Port Adelaide v Forestville men’s and women’s Premier League hockey games set for live stream

SA hockey returns to the pitch this weekend and we’re kicking off the coverage with an exclusive double-header live stream on Saturday. See how to watch here.

Daniela Abbracciavento

@Dani_Abbra4

2 min read

March 17, 2021 - 12:55PM

The Messenger

Hockey SA Premier League players ready for the 2021 season. (L-R) Desiree Likos (Adelaide University), Paxton Silby (Grange), Scott Germein (Port Adelaide), Scott Crowhurst (Forestville), Sam Davies (Burnside), Melissa Garner (Port Adelaide), Max Bail (Adelaide University) and Jemima Davies (Burnside). Picture: Tom Huntley

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New players, coaching changes and bold game plans – Hockey SA’s Premier League is back and is set to be one of the best seasons yet.

Clubs are enjoying a return to normal after last year’s COVID-19 interrupted campaign and players are keen to get their 2021 campaigns underway, with opening round matches beginning this Saturday.

In an exciting new venture, The Advertiser and Messenger will kick off coverage with an exclusive live stream of the men’s and women’s double-header between Forestville and Port Adelaide on Saturday from 2pm.

This will then follow live streaming of further matches from the first few rounds of the season in coming weeks.

Hockey SA Premier League stars all set for their 2021 campaigns. Picture: Tom Huntley

It comes five months after The Advertiser and Messenger’s broadcast of the 2020 men’s and women’s Premier League grand finals, won by Seacliff and Port Adelaide respectively.

Burnside just missed out on a finals berth in the shortened men’s competition last year, finishing fifth.

But vice-captain Sam Davies put the rest of the teams on notice at the season launch on Tuesday and said Burnside would be a team to beat this year.

“Expect us to be a lot more dangerous and capitalise on our opportunities and hopefully make finals,” the fullback said.

“We’ve got Seacliff (reigning premiers) first game and we’ve always played pretty well against them.

“But we are probably going to have to fight for that fourth spot against Forestville, Grange and Northeast.

“We’ve got a new player from Perth as well – Tom Wallace – he’s pretty handy.

“We were looking for a striker and that’s what he plays so he’ll fit into the team really well.”

Burnside women’s star Jemima Davies said her side would enter the 2021 season under the guidance of a new coach – Sean Faulkner.

REPLAY: SA Premier League Hockey Grand Final – Adelaide vs Seacliff (Men's)

Faulkner is a former player who has been part of Burnside since moving to Adelaide in 2013.

“It will be good to try out different structures,” Davies said.

“I think we should be a lot more dangerous up the front because we have another striker this year.

“Our press will also have a pretty good structure.”

Adelaide University men’s captain Max Bail was looking forward to having more certainty around the season this year.

The midfielder expected Seacliff and Adelaide to be the teams to beat again in the men’s competition but said University was changing its tactics this year to try and match it with the best.

“This year we will have a lot more composure on the ball,” Bail said.

“Previously teams I think saw as one that got flustered pretty easily and attacked pretty fast which bit us on the counter.

“But this year we will be looking at more of a slow build up and using our skills to move the ball forward, playing a controlled game.

“I can’t wait for the live streaming, though.

“It gives hockey the exposure it needs and gives people in the country access to metropolitan hockey games.”

The live stream will start with the men’s match between Forestville and Port Adelaide at 2pm before the women’s clash at 3.30pm.