Premier League 2024, all you need to know!

Women's Salters Hire Premier League Preview

Written by Adam Clifford.

Last year’s women’s Premier League hockey top three have all recruited new coaches, culminating in a line-up that reads as a ‘who’s who’ of Tasmanian hockey royalty and ensures all three clubs enter the new season harbouring title aspirations.

Tassie Tigers men’s coach Stephen McMullen inherits a star-studded North-West Graduates squad seeking to defend last year’s premiership.

An outstanding performance from Louisa Jacobson helped guide Graduates to an emphatic 4-2 defeat of DiamondBacks on grand final day and the return of Emily Newbold (nee Lawson) will make them even more difficult to score against.

Newbold was an integral part of Graduates back-to-back title wins in 2016 and 2017, including being crowned the Premier League’s best and fairest in 2016 alongside Hannah Richardson.

Not to be outdone, runners-up DiamondBacks have re-signed former Hockeyroo Vanessa McDonald as coach and veteran defender Nicole Geeves, the last remaining player from their 2004 premiership side.

The Maroons will hope they can end a two decade wait and provide star Emily Donovan will a fitting sendoff, but much will still rely on star Philly Bridley’s goal scoring returns.

OHA have similarly pulled off a coup, with former Van Demons stars Susan Brooks and Sofie McLeod guiding a re-shaped Ships squad, supported by 2021 Premier League leading goal scorer Julia Gunn’s return.

University looks to have taken a big stride forward, with last year’s successful import pairing of Belen D’Esposito and Pipi Martos joined by fellow Argentinians Nai Moreno and Martina Estevez.

After tasting Cup success last month, the Students have the firepower to put any side to the sword, as well as a glut of rapidly developing young talent hungry for more success.

Canterbury and Derwent continue their rebuilds with healthy squad numbers developing their craft and will be eager to clinch some early points to set up their campaigns.

With the season commencing with a split first round across Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Adam Clifford takes a closer look at the squad’s and gazes into his crystal ball to predict where each side will finish.   

North-West Graduates   

Last season: Premiers   

Coach: Stephen McMullen

Captain/s: TBC    

Key Ins: Emily Newbold, Beth Dobbie, Maddy Rojan, Maddy Windsor, Wavey van Dorsselar

Key Outs: Nil   

Rising star: Lucy McMullen

Club says: We’re excited to introduce some new styles and processes to the group that has an already solid defence bolstered by Newbold, whilst the inclusion of Beth Dobbie provides an exciting combination forward with Calvert, Arthur and Crowden.

Adam says: Survived a mid-season change in coach and ended a long-term finals drought to claim an emphatic grand final victory. Their list of astute recruits means they’ll again be the measuring stick.

Predicted finish: Premiers   

OHA   

Last season: Third   

Coach: Susan Brooks, Sofie McLeod 

Captain/s: TBC

Key Ins: Nellie Paynter, Julia Gunn, Julia Reid, Millie Smith 

Key Outs: Georgina Knapek, Maddi Brooks

Rising star: Millie Smith 

Club says: We have a great mix of youth and experience in the squad, with the experience of our returnees combined with the dynamic play of our young under 21 state representatives make us a force this year.

Adam says: Alongside University, they appear to have won the off-season and are well placed under the tutelage of two Tasmanian hockey legends to return as legitimate flag contenders. Taylor Brooks looms as a potential player of the season, out of the shadows of twin sister Maddi.

Predicted finish: Second   

University   

Last season: Fifth  

Coaches: Rod Clifford, Warren Clarke  

Captain: TBC

Key Ins: Nai Moreno, Meah Leary, Martina Estevez

Key Outs: Grace Irwin

Rising star: Phoebe Sproule

Club says: The addition of quality recruits Nai Moreno and Meah Leary, combined with the impressive development of our young playing cohort, sees University enter the season with high expectation and great excitement.

Adam says: The State Club Cup winners ended a forty year wait for silverware and with their combination of youth and star power, expect the ‘Stuies’ to drive towards not just qualifying for finals, but taking a scalp. Moreno looks a striker with an unbelievable ability to score from anywhere.

Predicted finish: Third   

DiamondBacks   

Last season: Second   

Coach: Vanessa McDonald 

Captain/s: TBA   

Key Ins: Java Vickery, Kara Gill

Key Outs: Josie Short

Rising star: Stella Pritchard 

Club says: It’s been a solid preseason where everyone has been working hard, so we’re looking forward to the season starting. 

Adam says: Experienced pair Vanessa McDonald and Nicole Geeves return to the fold to boost the pre-grand final favourites from last year, but they’ll need to convert at a better rate than their rivals from penalty corners to go one better in September.

Predicted finish: Fourth   

Canterbury   

Last season: Fourth    

Coach: Tom Beard, Blair Beard

Captain: Sophie Allardice 

Key Ins: Alice Maddock, Evelien Graven, Maisy Sansom, Romani Kenworthy, Sadie Rogers 

Key Outs: Blair Beard, Zayna Jackson, Claire Van Breda

Rising star: Alice Maddock

Club says: We've worked hard through the off-season to improve as a whole squad. We have also welcomed in some exciting young players who will bolster our lineup.

Adam says: Successfully return to finals action in 2023 with a consistent run of performances and will be a difficult proposition on any given week. The loss of Beard places much on the shoulders of Jemma Kenworthy to create from defence and convert set piece chances.

Predicted finish: Fifth   

Derwent   

Coach: Dale Punshon   

Last season: Sixth   

Captains: Alyssa Keirnan, Emma O’Grady   

Key Ins: Olivia Canning, Jessie Pankiw 

Key Outs: Lou Maddock, Beth Dobbie, Nat Bester, Maddy Windsor, Janelle Featherstone, Emily Rockefeller 

Rising star: Emma O’Grady 

Club says: After an arduous 2023 we are looking for overall improvement. With the additions of Jessie Pankiw and Oliva Canning our squad gains experience after our departures. The squad is young, but it’s exciting to be involved.

Adam says: A mass exodus means Derwent will be competing for positive signs of improvement, as opposed to results often in season 2024, as they forge a new identity with their rebuild.

Predicted finish: Sixth   

Men's Salters Hire Premier League Preview

North-West Graduates burst out of a tight pack to clinch the 2023 men’s Premier League hockey title by peaking at the business end of the season.

A magical spin manoeuvre by Harvey Bessell barely seconds before three-quarter time was the ultimate sealer in a thrilling grand final played against University.

But a host of off-season departures, including Player of the Final Jai Walker-Kidd and former New Zealand international Alex Shaw, has brought the Bulldogs back into the bunch ahead of season 2024.

Discount them at your peril, with emerging sensation Oli Stebbings capable of the extraordinary and seemingly headed for a long international career, his opportunities to play in Hobart might be timebound.

Graduates’ player losses does open the door for University to seek redemption with the likes of Keenan Johnson, Oscar Sproule and Sam Payne progressing their game.

Playing-coach Ben Read has tasted national success at Under 18, Under 21 and Australian Hockey League level, but the Premier League trophy is the one that has so far evaded his capture.

Stalking University, the Lions will have licked their wounds after firing blanks in their elimination final defeat and return with renewed focus to make amends, under coach Andrew McDonald.

In Junior World Cup representatives Max Larkin and Lachie Rogers, surrounded by elite pair Tyler McDonald and Ruben Hoey, Canterbury possess all the ingredients to return to the summit.

The chasing pack of DiamondBacks, Derwent and OHA will ensure a genuine six-team competition and much of their fortunes will hinge on taking their scoring chances and regularly having their best eleven available.

All six clubs have been coy on confirming the lure of any interstate or international recruits, with Kookaburras trio Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz and Jack Welch potentially also available to link up post-Paris Olympics and impact the finals series.

9807. thing is certain, the race for early season ladder positioning will be hot with Adam Clifford again sticking his neck out ahead of Thursday night’s grand final rematch and season opener between Graduates and University from 6:30pm.

University

Last season: Second

Coaches: Ben Read, Trent Sproule

Captain: TBC

Key Ins: Tyson Johnson

Key Outs: Nil

Rising star: Oscar Sproule

Club says: There is a buzz around the group at the moment. We've had a tough pre-season and feel like we are ready to make an immediate impact on the competition. I'm expecting big contributions out of our U21 stars who recently finished fourth at the National Championships.

Adam says: Came up short with a somewhat flat grand final day display in damp conditions, but have a bevvy of rising stars capable of taking the next step. Need to develop a Plan B for outletting and creating chances when Ben Read is subdued, and reduce the instances of conceding set pieces.

Predicted finish: Premiers

Canterbury

Last season: Fourth

Coach: Andrew McDonald

Captain: Alex Hogan-Jones

Key Ins: Ruben Hoey, Isaac Close

Key Outs: Jamie Hullick

Rising star: Cody Innes

Club says: Season 2024 will be close. The team is well lead by Alex Hogan-Jones and we are pleased Ruben Hoey decided to join us. We have a strong balanced young squad who have worked very hard following last year’s disappointing end to the season. We are very keen to improve.

Adam says: It was a disappointing follow up season to their 2022 premiership, after barely raising a whimper in the elimination final. Pose too many weapons across each line to not be fighting it out on grand final day, with Lachie Rogers a clear front runner for Player of the Season.

Predicted finish: Second

North-West Graduates

Last season: Premiers

Coach: Alistair White

Captains: Julian Vittorio, George Wilkinson

Key Ins: Duncan Honey, Jack Larkin

Key Outs: Alex Shaw, Joe Morton, Jai Walker-Kidd, Daniel Harper

Rising star: Angus McMullen

Club says: Really exciting season ahead with some promising young players stepping up. We have a really good core from last season, including key players Harvey Bessell and Oliver Stebbings

Adam says: The loss of Player of the Final Jai Walker-Kidd and Tassie Tiger Alex Shaw undoubtedly dampens expectations at the Bulldogs, but the meteoric rise of future Kookaburra Oli Stebbings means you write them off at your peril.

Predicted finish: Third

DiamondBacks

Last season: Fifth

Coaches: Ilene Carr, Matt Scanlon

Captain: Will Oliver

Key Ins: Nil

Key Outs: Callum Brown-Lea, Jamie Tritton

Rising star: Jack Pritchard

Coach says: The key aim will be to build on the progress made last year, by increasing our win - loss ratio. We have a young exciting squad, including four athletes from Tasmanian U/21’s and we are looking to play finals this year.

Adam says: It’s hard to line them up with the other squads, after the loss of the highly impactful English pair in Brown-Lea and Tritton, that will be offset by the continued development of emerging stars such as Max Johnstone, Oscar and Oli Pritchard.

Predicted finish: Fourth

Derwent

Last season: Third

Coaches: Torin Bester, Stuart Webb, John Harris

Captain: Ewan Vickery

Key Ins: Vaughn Bowen, Patrick Ward, Callum Morris

Key Outs: Ruben Hoey, Mac Winch, Oscar Jenner

Rising star: Leo Korn

Club says: We have had a really productive and positive preseason which we believe will put is in good stead for the season. Our defence will be major focus this year which we can then build our offense from, whilst our leaders are fitter than I have ever seen them.

Adam says: The signing of Bester as coach is inspired, but the Strikers will miss the stability of star defender Josh Mardell in the opening rounds. At full strength, their backline is arguably the strongest in the competition, but it’s difficult to see where the goals come from on a regular basis.

Predicted finish: Fifth

OHA

Last season: Sixth

Coaches: Michael Park, Larry Mills

Captain: TBC

Key Ins: Nick Leslie, Sam McCambridge, Isaac Bridley, Sam Keating, Ollie Smith

Key Outs: Nil

Rising star: Ben Sargeant

Club says: Last year was challenging due to lack of player availability, however the positive was game time our junior players received over the whole season. The returning duo Nick and Sam will provide leadership and experience and our first goal is to return to finals, but we have not put a ceiling on what we can achieve.

Adam says: Will return with a midfield equal to any in the competition in the likes of Smith, Murphy, Leslie, but their hopes will hinge on maintaining a consistent line-up and avoiding injuries to key personnel across the season.

Predicted finish: Sixth

Thanks to The Mercury and Adam Clifford for this writeup.