Frontrunners to make the Australian Kookaburra team under a new coach in the Hockey One league

Frontrunners for a spot in the Australian Kookaburras team under a new head coach have emerged in round one of the Hockey One league. Discover the biggest news and talking points from the opening weekend here.

Olympians, emerging stars and late coaching appointments have headlined a dramatic opening round of the 2024 Hockey One season.

A league record 34 internationals are scattered throughout the squads of Melbourne, Adelaide, NSW, Brisbane, Tasmania, Canberraand Perth.

Six back-to-back matches were held over the weekend, with Brisbane enjoying a bye, as part of a season that will span eight weeks.

ADELAIDE

Jethro Eustice’s role as player-coach is under threat of being cut in half following a knee injury suffered in the opening minutes of the Fire’s Hockey One clash with Melbourne.

Eustice crumpled to the surface in front of his own goal two minutes into the round one game at South Australia’s Mate Stadium in Saturday’s 4-3 loss.

He looked to have been hit by an opposing stick but revealed what caused the issue that has him sweating on the results ofan MRI this week.

“I was a bit behind the (Melbourne) striker and as I got close my left leg stopped in the turf and as I tried to challenge for the ball I hyperextended the leg and rotated the knee,” Eustice said.

Adelaide Hockey One player-coach Jethro Eustice. Picture: Supplied.

“It wasn’t good and I called for the umpire straight away. The medical staff thought it looked ok and strapped it and I went back out but as it got colder it stiffened up and swelled up.

“I’m trying to be hopeful but because the season is only eight weeks, any strain or slight tear will mean I’ll definitely be out.

“The positive is at least I can still do the coaching role.”

Adelaide were given three green cards and a yellow throughout the game, forcing players off at various stages as they struggled to keep up with the pace of Melbourne’s ball movement.

The side that started last year’s Hockey One league with a 10-2 loss to Brisbane looked on the verge of being blown away again but regathered to score either side of halftime before two goals in the final quarter had the Fire believing a comeback win was on.

Nullifying one of the world’s best strikers nearly paved the way for Adelaide’s women’s team to secure an opening round win over Hockey Club Melbourne decided in a shootout won by the latter 3-1.

German Charlotte Stapenhorst loomed as the Fire’s largest threat and she was the one to do the damage for Melbourne in a game that ended 1-1 at the conclusion of regular time.

Stacked with international talent including Australian Hockeyroo Hattie Shand and Lucy Sharman along with imports Margot van Geffen (Netherlands) and Shona McCallin, it is little known Netherlands player Julia Van der Heuvel who could already be the find of the season.

“Hockey club Melbourne had a lot more of the possession for the first three quarters so we sunk back and defended deeper than weplanned but our defence did a great job,” Adelaide coach Mark Victory said.

TASMANIA

Jack Welch has become the early frontrunner to book his spot in the Australian Kookaburras squad under a new coach following the quickest hat-trick the Tasmanian Hockey One coach has ever seen.

Australia are yet to announce the replacement for former Kookaburras coach Colin Batch who stepped down from the positionin September following the country’s Olympic campaign.

Welch, 26, already has 38 caps to his name and has been part of Australia’s extended squad but a new national coach will bringan opportunity for fringe players to secure more consistent game time.

“With the Kookaburras having a new coach coming on board soon this Hockey One league is important for anyone on the fringe to put their hand up for selection,” Tasmanian coach Ben Read said.

“Jack is one of those and a strong showing in the Hockey One could help hi become a mainstayer of the Kookaburras.

Jack Welch. Tassie Tigers Hockey One season preview. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“He is extremely athletic, fit and fast and loves a chance in front of the goal.”

Welch single-handedly turned Tasmania’s round one clash with NSW Pride on its head in a dramatic final quarter that ended with a 4-3 win to the Tigers on Saturday at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre.

Trailing 2-1, Welch scored three goals in two minutes. The first was from a penalty, the second a field goal and the thirdthe conversion.

“I haven’t seen a hat-trick that quick in this league before,” Read said.

Debutants Oliver Pritchard and Oliver Stebbings slotted into the side seamlessly while experienced players Tim Deavin, Jeremy Edwards and Josh and Hayden Beltz kept Tasmania in the game when it threatened to slip away.

For Tasmania’s women’s team a cultural and conditioning overhaul has provided more points to the Tigers than its entire 2023 Hockey One campaign.

Tasmania failed to record a single point last year and finished on the bottom of the ladder but the side took two from itsgame with NSW.

Scores were locked at 3-3 at the end of regular time before NSW won the shootout 3-2 on Saturday.

The recruitment of Great Britain’s Holly Hunt and Fiona Crackles along with Gitte Michels from the Netherlands has bolstered a team in desperate need of improvement.

“We have trained really hard over the past eight weeks and we have had a strong focus on conditioning to make sure we areas fit as possible,” Co-coach Susan Brooks said.

“We are fit, fast and competitive but we have also got great young talent and we have brought in some terrific imports who have made a difference, not just with how we play but culturally they bring something to the group.”

HOCKEY CLUB MELBOURNE

Hockey Club Melbourne has unleased two new talents who could shake up the 2024 Hockey One season going into a week where they will lose two others to national duties.

Newcomers Kade Leigh and Will Carruthers scored three times between them in the club’s win over Adelaide.

It highlights the depth of the powerhouse side that will need to play without Liam Henderson and Nye Roberts this week as the duo join the Australian squad for the Johor Cup.

“It was a long day for the boys with an early start and travel, so it was pleasing to return home with a win to start the season,” Melbourne coach Andrew Smith said.

Hockey Club Melbourne player Nye Roberts. Picture: Mark Avellino Photography

“We had passages of excellent attacking hockey highlighted by quick ball movement. I am encouraging our players to be confident in using their individual skills withinour broader framework.

“The two debutantes were very good contributors, with Kade Leigh scoring twice and Will Carruthers playing a solid role inour defence.

“It’s always pleasing to come away from a tough game injury free and with a group that’s ready to have two solid weeks onthe track in preparation for our Perth game.

“We lose Liam Henderson and Nye Roberts for round three as they will be away with the Kookaburras at the Sultan of Johor Cup, but with it will provide opportunities for others to gain further game time.”

NSW PRIDE

NSW Pride have almost gone from off field upheaval to on field success following the exit of senior coach Brent Livermore weeks before the Hockey One league started.

New co-coach Roel Van Maastrigt was conducting his role at the NSW Institute of Sport when he received a phone call saying Livermore was no longer coaching the Pride and he was given the chance to take over.

Now, a year after coaching the Adelaide Fire Van Maastrigt and co-coach Kieran Govers have managed to steady the ship amid a tumultuous period and get within a goal of a first round win.

NSW Pride Hockey One players. Picture: Supplied.

NSW lost 4-3 to the Tasmania Tigers in a game the Pride spent three quarters in the lead.

“There is obvious disappointment that we didn’t get the result we came for but given the short preparation we had and allthe noise that was going on in the background I’m quite happy with how the boys performed,” Van Maastrigt said.

“We worked together for eight sessions. I’m very proud of the boys and the progress they have made in a short amount of time.We knew we weren’t going to be at our best for the first game but we just have to make sure we are good in a month-and-a-half.

“It’s the best club in the country so we can get the program back on track and make it work.”

It was better news for the NSW women’s team who beat Tasmania 3-2 in a shootout to start the season off with a win.

CANBERRA CHILL

Aiden Dooley has emerged as one of the biggest goal scoring threats of the Hockey One season on the back of a first-quarter hat-trick that propelled the Canberra Chill to a round one win.

Dooley had three goals to his name after 10 minutes of a clash with Perth at the National Hockey Centre in the ACT on Sunday that ended in a 4-3 to Canberra following a second-half fightback from the visitors.

“It was a hard game out there. We played well in the first quarter, created a lot of opportunities and we executed,” Dooley told commentators post-game.

“I had a good club season leading into Hockey One. I’m feeling good.”

Dooley’s performance continues a hot run of form for the striker who was also named in the Oceania team for the World Cup qualifiers back in June.

Canberra were stacked with talent, boasting Australian goalkeeper Andrew Charter and Spanish import Xavi Gispert who is one of the biggest signings of any club this season.

In the women’s match between the two clubs Canberra were smashed by Perth 10-3, with Lexie Pickering (4 goals), Line Malan (3), Jesse Reid (2) and Karri Somerville all scoring for the West Australian team.

Originally published as Frontrunners to make the Australian Kookaburra team under a new coach in the Hockey One league