FIH Pro League: Doncaster’s Josh Simmonds and Hayley Padget play on home soil

The careers of Doncaster Hockey Club stars Josh Simmonds and Hayley Padget took huge steps forward in Melbourne.

Hayley Padget in action for Australia at the Pro-League last week. Picture: Andrew Pywell

The careers of Doncaster Hockey Club stars Josh Simmonds and Hayley Padget took huge steps forward in Melbourne over the weekend.

Though both made their debut for Australia late last year, playing for Kookaburras and Hockeyroos in their home town was a career highlight as Australia played in the initial FIH Pro League in Melbourne.

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The Pro League is a new global home and away league involving the world’s leading hockey nations and the Australian men and women were up against the Netherlands and Belgium in the opening round.

“Playing in Melbourne in front of a home crowd was the highlight of my career so far,” Simmonds said. “I had over 30 family and friends there each day and I could hear them when playing so that was great to hear a cheer every time I was involved in the play.”

Padget was also very excited to play in Melbourne.

“You’ve grown up there, your whole family is there, just about everyone who’s had something to do with your hockey career is there,” she said. “I was stoked to go home and look into the crowd and know so many faces.”

And, the hockey itself was at a very high level.

Belgium’s men are ranked No. 1 in the world, with the Kookaburras No. 2 and the Netherlands No.3.

It doesn’t get much better.

The women’s teams were similarly ranked, the Netherlands at No. 1 and the Hockeyroos at No. 3 with Belgium, No. 13 but a rising star.

The Kookaburras had a tough weekend drawing 5-5 to the Netherlands but then losing the shot out before, on Sunday going down to Belgium 4-1.

Simmonds said the Kookaburras has reviewed the two matches and are already working on improvements.

“We played well in patches but weren’t able to play consistently for long periods of time,” he said.

“Reviewing the games we did this well and broke through both teams but let ourselves down late in the games.”

Josh Simmonds played for Australia at the FIH Pro-League round in Melbourne Picture: Andrew Pywell

The Hockeyroos also had mixed results, beating the Netherlands on the Saturday — the first time in nine years — then, the next day, going down to Belgium for the first time.

Padget said Belgium was a classy opponent.

“No way did we underestimate them,” she said. “Ignore the ranking, Belgium are as good as any county in the world.

“Their first Pro League match was a few days earlier against New Zealand in Auckland and they beat the Black Sticks 1-0.

“We knew very well both our initial Pro League matches were going to be tough.”

The Pro League brings a new perspective to international hockey, moving away from tournament events where all countries meet at one venue for a fortnight of international matches.

The Pro League has national teams playing a home and away series over a six-month period.

“Pro League is a great new initiative for international hockey,” Simmonds said. “Normally you can work your way into a tournament format but with Pro League it’s one off games so it’s very important to be ready to go straight away.”

Australia is already looking at its next round of Pro League matches with the Kookaburras and the Hockeyroos both playing Germany in Hobart on February 10.

With the Tokyo Olympics just 12 months away, the Pro League gives the Australian selectors the best opportunity to finalise the teams that will go to the Games.

Simmonds and Padget know only too well the Pro League is a critical step toward Tokyo.

“Tokyo is the long term aim so Pro League matches are the perfect opportunity to show your ability,” Simmonds said.