Hockey One: Inside Tassie’s remarkable run to the grand final
After the Tassie Tigers men secured a runner-up finish in the Hockey One League, there were plenty of lessons learnt along the way but one stood out above all else. ADAM CLIFFORD goes inside their remarkable run.
The scene in Parkville was electric.
Under lights, the Tassie Tigers men’s squad stood shoulder to shoulder, silver medals catching the glow like hard-earned trophies. For a team from a state often underestimated, this wasn’t just a podium finish, but a defining moment.
Against the odds, Tasmania had stormed into its first Hockey One grand final, and while gold slipped away, the story they wrote will echo far beyond the weekend.
Coach Ben Read framed the achievement with pride.
“It’s a wonderful achievement. This is only the third time this century, and fourth time ever, that Tassie have made the grand final. It’s disappointing to lose it, but upon reflection, it’s a huge achievement from everyone involved and one that we are very proud of,” he said.
The semi-final against Brisbane Blaze was pure drama. A 6–6 thriller that ended in a shootout.
Third-choice goalkeeper Ben Rennie was the hero, denying all but one Blaze attempt and sending Tassie into the big dance.
“What a game,” Read said. “It shows the unrelenting belief that the guys had in our ability to win big games. We faced so much adversity during the game and every time we were challenged we rose to the occasion.”
The final against reigning champions HC Melbourne was tense and tactical. Sam McCulloch struck first for Tassie late in the opening quarter, a moment that had Melbourne wobbling. For a heartbeat, the dream felt real. But in the end, the scoreboard read 3–1, and the Tigers were left with silver. Captain Josh Beltz summed it up with “a silver medal is an amazing achievement and one that we’re really proud of. It’s always disappointing losing a final, but I think we can hold our heads up knowing we gave ourselves a chance against the best team in the league and just didn’t convert our chances.”
What makes this story compelling isn’t just the result, it’s the depth. Tassie didn’t lean on a few stars.
They thrived on a mix of experience and youth. Veterans like Tim Deavin, Matt Swann and Jeremy Edwards guided emerging talents such as Keenan Johnson and Oscar Pritchard.
“We’ve got a pretty amazing squad with a huge mix of experience and youth,” Read explained.
“The older guys play a hugely important role in guiding the young players and providing them with invaluable mentorship. The main message was that no one in the team was there to make up the numbers, they were all there to make an impact, and that’s exactly what we saw.”
Impact they did. Injuries to Hayden Beltz and Max Larkin, and Junior World Cup absences, including Eddie Ockenden, could have derailed the season, but Tassie’s squad became a launch pad for future stars.
“The Tigers group is a very tight-knit group and that helps in those pressure moments of those knockout games. It’s a deep squad, where the guys that came in to replace the Junior World Cup players stepped up in those moments because there was a lot of trust placed in them.”
Names like Tyson Johnson, Ruben Hoey and Oscar Pritchard didn’t just fill gaps, they elevated the team. It speaks volumes about Tasmania’s hockey ecosystem, which is quietly producing world-class talent at a rate that would make bigger states jealous.
“It’s critical that we continue to develop and promote Tasmanian talent,” Read said. “We have an excellent training environment and we continue to produce world-class talent. We are punching well and truly above our weight as a state.”
Five Tasmanian men are currently away at the Junior World Cup. For a state with a population smaller than some Sydney suburbs, that’s outrageous.
It’s why Read confidently predicts more Kookaburras in green and gold: “Absolutely. We have five away and Oscar Pritchard would’ve gone as well if not for an untimely injury. It’s an extraordinary number and I fully expect to see us continuing to produce Kookaburras at a rate well above what our population suggests we should be.”
Culture was the glue that held it all together and Beltz knows the source.
“I’ve loved playing under Ben Read. I think he’s an amazing coach and his tactical knowledge and way of play is extremely good, but what separates him is the way he leads and unites a group, gets people on the same page and empowers them. I think he’s the major reason we had success this season,” he said.
So, what’s next? Beltz doesn’t hesitate. “We’ve got the depth and talent to push for a gold medal next year. I’m really excited at the opportunity to go one better.”
Read agrees.
“The future is extremely bright. Experiencing a finals weekend is crucial in player development and I think we will see our young guys take big steps forward as a result of the experience gained in Melbourne,” Read said.
Silver today with potential gold tomorrow. If you’re not paying attention to what’s happening here, you might miss one of the most compelling sporting stories in Australia. The best chapters are still to come.
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