Hockey One grand final wraps: Perth Thunderstix beat Brisbane Blaze 4-1 to claim title

Hockeyroos goalkeeper Aleisha Power powered Perth Thunderstix to a 4-1 victory over Brisbane Blaze in the women’s Hockey One grand final, while Melbourne men’s took out the title in a thriller over the Thunderstix.

The Perth Thunderstix have won the 2024 Hockey One women's grand final in Hobart. Picture: Andrew Wiseman.

At the conclusion of the Olympic Games Aleisha Power was at a career crossroad and questioning her self-worth when it came to hockey.

The goalkeeper was the only Hockeyroos reserve not to take to the pitch in Paris and it darkened her Games experience.

Now Power has rediscovered her love of the game and self confidence after helping guide the Perth Thunderstix to a 4-1 Hockey One grand final win over the Brisbane Blaze in Hobart on Sunday.

Power was named player of the match on the back of a performance that kept Brisbane to a goal despite the Blaze having 19 circle entries and 11 shots.

“On a personal level it’s been a tough year. I didn’t make the Olympic team and in the end it was difficult watching in the stands as the girls lost the quarter-final,” Power said.

“It was difficult seeing my friends lose everything they had worked or while grieving myself.

“The Hockey One was an opportunity to love hockey again and play the way I want to play.

“It was about reminding myself of who I am, that I’m good at what I do, I’m good at hockey and love the people I play with.

Perth Thunderstix goalkeeper Aleisha Power was named player of the match. Picture: Andrew Wiseman.

“I was at a crossroads with my self-worth within hockey. When you are told you’re not good enough you don’t feel great. But I am good enough and the people I play with believe that and I believe in the team. It has been a rewarding experience.”

The grand final win capped off an unbeaten series for Perth while Power has her sights set on making the Australian squad for the FIH Pro League matches in February.

Meanwhile, Melbourne have won the Hockey One men’s title a year after labelling its bronze medal an overachievement.

Hockey Club Melbourne won Sunday’s men’s grand final in Hobart 5-2 over the Canberra Chill, a day after beating Perth Thunderstix 4-3 in the semi-final.

“It means a lot to the group,” Melbourne captain Damon Steffens said.

“It’s (coach Andrew Smith’s) second year involved and we grew a lot last year. We got bronze which was probably an overachievement for us.

Hockey Club Melbourne coach Andrew Smith (left) with captain Damon Steffens. Picture: Andrew Wiseman.

“We had a few out injured and things like that but we built a strong culture and this year we managed to get all the guys fit and firing and playing really good hockey.

“We played our style of really aggressive and attacking hockey and we stuck to that the whole season.”

It was Steffens first Hockey One title and the club’s first senior trophy since going back-to-back in the national competition in 2016 and 2017.

Australian Kookaburras representative Nathan Ephraums set up the grand final win with a hat-trick.

“It was a classic final, especially in the first half where it was scrappy,” Steffens said.

“It wasn’t the cleanest but we managed to go 1-0 up in the first half and scrap it out again in the second.”

Originally published as Hockey One grand final wraps: Perth Thunderstix beat Brisbane Blaze 4-1 to claim title