Blades call Wotherspoon up for league duty
BLAKE Wotherspoon has earnt a last-minute call-up to join a brigade of Gold Coast talent on show at the Australian Hockey League starting today in Perth.
Nine Coast products will feature for the Queensland Blades and Scorchers, the men’s and women’s sides, respectively.
Tweed sisters Madison and Savannah Fitzpatrick will spearhead the Scorchers’ bid to win a third straight AHL title.
Joining them will be Jamie Stone, Tegan Richards, Madeleine James and Ambrosia Malone, the last three of whom helped Burleigh to the Gold Coast division one women’s premiership last weekend.
The Scorchers will start with a fixture against Northern Territory while their male counterparts will face Tasmania in the opening round.
Among the names in the Blades squad are Corey Weyer and brothers Dylan and Blake Wotherspoon.
The latter’s path to debut in the competition was cleared by an injury sustained by Australian striker Jake Whetton.
Having won the 2015 title before slipping to fifth last year, the Blades are hoping to rejoin the Scorchers as chief contenders for silverware.
There are 10 teams in both fields, with the eight states and territories joined by New Zealand and India.
The Scorchers have been grouped with Northern Territory, New Zealand, Western Australia and the ACT.
The Blades are also in Pool A but alongside Tasmania, New Zealand, Victoria and South Australia.
Finals are on October 8.