FINAL FLOURISH

SPORTS fans wondering how Tasmanian hockey continuously achieves success on an international and national scale, can see for themselves the extraordinary talent pool it is fostering at underage club level.

For the first time ever, The Mercury and Hockey Tasmania have partnered to bring live streaming of underage club grand finals in Hobart to showcase the next Eddie Ockenden.

The under-18 boy’s grand final between minor premiers Derwent and DiamondBacks can be accessed for subscribers online from 7.30pm tonight.

While the Strikers finished top of the ladder by a solitary point, DiamondBacks have earned a win and a draw in their corresponding fixtures this season. DiamondBacks skipper Oli Pritchard said his side was excited to meet Derwent in the final, after claiming the title in this age group at under-15 level.

“This year 11 of our 16 players have played in our Premier League team and the other five have played seniors in first grade,” Pritchard said.

“Playing senior hockey under coach Richard Davies has lifted our skill level.”

A rare feat will be sought by Derwent’s star goalkeeper Magnus McCausland, who famously claimed a premiership and player of the final in last year’s men’s Premier League grand final. Still aged just 15, McCausland will leave his goalkeeping gear for Premier League and instead operate as a key forward, where he has led the Strikers’ goal scoring.

“It’s good to run around and cause some mischief. The benefit is that I know where goalkeepers don’t like the ball and what’s uncomfortable for them,” he said.

“Most of my goals have been deflections or scrappy field goals, because I’m happy to get in there and get dirty.”

The under-15 girl’s grand final will see DiamondBacks face North-West Graduates from 6pm, with the pair sharing the spoils 1-1 in their only contest this season.

Former Hockeyroo Bianca Langham-Pritchard’s daughter Stella will lead DiamondBacks, while Lucy McMullen, from a famous Tasmanian hockey family, will be key for Graduates.