FINAL SIREN FOR SHAND
WHEN the curtain fell on Geelong’s Premier League women’s hockey season last Saturday, it also brought to a close the 18-year career of club stalwart Emmaline Shand.
Shand (nee Moore) has played senior hockey since she was about 14, representing Geelong at junior representative level, country championships and in state leagues with Geelong and Footscray.
On the local scene she was involved in 12 premierships from 16 grand final appearances with Corio and Torquay, which included 10 straight with Corio. She also won five Division 1 best-and-fairest titles.
Shand also won Hockey Geelong’s prestigious John Stephenson Award for juniors and became the youngest member of HG’s hall of fame.
She represented Victoria Country through juniors and seniors including selection in the senior Australia Country team competing in Singapore and Hong Kong.
Shand started senior hockey with Geelong in Pennant C, progressing to State League 2 and 3 and then spent three years with Footscray at Premier League level from 2013-16, where she met her husband Reece.
Returning to Hockey Geelong in 2017, Shand was a key member of Geelong’s Vic League 1 premiership that year which saw the Sharks elevated to Premier League for the first time in their history.
“You come for your friends and it’s good to get the good quality hockey, but I think what keeps you here is the people that you meet and the experiences that you have,’’ Shand said after her final game at Stead Park.
“It’s been really nice. A lot of the girls I’ve been playing with were babies and now they’re coming up. I was the baby (once) and now I’m (one of) the oldest. The tables have turned.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be mentored by people like Gillian Armstead in my early career and hold Shane Walters in very high regard.
“It’s nice that we were able to have our last Premier League game together.’’
Last Saturday’s clash with Hawthorn was also the farewell game for Walters, who has spent the past 30 years as a player and coach with Geelong.
“I had five years after eight with the men,’’ Walters said. “For me I don’t want to hang on too long and I want them to hear a new voice.’’
Geelong’s future after two years in Victoria’s top flight is in the balance after finishing at the foot of the ladder, but the club will make a submission to Hockey Victoria to stay put.
Geelong’s men are pressing for inclusion in Premier League, entering the Vic League 1 finals unbeaten after an impressive season under coach Paul Schram.
The Sharks also boast a strong junior program, with three of four junior teams in state league semi-finals.