Everything you need to know about the 2025 Hockey Premier League
From all the keys in and outs to your club’s rising stars, here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 Hockey Tasmania Women’s Premier League season.
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It was the year of the Maroons in 2024, with DiamondBacks keeper Jessica Stevens standing tallest to ensure her side claimed the women’s Premier League title with a famous 3-1 penalty shootout win against University.
DiamondBacks midfielder Em Donovan took the Player of the Final award, while coach Vanessa McDonald produced a masterclass in penalty corner routines, despite trailing the set piece count 10-5.
After the scores were locked 2-2 after regular time, Stevens saved three out of four efforts to ensure DiamondBacks ended a 20-year title drought and equalled their men’s trophy.
The Maroons timed their run to perfection with a fully fit and available squad but will lean on the likes of Philly Bridley, Sophie Kruimink and Madison Clarke to defend their title.
2025 sees a multitude of sides entering the new season harbouring title aspirations, with North-West Graduates hoping to benefit from the additions of Belle Kruimink and Millie Smith, and the Ships seeking to reload without that key pair.
Canterbury looms large as the biggest improvers, with seemingly a plethora of defensive and set piece weapons at their disposal to support a well-structured game style.
University and Derwent will continue their rebuilds by developing their technical skills and game awareness, with some seasoned veterans playing support acts.
With the Premier League kicking off on Saturday, Adam Clifford takes a closer look at the team lists and their season prospects.
DiamondBacks
Last season: Premiers
Coach: Vanessa McDonald
Key Ins: Nil
Key Outs: Lauren Canning, Kara Gill
Rising star: Sophie Kruimink
Club says: The season will be about consolidating on our 2024 success through hard work and discipline, and challenging the group to be consistent across all games. We will look to provide opportunity for growth and opportunity for rising junior players.
Club predictions
League best and fairest: Louisa Jacobson (NWG) and Taylor Brooks (OHA)
Top goal scorer: Belle Kruimink (NWG) and Grace Calvert (NWG)
Clifford says: Produced their best when it mattered most and arrested a two-decade finals hoodoo, but they’ll need to rise another level with a target on their backs. Succession planning for future lift without veterans Nicole Geeves and Em Donovan is also a must if they want to build a dynasty.
University
Last season: Second
Coaches: Trent Sproule, Joe Scott
Key Ins: Frances Boyles, Sophie Stewart, Freya Hewitt-Park, Catherine Webster, Molly Davey, Izzie McRobbie
Key Outs: Pi Martos, Belen D’Esposito, Martina Estevez, Nai Moreno, Amy Chamberlain, Holly Gilbar
Rising star: Holly Teale
Club says: The club is focusing on accelerating the development of a group of young talented players by building their technical skills and providing opportunities to play different game styles. They are well supported by experienced players providing them with crucial on field leadership.
Club predictions
League Best and Fairest: Taylor Brooks (OHA)
Top goal scorer: Philly Bridley (DBS)
Clifford says: Wholesale changes will force a shift in expectations after they ended a 40-year trophy drought by claiming the State Club Cup, before falling just short of more silverware. The squad appear to possess an enthusiastic approach to learning and implementing new ideas.
North-West Graduates
Last season: Third
Coach: Stephen McMullen
Key Ins: Isabelle Kruimink, Millie Smith, Ebony Alexander, Chloe Cooper
Key Outs: Nil
Rising star: Wavey van Dorsselaer
Club says: The return of Belle is immense given her strong defensive presence and quality penalty corner attack option. This compliments our already strong squad, with some other positive inclusions. Our inclusions will help us push up and be more attacking in the front third.
Club predictions
League Best and Fairest: Hannah Richardson
Top goal scorer: Philly Bridley
Clifford says: The loss of Em Newbold last year extinguished their title hopes, forcing them to rob from their much-heralded forward line to fill midfield gaps. Their significant recruitment drive puts them firmly into premiership favouritism and sets them up to be a high scoring side.
OHA
Last season: Third
Coach: Susan Brooks, Sofie McLeod
Key Ins: Georgie Knapek, Emily Rawson, Olivia Seaman
Key Outs: Belle Kruimink, Millie Smith, Sarah McCambridge, Nellie Paynter
Rising star: Emily Rawson
Club says: Our 2025 squad is very experienced right across defence, midfield and striker lines. That experience is going to be crucial as we start to blood our super power juniors, who will be coming through at various points in the season.
Club predictions
League best and fairest: Louisa Jacobson (NWG)
Top goal scorer: Hannah Richardson (CAN)
Clifford says: Have had a long time to dissect their disappointing preliminary final performance and, following some substantial player losses, there will be an air of unpredictability about the Ships.
Canterbury
Last season: Fifth
Coach: Tom Beard, Gareth Auker
Key Ins: Blair Beard, Emma Butterick, Megan Cottee, Chloe Abel
Key Outs: Chloe White, Jenny Clarke
Rising star: Alice Maddock
Club says: With the addition of some key players in 2025 and a lot of hard work from existing players, we are looking forward to seeing what we can do this year. The group has also been strengthened by including Gareth Auker as an assistant coach.
Club predictions
League Best and Fairest: Taylor Brooks (OHA)
Top goal scorer: Grace Calvert (NWG)
Clifford says: If I were a Lions player, I wouldn’t be booking any holidays in September because they have the personnel to mount a strong finals campaign with a well-balanced squad. The likes of Hannah Richardson and the Kenworthy sisters, bolstered by the presence of Abel and Beard, will make them difficult to break down.
Derwent
Coach: Dale Punshon
Last season: Sixth
Key Ins: Sophie Millington
Key Outs: Emma O’Grady, Em Rockefeller
Rising star: Claudia Windsor
Club says: While Emma O’Grady is a big loss, the group understand the task at hand. Being consistent, staying in contests and working together will be continued to improve upon. Zara Cunningham’s tenacity and bounce will see her play another important role.
Club predictions
League Best and Fairest: Louisa Jacobson (NWG)
Top goal scorer: Hannah Richardson (CAN) and Beth Dobbie (NWG)
Clifford says: They enter year two of their rebuild under Punshon and it was hard to fault the way they went about it in 2024, with Cunningham’s heroics a joy to watch. Windsor’s ‘bull at a gate’ style and skipper Alyssa Kiernan’s infectious positivity will be vital to their progress.
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