo will provide even more firepower to WA’s hometown hero, Penny Squibb’s side as they look to continue an unbeaten run in the competition. Playing at home for the first time this season, the Thundersticks will prove to be tough for the Tassie Tigers who will be looking to bounce back from their narrow shootout loss to the NSW Pride last weekend. Yet their performance was a confident start for the side that struggled to score a single point last season and they’ll be looking to lean on a familiar teammate for Eva Drummond with Dutch penalty-corner star Gitte Michels in the line-up.
A tight match-up in the men’s match will follow as Perth look to make amends in front of home fans this weekend against the Tigers. Kookaburras co-captains Jake Harvie and Tom Wickham need little motivation but a very familiar teammate will be facing them when they take on Eddie Ockdenden in his first Liberty Hockey One League match in 2024. With a few familiar matchups on the cards between teammates, including the rival brothers pairings of Jake and Tom Harvie and Josh and Hayden Beltz, this match is set to be a little bit spicey as the Tassie Tigers look to continue their winning ways.
FORM (Round One)
MEN
Perth Thundersticks: Loss
Tassie Tigers: Win
WOMEN
Perth Thundersticks: Win
Tassie Tigers: Shootout loss
LEAGUE POSITION
MEN
Perth Thundersticks: 6th
Tassie Tigers: 2nd
WOMEN
Perth Thundersticks: 1st
Tassie Tigers: 4th
LAST TIME THEY MET
Perth Thundersticks Men v Tassie Tigers Men
October 20 – Tassie Tigers won 2-1 at home in Hobart
Perth Thundersticks Women v Tassie Tigers Women
October 20 – Perth Thundersticks won 4-1 away from home in Hobart
2023 POSITION
MEN
Perth Thundersticks: 6th
Tassie Tigers: 4th
WOMEN
Perth Thundersticks: 3rd – Bronze medal
Tassie Tigers: 7th
TEAM LISTS
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), 17. Annie Gibbs, 18. Kaitlin Nobbs, 19. Aleisha Power (gk), 20. Karri Somerville, 22. Jolie Sertorio, 24. Eva Drummond, 28. Georgia Wilson, 33. Candyce Peacock
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, 21. Lauren Canning, 23. Holly Gilbar 25. Evelyn Dalton (gk), 99. Lou Ellen Edwards* E GK
Perth Thundersticks Men
3. Brayden King, 4. Jake Harvie ©, 5. Tom Wickham, 8. Coby Green, 9. James Day, 10. Joshua Bowen, 11. Tom Harvie, 13. Samuel Ashton, 14. Chaz Davies, 16. Brodee Foster, 18. Ben Rennie (gk), 21. Christian Starkie (gk), 23. Campbell Geddes, 24. Matthew Willis, 25. Fraser Heigh, 26. James Collins
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, 77. Hunter Banyard* E GK