U18 hockey national championships: Top performers named as Qld, Vic share spoils
Australia’s top junior hockey stars battled for national glory on the Gold Coast. Find out which players starred across the tournament here.
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On turf graced by Australia’s top hockey players at the Commonwealth Games, an abundance of future Kookaburras and Hockeyroos went head-to-head for national glory.
State hostilities were renewed at the under-18 national hockey championships with Queensland and Victoria pitted against each other in both the boys’ and girls’ finals.
The ledger finished level at one win apiece, with Victoria State crowned the boys’ national champions while Queensland Maroon took out the girls’ title at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre.
Scroll down for the tournament’s top performers
The girls’ clash between Queensland and Victoria State went down to the wire, with a Meka Crick rocket inside the final three minutes securing the 1-0 victory.
“We knew that it was going to be a grind of a game,” said Queensland coach Amy Ryan.
“We took it to the fourth quarter and just had full faith in the girls the whole time.”
Despite the tense circumstances, the pressure was minimal compared to the corresponding result in last year’s championships where the same two sides also went toe-to-toe in the final before Queensland found the winning goal with just seven seconds on the clock.
“It was almost copy and paste … it was pretty much the same match-up,” said Ryan of last year’s result.
The win capped off a dominant tournament for the undefeated Queensland outfit, who survived a mighty scare from New South Wales State in a fixture that ended tied.
It also continued Ryan’s incredible coaching record at a state underage level. Across 11 years she has claimed national championships with every Queensland age group bar the under-21s.
Game-winner Crick, along with national underage squad members Cam Mathison and Mihaylia Howell, were the victors’ top performers.
The Queensland Maroon boys’ outfit endured a tougher outing as they were downed 2-0 by a clinical Victoria State.
Victoria captain Daniel Adams was thrilled with the win.
“We played some really good team hockey,” Adams said.
“The message going into the game was just play as we have, play the Victorian way, pass the ball around.
“Queensland started well, we were on the back foot to start with but the boys rallied and got into the game and just put it away.”
It was a special effort against a Queensland outfit that plays a fast and free-flowing brand of hockey, and a testament to Victoria’s stonewall defence given they conceded just four goals across the whole tournament in an undefeated campaign.
Jacob Yakono was adjudged Victoria’s best-on-ground after the clash.
To make the win more special, a large majority of the squad bookended their underage junior careers with success having last lifted a national trophy in the under-13s
“It’s pretty unreal, we’ve been together since under-13s, it’s an unreal journey and it’s a cherry on top for this journey,” Adams said.
“To have that journey and to have that success at the end of it is pretty sweet.”
Boys’ Top Performers
Bryce Hammond
Team: South Australia
Position: Midfielder
The SA Captain scored five goals in one game and has a lethal drag flick off attacking penalty corners. Controls the game in the midfield and leads by example. Has eight goals all up.
Coell Williams
Team: South Australia
Position: Defender
A line-breaking defender with speed and skills to burn and is also a courageous runner on defensive penalty corners.
Rhun Williams
Team: South Australia
Position: Midfielder
An exciting defensive midfielder who is contributing to SA’s attack well and affecting opposition game plans. He dispossesses players frequently and works hard.
Evan Staker
Team: South Australia
Position: Goalkeeper
Has produced some remarkable shot-stopping and his quick reactions allow defence to play confidently within the defensive circle.
Lucas Overhoff
Team: NSW Blues
Position: Midfielder
Has been instrumental in leading his team and his explosive speed and great stick skills created an abundance of opportunities.
Lewis Gifford-Cock
Team: NSW Blues
Position: Forward
A dynamic strike who managed some spectacular goals across the tournament. He has a high workrate and gets back in defence to recover when the ball is turned over.
Jared Findlay
Team: NSW State
Position: Midfielder
An allusive player, the attacking midfielder’s speed proved to be vital throughout the tournament and earnt his side an abundance of goal-scoring opportunities.
Josh Robson
Team: NSW State
Position: Striker
Robson was an unstoppable attacking force and scored the most field goals of the tournament. His precision and skill in the circle was a large contributor to his side’s wins.
Zed Kearnan
Team: WA Gold
Position: Midfielder
WA Gold’s captain led from the front throughout the tournament. He held the midfield, carries the ball really well and has great reach and distribution. Only 18 years of age and represented his state’s under-21s earlier in the year.
Jonah Pilatti
Team: WA Gold
Position: Defender
Pilatti is only 17, however he too represented the WA under-21s earlier this year. He has controlled the WA Gold defence in the under-18s carnival and steered the ship from the back superbly.
Oliver Stebbings
Team: Tasmania
Position: Defender
The Tassie captain and fullback managed a hattrick against Queensland Gold. He’s been a key defender for his side all tournament and sets up attacking moves from deep in defence yet is also a quality penalty corner taker. Managed eight goals across the tournament.
Tyson Johnson
Team: Tasmania
Position: Forward
The strong, fast, and aggressive attacker was awarded player of the match honours against New South Wales. ‘Gary’ puts fear in defenders with his closing speed and has very fast hands when in control of the ball.
Will Sproule
Team: Tasmania
Position: Defender
Sproule is a gritty fullback with an exceptional eye and lethal tackle. He was awarded player of the match honours against Queensland Gold.
Angus McMullen
Team: Tasmania
Position: Midfielder
McMullen is only young and small but has a great workrate and great vision to set up attacking plays.
Sam Meikle
Team: Tasmania
Position: Forward
Meikle has lightning speed and strong athletic capability. He’s very hard to catch when at full tilt.
Sam Moore
Team: Victoria Development
Position: Defender
More is just 15 years of age and playing in his first under-18s tournament. He mixes it up between playing as a marking fullback and a free defender, making him a critical player for his side. Also drag flicks and scored two goals.
Liam McCashin
Team: Victoria Development
Position: Midfielder
McCashin is a 17-year-old who plays in the midfield and provides pace and skill for his side and allows them to play forward as much as possible. His experience in under-18s tournaments was crucial and he provided a great level head given the youth of his team.
Angus Le
Team: Victoria Development
Position: Forward
The 16-year-old forward was a co-captain of his Victorian side. Showed leadership beyond his years and provided pace and structure up front to lead the press and assist his side’s build-up play in possession.
Hamish Morrison
Team: ACT
Position: Midfielder
Morrison is a skilful, fit and smart talent.
Lachlan Hopkins
Team: ACT
Position: Defender
Hopkins reads the game well and can control the game with his strong mindset.
Duncan Jackson
Team: Victoria State
Position: Midfielder
Jackson in the Australian under-21s, leading best player, country boy who has been in the program for a fair while. Naturally gifted with lots of 3D skills, very athletic and takes the game on.
Henry Laussen
Team: Victoria State
Position: Midfielder
Role change from outside defender to defensive midfielder and did a great job controlling the ground and taking the game on.
Lachlan Hodgson
Team: Victoria State
Position: Midfielder
Had to withdraw last year as a result of injury. Played as a defensive midfielder and really controlled the defensive half of the ground.
Jacob Yacono
Team: Victoria State
Position: Midfielder
The versatile Yacono can play as a defensive or attacking midfielder and did an amazing job throughout the preparation for the tournament and worked really hard.
Girls’ Top Performers
Cameron Mathieson
Team: Queensland Maroon
Position: Midfielder
The Gold Coast local can be attacking or defensive in the midfield, has nice ball-carrying ability and is crucial at setting up strikers in front.
Mihaylia Howell
Team: Queensland Maroon
Position: Striker/midfielder
Also a member of the junior national squad, Howell recently went away with the Australian under-23s European tour. She is a good and consistent performer and was really present in Queensland’s goal-scoring en route to the national title.
Georgia Harris
Team: Queensland Maroon
Position: Midfielder/defender
The defensive midfielder or defender is a member of the Australian future squad and is really solid out of the back and giving good outletting.
Zara Pelham
Team: South Australia
Position: Midfielder
Pelham won two player of the match awards for SA across the tournament. The defensive midfielder controls the midfield, helps distribute the ball forward, and had been dominating her midfield battles and got her name on the scoresheet. Can be a potent goal-scorer.
Olivia Souter
Team: South Australia
Position: Goalkeeper
Souter won a player of the match award against eventual champions Queensland Maroon. For context, Maroon beat SA 10-0 last year but just 2-0 this year, and Souter’s mammoth effort in the goals didn’t go unnoticed.
Emily Barnes
Team: South Australia
Position: Defender/midfielder
Barnes plays at halfback or as an attacking midfielder and won a player of the match award for SA. She’s a little pocket rocket, and was really instrumental in getting the ball forward when she played as an attacking midfielder.
Sophie Kruimink
Team: Tasmania
Position: Midfielder
Kruimink was very dominant in the midfield and scored her side’s only goal. Also a very supportive captain.
Rosie Salmon
Team: Tasmania
Position: Defender
Salmon also played under-16 nationals earlier in the year and still has two under-18 campaigns left. Will be one to watch in the future, is very aggressive and determined.
Maddy Windsor
Team: Tasmania
Position: Defender
Windsor usually plays in the midfield and was very consistent and strong at the back.
Sienna Robinson
Team: WA Gold
Position: Midfielder
One of WA Gold’s captains, has very good ball handling skills and is a team player. Very threatening up front.
Shane’ Barnard
Team: WA Gold
Position: Forward
The striker is clinical up front, very physical, and has a good goal-scoring ability.
Maddie Naish
Team: WA Gold
Position: Midfielder
Naish is very quick and has very good ball skills. Also very positive.
Kaidey O’Connor
Team: ACT
Position: Midfielder/Striker
O’Connor is a speedy, strong and determined player.
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Originally published as U18 hockey national championships: Top performers named as Qld, Vic share spoils
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