Hockey One 2023: All the likes and dislikes from Round 2

Viewers held their breath as Australia’s most promising young Hockeyroo, midfielder Amy Lawton, hobbled off. Check our likes and dislikes from round two of Hockey One.

Amy Lawton, pictured for the Hockeyroos, injured her calf over the weekend. Picture: Alex Coppel

The Adelaide Fire men notched their first win in the history of Hockey One, and NSW Pride pulled out all the party tricks in a Brisbane demolition.

Meanwhile, panicked Hockeyroo fans watched superstar Amy Lawton hobble off with a calf injury.

Kate Allman reveals her likes and dislikes from round two.

LIKES

NO COBWEBS FOR NSW PRIDE

After sitting out for the bye in round one, NSW Pride pounced on their premiership defence like the Harlem Globetrotters of hockey, claiming a dual knockout of Brisbane Blaze women and men on Saturday.

Former Canberran Laura Reid netted a brace on debut in the Pride women’s 3-1 win. Hockeyroo striker Grace Stewart submitted an early entry for goal of the year, taming a dart from Abigail Wilson then banging it into the backboard from the top of the circle as the first quarter buzzer sounded.

On his return to Hockey One, drag flicking superstar Blake Govers set up one of the fastest goals in league history by sending a rocket to Tim Brand’s deft deflection just 30 seconds into the 7-3 victory.

Team veteran Tom Craig volleyed an overhead from Brand into the net to produce an instantly viral goal. And of course, Govers took his own chance to launch a rocket that collected back and sideboard on a penalty corner.

Both the women’s and men’s Pride game plans looked similar – rapid counter-attacks, lightning ball movement and opportunistic high strikers lurking to pounce. The 1600-strong record Queensland crowd slunk home stunned, having seen so much promise in the Blaze through round one.

ADELAIDE FINALLY FIRE

Electric youngster Jack “Hollywood” Holland helped make history on Friday night, stealing two final-quarter goals to claim Adelaide Fire’s first win in the three-year existence of Hockey One.

Dubbed “Hollywood” during the 2022 season for his explosive individual antics, Holland, 20, was quiet last week in his team’s 10-2 shellacking by Brisbane Blaze. This week, Adelaide goalkeeper Jed Snowden thwarted a barrage of HC Melbourne shots to keep the door open for his strikers.

With three minutes to go and scores at 2-1, Holland collected a ball on his reverse at an impossible angle to goal, but somehow tomahawked into the top net behind Kookaburras goalkeeper Johan Durst.

Scores levelled and with barely 10 seconds on the clock, Holland again snuck behind defenders on the receiving end of a bullet pass into the D. He tipped it behind Durst for the sealer, an historic win for the beleaguered Fire.

AERIAL ANTICS

Volleyed goals from overhead passes into the D might become a thrilling theme of Hockey One.

Tom Craig started the trend on Saturday for the NSW Pride off the aerial assist from Kookaburra teammate Tim Brand. NSW captain Jack Hayes followed suit with an overhead smash from a goalkeeper’s rebound.

The Tassie Tigers’ new recruit Ehren Hazell spent last season playing for the Pride and has apparently memorised the same playbook. On Sunday, he knocked in a goal off an overhead from Jeremy Edwards, after Canberra Chill had pulled their keeper in desperation for the final quarter.

ANKLE-BREAKER

Talented midfielder Davis Atkin burst into Australian hockey awareness during last year’s Hockey One, helping spark a late run at the finals for Canberra Chill. His performances earned a debut for the Kookaburras in the FIH Pro League in March, when he became Australia’s first openly gay hockey player to compete internationally.

Despite his team’s 0-7 capitulation to the Tassie Tigers on Sunday, Atkin continues to wield the ball with ominous pace and precision. He plays low and fast and can change direction on a dime, sending defenders wayward. An exciting choice to nab a ticket to Paris.

Amy Lawton, pictured playing for the Hockeyroos, injured her calf over the weekend. Picture: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

DISLIKES

STAR STRUCK DOWN

Viewers held their breath as Australia’s most promising young Hockeyroo, midfielder Amy Lawton, hobbled off the pitch on Friday night with a calf injury.

Lawton is due to lead Australia’s under 21s team the Jillaroos to the Junior World Cup in November and, provided she stays healthy, is a lock for the Paris Olympics despite her youth. Her elite skills and creative ball movement saw her win Hockey One’s most valuable female player in 2022, and she has firmly cemented herself in the Australian team with appearances in the Tokyo Olympics, Birmingham Commonwealth Games and World Cup.

Worrying broadcast shots showed Lawton gingerly testing her ankle on the sideline before returning to play in the second half. This week was her first game back after being rested in round one. With so much at stake for the Australian squads, a troublesome calf would be enough to keep her at home when HC Melbourne fly to Sydney next week.

CANBERRA WAY TOO CHILLED

Canberra Chill men last year stunned the competition by flying into second place with memorable wins against some of the most dominant teams, including the champions NSW Pride in the final round. However, the first two rounds of 2023 have showcased a side lacking energy and connection.

Tassie Tigers easily exploited gaps in Canberra’s defence to score four goals in the first half on Sunday afternoon. Losing Kookaburras star keeper Andrew Charter has clearly hurt their defence. And despite the hype, veteran Indian defender Rupinder Pal Singh has yet to make real impact.