PERFECT OMEN

IN what looms as Tasmania’s last ever home Australian Hockey League match, former Kookaburra Tim Deavin hopes his perfect record as national captain will be a good omen. Deavin will lead the Tigers for the first time against NSW on Sunday.

TIM Deavin hopes his perfect record as national captain will be a good omen as he prepares to skipper the Tassie Tigers for the first time against NSW in what could be their last ever home match.

Former-Kookaburra Deavin will step in as captain in the absence of Eddie Ockenden (national duties), with James Bourke promoted to deputy. Deavin led Australia to the Champions Trophy gold medal in 2016 and the 2015 Azlan Shah Cup title.

“I’m honoured to be named captain of the Tassie Tigers for the first time and I have a perfect record as a captain, so hopefully I’m a good-luck charm,” Deavin joked.

The Waratahs side will feature former-Kookaburras stars Simon Orchard, Matthew Butterini and Tristan White and Deavin says its important that the Tigers’ experienced players step up.

“It’s such an important game where our experienced guys all need to perform,” he said. “We have been successful in recent years because we have had a strong spine, with four Australian players playing up the middle, but the younger guys now get an opportunity to take the game by the scruff of the neck.”

Youngsters Sam McCulloch and Oliver Smith starred in last weekend’s 5-1 defeat of the Canberra Lakers, while Gobind Gill earns his debut against NSW on Sunday.

The match also looms as the Tigers’ final home match with Hockey Australia set to establish a revamped Australian Hockey League in 2019 based on a city-franchise model.

“It most likely will be the last time the Tassie Tigers ever play at home, so it could be quite emotional,” Deavin said. “The home crowd really fired us up [against Canberra] … so we want to replicate that atmosphere and pressure on Sunday.”

The Van Demons play NSW Arrows at 1pm on Sunday, with the Tigers starting at 2.30pm.