Just two rounds remain until the Road to Hobart Finals Series hits off at the end of the month, and four teams have booked their spot at the final dance, including a side who have pulled off a sensational comeback to make the finals for the very first time.
Is it your team? Here’s how the rankings shake up at the end of the fifth round.
NSW PRIDE
The NSW Pride’s seasons are in jeopardy after a double loss marked their first home visit to Macarthur. It’s more dire for the men, who sit fifth equal on the standings after a 1-3 loss to Perth on Friday night, seven points shy of a spot in the finals with just two matches left to play. The 2023 silver medallists need to win their last remaining matches and have other results go their way if they’re to stand a chance of making the Road to Hobart finals series. They’ll be ruing cards, which saw them play for almost an entire quarter a man down as Perth ran away to a three-goal lead. They’ll come up against NSW coach Roel van Massteugt’s old side Adelaide this weekend, who are yet to score their first point this season, before taking on the table toppers Canberra in the final round.
A spot in the Finals is looking more promising for the women’s Pride, who are clinging on to fourth spot, just three points clear of the Canberra Chill in fifth. Having lost their star striker Alice Arnott for the second straight match due to a calf injury, they struggled to secure their spot further after coming up against a mighty unbeaten Perth outfit who have dominated all season. The Pride will be happy they kept the goal differential to the smallest it’s been for a team playing Perth all season, but they know their spot in the finals is all but assured, and they need two strong matches against Adelaide and Canberra next up.
PERTH THUNDERSTICKS
The Perth Thundersticks season couldn’t get any better, with both sides securing their spot in the finals after round five. Following a first-round loss, the men’s Thundersticks are celebrating four wins on the trot following their latest 3-1 win over the NSW Pride. They’ve jumped Tassie to claim second spot on the standings with a clash against Brisbane and a bye remaining in the regular season. With their spot in the finals locked and loaded, Perth will be looking for a strong performance against Brisbane this weekend to enter the bye on a high before they travel to Hobart. With fourth place or better assured in the 2024 season, it’s a remarkable turnaround from their 6th place finish last year.
The Perth Thundersticks women’s domination continues to roll on, with a spot in the finals locked and loaded for a side that remains unbeaten in 2024. On this outing, a Lexie Pickering double and a solid penalty stroke from the skipper Penny Squibb in the final quarter sealed their tightest win yet over NSW. It’s impressive, given Perth had rested their star Hockeyroos Kaitlin Nobbs and Karri Somerville for the trip to Macarthur. They’ll welcome a strong test against Brisbane at home this weekend before a well-deserved bye ahead of the trip to Hobart. They’ll enter the finals as favourites to take home the title, and they’ll be hoping to improve on last year’s result when they narrowly missed out on the medals.
NSW PRIDE MEN: 1 (Ky Willott 58”)
PERTH THUNDERSTICKS MEN: 3 (William Battistessa 22”, 22” & James Day 24”)
FRI NOV 08, Macarthur Regional Hockey Complex, NSW
NSW PRIDE WOMEN: 1 (Emma Scriven 33”)
PERTH THUNDERSTICKS WOMEN: 3 (Lexie Pickering 10”, 10”, Penny Squibb 48”)
FRI NOV 08, Macarthur Regional Hockey Complex, NSW
TASSIE TIGERS
A barnstorming, goal-loaded match became the highlight of the weekend when the two men’s table toppers went head-to-head in a Liberty Hockey One League clash for the ages. It took 15 goals to separate the Tigers and Canberra before the winner was decided right in the dying stages of the match. Aiden Dooley’s field goal and conversion under immense pressure in the final seconds of the match ultimately tipped the match in Canberra’s favour, denying Tassie their assured spot in the Road to Hobart finals series at home at the end of the month. Starring in such a massive match was Kookaburra Hayden Beltz, whose four goals spread out over almost every quarter in the match, almost saw them retain the second spot and book that all-important final place. Tassie will be assured by a rousing performance worthy of the grand finale as they attempt to secure their spot when they take on HC Melbourne in the final round after a bye this week.
History was made for the Tassie women, who won their third straight match with a 3-2 win over Canberra to book their spot in the Liberty Hockey One League finals for the first time ever. It’s an incredible comeback after they failed to secure a point all season in 2023, proving that a culture shift has paid off as they prepare to play in their first finals series in front of a roaring home crowd. Their early qualification has come at a handy time, as they welcome a bye before taking on Melbourne in the final round. They’ll be eager to win that match to carry momentum into their first finals fixture.
CANBERRA CHILL
The Canberra Chill delivered their toughest win yet to remain unbeaten in 2024 and book their spot in the finals. Tassie had the Chill on the ropes and a goal down as the 60th minute on the clock tipped over. The decisive moment came from a player who has impressed all season, Aiden Dooley, delivering right on the line to secure Canberra’s spot in emphatic fashion. Another player who has made his mark all season is Ben Staines. His hat trick in this match will have put him on notice for the incoming Kookaburras coach ahead of the 2025 Squad naming for the national side. With their spot in the top four locked, Canberra will be looking to maintain their form and carry their momentum into the finals series, following matches against Melbourne and the Pride.
A finals spot is less assured for Canberra women, who sit in fifth on the table, with a crucial match to play in the last round against the NSW Pride who are in fourth spot. Canberra need decisive wins if they’re to overtake the Pride for the fourth finals spot, after their 2-3 loss to Tassie marked their third loss, with just one win to their name in 2024.
TASSIE TIGERS MEN: 7 (Joshua Brooks 9”, Hayden Beltz 10”, 28”, 54”, 57”, Lachlan Rogers 19”, Ehren Hazell 57”)
CANBERRA CHILL MEN: 8 (Dylan Brick 15”, 40”, Ben Staines 38”, 52”, 52”, 54”, Aiden Dooley 60”, 60”)
SAT NOV 9, The Tasmanian Hockey Centre
TASSIE TIGERS WOMEN: 3 (Gitte Michels 10”, Ruby Harris 18”, 19”)
CANBERRA CHILL WOMEN: 2 (Naomi Evans 40”, 40”)
SAT NOV 9, The Tasmanian Hockey Centre
BRISBANE BLAZE
The Brisbane Blaze have kept their season alive, but only just, after picking up their first win of the season and some much-needed points in a shootout win over HC Melbourne. Kookaburra Corey Weyer’s return to the side proved to be the decisive factor, as his goal in the shootout helped his side to victory after a great game back on Aussie soil. The win sees the defending champs sit fifth-equal with the Pride on the table and now considerably closer to HC Melbourne who are holding the final finals spot in fourth. Brisbane’s season is still on a must-win basis and they’ll need other results to go their way. A big test against Perth who have already qualified is up next, before they take on Adelaide in the final round.
It’s a different scenario for the women whose 4-1 win over Melbourne further cemented their standings as a front-runner in the competition. Steph Kershaw’s return to the Liberty Hockey One League lived up to all expectations as she opened the scoring for her side inside the first 11 minutes with a tidy double. Brisbane sits third on the standings, behind the Tassie Tigers. The defending champs haven’t yet qualified for the finals and can do so with a dominant performance in round six. But it’ll be a huge challenge as they come up against Perth in WA, in what is an early look at the potential grand final.
HC MELBOURNE
A narrow shootout loss to Brisbane has seen Melbourne’s hold on a finals spot in the men’s division slip despite an impressive showing against the bolstered defending champs. Damon Steffen’s double and goals from Cooper Burns and Ben White held off a desperate Brisbane side determined to win their first match this season with their Kookaburras back in action. Two brutal matches against the unbeaten Canberra Chill and third-ranked Tassie Tigers await as they desperately fight to retain their fourth spot on the standings. They sit seven points clear of NSW and Brisbane, who are fighting to topple them from that all-important fourth spot.
A big match against Canberra this weekend could be the decisive match for whether HC Melbourne can close in on a finals spot in the women’s competition. But it won’t be easy as they trail in sixth spot with just three points to their name after round five’s 1-4 loss to Brisbane. Despite opening the scoring through Hannah Cotter in just the second minute, Canberra struggled to take charge against the defending champs, falling short to the return of Hockeyroo Steph Kershaw early. They must win the last two matches to keep their finals hopes alive.
BRISBANE BLAZE MEN: 4 (2) (Corey Weyer 29”, Jayden Atkinson 51”, Daykin Stanger 55”, 55”)
HC MELBOURNE MEN: 4 (1) (Ben White 18”, Damon Steffens 33”, 49”, Cooper Burns 52”)
SUN, NOV 10, Queensland State Hockey Centre
BRISBANE BLAZE WOMEN: 4 (Stephanie Kershaw 11”, 11” & Madeline Kenny 41”)
HC MELBOURNE WOMEN: 1 (Hannah Cotter 2”)
SUN, NOV 10, Queensland State Hockey Centre