Fears over our hockey programs

THE state that produced Kookaburra star Eddie Ockenden looks like it will be dumped by Hockey Australia.

While Ockenden, widely predicted to be the next national captain, and Jeremy Edwards propel Australia’s quest for gold at the Commonwealth Games, Hockey Australia is pulling the rug from under Tasmania’s feet.

The Mercury can reveal that a new crisis is emerging in Tasmanian sport with hockey in the firing line.

A plan being driven by Hockey Australia to revamp the Australian Hockey League to a city-based franchise model is set to freeze Tasmania out of having its own men’s and women’s teams.

Chair of the Hockey Tasmania Board Ken Read and general manager Bob Gregory yesterday wrote to Hockey Australia, saying the state association could not participate this year under the current terms.

Participation would require hockey players across the state to foot the cost, of up to $150 over four years per player from under-8s to over-70s, with additional financial risk linked to crowd attendances, television rights among other factors.

Read said the state association had recently absorbed significant increases to Hockey Australia levies to its members, that came after a national survey revealed cost was the greatest reason for those players exiting the sport.

“It is absolutely unreasonable for us to place an additional and significant financial impost onto all our registered players across the state, of which we have well over 4000,” Read said.

“HT remains committed to being part of the premier domestic competition for women and men, but we require a model that is affordable to our members.”

“Without outside investment of $150,000 per year for four years, we simply cannot commit to owning two sides in the new franchise-based national competition proposed to begin in October in this year.”

It is understood that Hockey ACT and Hockey NT have both secured Territory government funding to participate and leverage new participation, fan engagement and revenue opportunities. Hockey Australia was contacted for comment.