Talent pool runs deep
Selecting a Premier League Team of the Year quickly demonstrates the rapid momentum being created in women’s hockey, with Tasmania’s playing stocks reaching peak levels.
Arriving at a Team of the Year is always a highly subjective pastime, fraught with danger for those charged with making the final decisions.
Minor premier OHA rightly dominates the Mercury’s Team of the Year with four selections, rewarding a season record that included 17 wins and an imposing +56 goal difference.
Goalkeeper Evie Dalton gets the nod between the posts, just ahead of DiamondBacks’ Cami Vaughn, by virtue of conceding only 21 goals across 20 matches and playing two more games than her rival.
The backline may surprise some Premier League followers, with the opting for Canterbury’s Blair Beard in partnership with North-West Graduates’ ultra-consistent Ruby Brothers.
Beard’s five penalty corner goals was equal to the unlucky DiamondBacks defender Nicole Geeves, while Brothers edged out teammate Louisa
Jacobson in another close call.
The full back pairing is supported by Derwent’s Eliza Westland at right half back and University’s inspirational leader Clare Rojahn at left half back.
The former is expected to poll well in the Premier League best and fairest count, while Rojahn had a stellar individual season for the wooden spooners.
A midfield triangle of skipper Sarah McCambridge, Philly Bridley and Maddi Brooks simply picks itself, with the trio’s ability to regularly hit the scoreboard separating them from the field.
Brooks scored 18 goals from her 14 games to incredibly finish second on the overall charts, while Bridley’s importance is highlighted by the fact her side never lost when she found the back of the net.
Canterbury’s Camille O’Conor, North-West Graduates’ Ash Arthur and OHA’s Sofie McLeod can consider themselves unlucky after strong seasons, while Derwent’s Sophie Rockefeller departed mid-season for the US.
On the forward line, Julia Gunn is a walk-up start after smashing in 23 goals – the first woman to score 20 goals or more in a season since 2012.
Gunn is partnered by DiamondBacks star and team vice-captain Emily Donovan (15 goals) and North-West Graduates’ Grace Calvert (12 goals) in an attack that would haunt many a backline.
Derwent’s Molly Haas and Louise Maddock, OHA’s Isabelle Kruimink and Taylor Brooks are others who stamped their class on matches and, with more consistency, could figure in next year’s side.