VITTORIO MILESTONE
North-West Graduates will salute one of their finest, with Julian Vittorio set to notch up his 200th Premier League hockey appearance when the Bulldogs face OHA at 2.45pm.
Vittorio, a national league bronze medallist with the Tassie Tigers in 2015, has been a consistent performer for Graduates through four premierships in 2011, ’14, ’20 and ’23.
Among his list of achievements include three consecutive best-and-fairest awards from 2021-23, as well as Player of the Grand Final in 2020.
“In some respects my role has changed substantially, but in other ways you could say it hasn’t changed at all,” Vittorio said.
“I’ve moved into more of a senior leadership role, but perhaps most importantly, I’ve always been a proud representative of the left halves of the world.”
Graduates have had an unblemished start to their title defence and welcome back Sam Meikle at the expense of Lennon White, as they move closer to full strength.
While on a run of seven games unbeaten stretching back to July last year, Vittorio says internally the club are tracking far more than just wins at this stage of the year.
“We’ve put a big emphasis this pre-season on team defence and working together as a unit, so that is something we will continue to work on.”
“We’re a great group of mates and I think when you’re having fun together it translates into a winning formula.”
In other action, Ruben Hoey will make his first appearance for new club Canterbury, coming up against brother Ewan Vickery and former club Derwent at 1.15pm.
University and DiamondBacks will be searching for consistency, after both sides split their opening two matches, when the pair meet at 11.45am.
If the opening two rounds of the women’s Premier League hockey were the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race, OHA and North-West Graduates would be already out of the Heads, while the others are facing wind drop.
The pair will duel for clear air at 11.45am, with the Ships missing key personnel in Belle Kruimink, Amber Sargent and Nellie Paynter from last weekend’s side.
“It should be a tough battle against North-West, but I am confident we still have the depth to get the win,” OHA’s Taylor Brooks said.
North-West Graduates will be guided by assistant coach Alex Mainwaring once more, with the Bulldogs testing their depth as well.
Still unavailable are Kacee Ponting, Lucy McMullen, Lucinda Scutt and Ash Arthur.
In other action, DiamondBacks can return to the winner’s circle with victory against a University side that did everything but score last weekend. Canterbury can continue the momentum from their comeback to draw 4-4 with the Maroons last weekend, with a win against Derwent.