The Liberty Hockey One League Finals Series is here! Seven teams are descending on the Tassie Tigers turf in a two-day epic in Hobart which will ultimately decide the winners of the 2024 Season. Saturday presents an action-packed semi-finals day with some of the biggest matchups yet to determine Sunday’s grand finalists.
Here’s your preview for all of the Finals Series action.
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MEN’S SEMI-FINAL 1
CANBERRA CHILL v BRISBANE BLAZE
Saturday, 11.00am AEDT
Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart
The first Liberty Hockey One League semi-final on Saturday in Hobart presents a blockbuster clash between the men’s heavyweights, the Canberra Chill and our resurgent defending champions, the Brisbane Blaze. Can Brisbane continue the blazing winning run that saved a dire season to topple Tasmania and remain a chance of lifting the crown in 2024? The Canberra Chill stand in their way steadfastly determined to make the grand final after dropping just one game in the regular round. It’s been a huge turnaround season since placing seventh in 2023 and the powerhouse duo of brothers Ben and Jake Staines remain in a largely unchanged lineup for the Chill. Jake’s double sealed a 2-0 win over Brisbane in round three however, the Blaze are coming in hot with Kookaburra Jake Whetton returning from the Netherlands to help his side into their second straight grand final. Jake joins Kookas teammate Daniel Beale in returning to the Blaze lineup.
SEASON FORM
Canberra Chill: W W W – W L W
Brisbane Blaze: – L L L W W W
REGULAR ROUND POSITION
Canberra Chill: 1st
Brisbane Blaze: 4th
LAST TIME THEY MET
Round 3 – October 25 – The Canberra Chill beat Brisbane 2-0 in Queensland
2023 LEAGUE RESULT
Canberra Chill: 7th
Brisbane Blaze: Champions!
TEAM LINEUPS
Canberra Chill
- 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 ©, 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)
Brisbane Blaze
- Shane Kenny, 3. Corey Weyer, 4. Noah Fahy, 6. Kyle Jeffrey-Prestwich, 9. Jacob Anderson, 10. Daykin Stanger, 11. Michael Francis, 12. Jake Whetton, 13. David Hubbard, 15. Jayden Atkinson, 16. Tim Howard ©, 17. Scott Boyde, 21. Max Harding, 22. Matthew Finn (gk), 23. Daniel Beale, 25. Hayden Pease, 32. Mitchell Nicholson (gk)
WOMEN’S SEMI-FINAL 1
PERTH THUNDERSTICKS v TASSIE TIGERS
Saturday, 12.30pm AEDT
Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart
It’s finals time and anything can happen, as many of the Perth Thundersticks players know all too well, despite remaining unbeaten in the regular season to qualify for the Road to Hobart Finals Series on top. An underdog opponent, in their first Liberty Hockey One League finals ever after a stellar 2024 season so far, and motivated to win in front of a home crowd packed full of friends and family in Hobart on Saturday could be the Thunderstick’s undoing in a do-or-die knockout match. As they eye a spot in the grand final, and ultimately the title, WA skipper Penny Squibb is taking a full-strength side to Hobart with Dutch international signing Eva Drummond and Hockeyroos Kaitlin Nobbs, Karri Somerville, Aleisha Power and Courtney Schonell all in the form of their lives. Tassie Hockeyroo Maddi Brooks is also readying to line up against the unstoppable Thundersticks, with just two additions to their lineup. Kacee Ponting and Holly Gilbar return for the semi-final berth.
SEASON FORM
Perth Thundersticks: W W W W W W –
Tassie Tigers: W L W W L – L
REGULAR ROUND POSITION
Perth Thundersticks: 1st
Tassie Tigers: 4th
LAST TIME THEY MET
Round 2 – October 20- The Perth Thundersticks beat Tassie 6-3 in Perth
2023 LEAGUE RESULT
Perth Thundersticks: 3rd – Bronze medal
Tassie Tigers: 7th
TEAM LINEUPS
Perth Thundersticks
- 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, 18. Kaitlin Nobbs, 19. Aleisha Power (gk), 20. Karri Somerville, 21. Saysha Pillay, 22. Jolie Sertorio, 24. Eva Drummond, 28. Georgia Wilson
Tassie Tigers
- Sarah McCambridge, 2. Jemma Kenworthy, 3. Fiona Crackles, 4. Maddison Brooks ©, 5. Taylor Brooks, 8. Ruby Harris, 9. Holly Hunt, 10. Louisa Jacobson, 11. Romani Kenworthy, 13. Phillida Bridley, 14. Gitte Michels, 15. Lucy Cooper, 18. Kacee Ponting, 19. Sarah Robertson, 20. Beth Dobbie, 23. Holly Gilbar, 25. Evelyn Dalton (gk)
MEN’S SEMI-FINAL 2
HC MELBOURNE v PERTH THUNDERSTICKS
Saturday, 2.30pm AEDT
Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart
Both HC Melbourne and the Perth Thundersticks have pulled in extra support, with big names returning ahead of this highly anticipated clash. When the two sides met in round three, Perth beat Melbourne in a nine-goal thriller by just one goal, with little separating the two early in the competition. Melbourne has a big name, making his first 2024 appearance; Kookaburra Nathan Ephraums is back in time to try to see his side in the final as they look to go one or two places better than their third-place finish in 2023. Brad Marais also returns while they lose Kade Leigh. Kookaburra James Collins has recovered from a calf injury in time for the trip to Hobart with the Thundersticks. Perth are heading into the semi-final fresh off a bye, although they did suffer a loss in the sixth round.
SEASON FORM
HC Melbourne: W – L W L W W
Perth Thundersticks: L W W W W L –
REGULAR ROUND POSITION
HC Melbourne: 2nd
Perth Thundersticks: 3rd
LAST TIME THEY MET
Round 3 – October 26 – The Perth Thundersticks beat HC Melbourne 5-4 in Melbourne
2023 LEAGUE RESULT
HC Melbourne: 3rd – Bronze medal
Perth Thundersticks: 6th
TEAM LINEUPS
HC Melbourne
- Craig Marais, 2. Peter Scott, 3. Jonathan Bretherton, 4. Liam Henderson, 5. Douglas Buckley, 6. Damon Steffens ©, 7. Nathan Ephraums, 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, 27. George McGeoch (gk)
Perth Thundersticks
2. William Battistessa, 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, 15. Matthew Bird, 16. Brodee Foster, 18. Ben Rennie (gk), 22. Max Freedman, 24. Matthew Willis, 25. Fraser Heigh, 26. James Collins
WOMEN’S SEMI-FINAL 2
BRISBANE BLAZE v NSW PRIDE
Saturday, 4.00pm AEDT
Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart
The final semi-final of the day presents a highly anticipated rematch between a fiery Liberty Hockey One League rivalry as the defending champions Brisbane Blaze take on the NSW Pride in Hobart. The Pride have 2023 fresh in their minds as they were knocked out in the semi-final before picking up the bronze medal in the third-place playoff. Now, they have a chance for redemption in Hobart as they eye the grand final. Brisbane has a big player returning, with Hockeyroo Claire Colwill back in the side for the semifinal. Jade Smith also returns while NSW welcomes the return of Paris Olympics goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram, Kendelle Tait and Ella Carr. It was a heated match in Newcastle when the two sides met in round two last month. Brisbane just got the upper hand with a 3-2 win.
SEASON FORM
Brisbane Blaze: – W W L W L W
NSW Pride: W L – W L W W
REGULAR ROUND POSITION
Brisbane Blaze: 2nd
NSW Pride: 3rd
LAST TIME THEY MET
Round 2 – October 19 – Brisbane Blaze beat NSW 3-2 in Newcastle, NSW.
2023 LEAGUE RESULT
Brisbane Blaze: Champions!
NSW Pride: 4th
TEAM LISTS
Brisbane Blaze
- Savannah Fitzpatrick, 2. Rosie Malone, 3. Kendra Fitzpatrick, 4. Claire Colwill, 5. Morgan Gallagher ©, 8. Dayle Dolkens, 9. Casey Dolkens, 10. Madison Fitzpatrick, 11. Morgan Mathison, 12. Jade Smith, 13. Karissa Van der Wath, 14. Stephanie Kershaw, 15. Jade Reid, 20. Jamie-Lee Surha, 21. Renee Taylor, 75. Emily Witheyman-Crump (gk), 88. Jordan Bliss (gk)
NSW Pride
- Kendelle Tait, 6. Ella Carr, 7. Grace Stewart, 8. Makayla Jones, 10. Hannah French, 11. Emma Scriven, 12. Greta Hayes, 14. Emmalee Croker, 16. Alana Kavanagh, 17. Estelle Hughes, 18. Lucinda Preeo, 19. Jocelyn Bartram (gk), 20. Madii Smith, 21. Lily Neilson, 23. Abby Wilson, 24. Mariah Williams ©, 32. Grace Young