Top six players shaping the 2024 Tasmanian women’s hockey Premier League finals race
As the race for finals in the Tasmanian Hockey Premier League heats up, we’ve broken down the six most influential women’s players in the competition. See who made the list.
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With three quarters of the Tasmanian women’s Premier League season done and dusted on Sunday, Adam Clifford takes a closer look at the six most influential players in the competition and how they might impact the run into finals.
Grace Calvert
Calvert ranked second in the Premier League Player of the Year voting and top goal scorer in 2020 and has returned to career best form in 2024. The running machine possesses unmatched elimination and ball-carrying skills capable of breaking open the most stoic defences. Her value multiplies when you factor in her tracer-bullet shots from either side of her body, with the dynamo scoring 9 goals largely from midfield already this season. Is the key to North-West Graduates’ title chances.
Nai Moreno
Since 2012, only three women have achieved a 20-goal season, namely OHA trio Julia Gunn (23 goals in 2021), Maddi Brooks (20 in 2022) and Sarah McCambridge (21 in 2023). University’s Argentinian striker has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water, having chalked up 21 goals with a further five rounds still to play. The goal machine can unleash a venomous shot from anywhere in the attacking circle and has chalked up her fair share of assists along the way. At times, she has also been drawn back to the ball where she has demonstrated her defensive work rate and passing game.
Philly Bridley
In a very even DiamondBacks side, Bridley’s dynamic style of play and ability to carve out scoring chances for her teammates stands out. She has backed up last year’s 17 goal campaign, with 12 goals this year while operating predominantly as a midfielder. But the importance of Bridley being provided creative licence and opportunities to receive high up the park is best demonstrated by the fact the Maroons have lost just one game all season, in which she has scored. Bridley’s strong tackling and intercepting skills are also a key driver.
Pipi Martos
The Tasmanian under-21 representative continues to improve at a rapid rate in her second Premier League campaign, adding more defensive steel and defensive work ethic to her naturally creative inclination. Martos’ ability to cue in with Uni skipper Belen D’Esposito transitioning out of defence is key to the Student ‘Way of Play’, while she can also be highly damaging in the front third as evidenced by her 7 goals this season. The growth in her decision making and willingness to learn mean she’s far from reaching her ceiling as a player and leader.
Taylor Brooks
While twin sister Maddi starred in the Hockeyroos Paris Olympic opener against South Africa, Taylor was tearing apart Derwent with a four-goal haul in the Premier League. To highlight her influence, while operating at centre half, Brooks has added 17 goals this season but hit the scoreboard in just 7 matches! The level-headed 19-year-old has also stepped up her on-field presence, dictating OHA’s forward thrusts with her elite vision and passing range, and continuing to position herself to shutdown opposition attacks with ease.
Kacee Ponting
The unsung hero of North-West Graduates recent premierships, Kacee Ponting is a bona fide shot stopping star! Her importance to Graduates success is perhaps best highlighted by their defensive record this season. The defending champions have conceded just 14 goals in 15 matches, including 9 clean sheets. An equally accomplished Soccer goalkeeper, Ponting’s reflex saves and dependability against the first shot underpin a well-rounded and credentialed option for the Tassie Tigers upcoming Hockey One League season.
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