Adelaide Hockey Club in the midst of runaway Premier League lead after eight straight wins

After losing the grand final last year, this Premier League hockey club has gone the first two months of the season without a loss. Now the coach reveals its strategy.

A Hockey SA Premier League club is quickly separating itself from the rest after failing to drop a game during the first two months of the 2022 season.

After losing last season’s grand final against Seacliff, and losing 2021 MVP Fred Gray to the Australian Development Squad, the Adelaide Hockey Club’s men’s team has been on a tear.

It has won its first eight games of the year to remain the only undefeated side in senior metro hockey in the state.

“It’s been really, really pleasing,” playing-coach Tom Cleghorn said of his team’s performance so far.

“We’ve had a real focus on some core principles around defence and also our attacking play this season and we’ve managed to cement those and have seen wins come as a by-product.”

Tom Cleghorn (left) has become accustomed to success at the Adelaide Hockey Club, and it seems his team is set for another big year in 2022. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The club started its year with a convincing 9-1 win over Burnside in round one and has not looked since.

The team has dominated on both ends of the field, winning every game relatively comfortably outside of its 3-2 win over Seacliff in round five.

Cleghorn said it had been an interesting season so far with multiple rotations due to Covid-19, but that this had allowed for a level of unpredictability in the team’s play.

“Last year during Covid it was quite straightforward with mandates, but this year we’ve been juggling selection sometimes even the day before a game because guys might get sick or become close contacts,” he said.

“The pleasing thing from this though is we’ve been able to rotate guys through and play a lot of younger guys who have managed to put their names forward.

Captain Angus Fry (second from left) has been strong again this season, scoring six goals and creating for his teammates. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“I think we’re bearing the fruits of player development, because we’re now able to rotate more seasoned players through different positions which allows us to be unpredictable and wreak havoc when it comes to how we press and attack.”

Cleghorn praised his team’s ability to step up to the occasion each week, and also cover for the indefinite absence of former star Fred Gray.

While captain Angus Fry remains a threat on the field, players like Jack Holland – who has filled Gray’s position – and young gun Sam Button have been able to step up.

Cleghorn also gave credit to assistant coach Darren Neimke for his guidance in 2022.

“Holland has been a really high performer for us in defensive midfield now, he’s been huge, and the continued development of Sam Button, who was running off the bench in Metro 1’s for the club early on, has been impressive,” Cleghorn said.

Adelaide’s Jack Holland has taken his game to another level in the first two months of this season after Fred Gray’s departure. Picture: Dean Martin

“Darren (Neimke) has been a big part of the success too – he brings a different type of thinking and video analysis which really helps to reinforce our principles.”

With 13 rounds left before finals, much of the season is still to be played out.

While Cleghorn admitted last year’s grand final loss had been tough to move on from, he said the club was only focused on the job at hand from here on out.

“We haven’t been thinking about it, we’re just taking each week as it comes,” he said.

“The league is a lot stronger this year and while it was tough to move on from that loss we have to stay locked in and keep performing.”

The side will take on Port Adelaide this Saturday.