Hawthorn’s long-haired lothario Paul MacKinnon has been kind enough to write us a little piece on his time over in Spain, where he’s been playing for the last little bit.

We at THS thought it might open everyone’s eyes to the possibilities of playing overseas and how wicked it can be!! Over to you Paul…

Hey all you hockey buffs.

As most of you were aware, the Victorian league has been invaded by a number of Spanish Conquistadors last year and again this year. But I decided to get a little bit back and made the journey in the opposite direction to harass them, Australian style.

I’ve been playing with Club Egara in the city of Terrassa. Of any city in the world you could go to for hockey this maybe the best. Hockey here is seriously ‘The’ most important sport in the city. Sure football is loved but the status of hockey is amazing.

The Spanish league itself is country wide so from any given weekend we are travelling and playing anywhere from Barcelona to the west coast just above Portugal and to the beaches of San Sebastion. So through the hockey I have been able to see a lot of Spain.

The club houses at some of the clubs are amazing, and my club is one of the good ones. My club, where hockey was the original sole sport, has 2 full fields and a half field. 14 tennis courts, 6 padel courts (Spanish tennis), an indoor and outdoor pool, fitness rooms, a new gym, a café, a restaurant, a hair dresser (no funnily enough I know what you are thinking but I haven’t used it), a day spa (or this) and a kids day care. Yes it is a lot different to the shack at Greensborough or the two rooms at Hawthorn. And this is not the biggest club. Club de Campo has two golf courses and their own post code!!

The hockey is a very good level. The league itself is somewhere in between SL1 and AHL, but the top 4 teams would be competitive if not have a chance of winning AHL. With players such as Edi Tubau, Pol Amat and Sander van der Veida (all nominated for World Player of the Year at some stage) you can imagine the league is pretty good. My team finished as minor premiers in the league but unfortunately lost in the semi finals last week. Unlike in Melbourne, here we have a 3 match series and the winner goes into the final.

On top of the regular season there is the Copa Del Rei (King’s Cup) which we lost in the final of and also, which has been an unbelievable experience to play in, the Euro League. If you are unaware of the Euro League, it is like the Champions league of football. The best 24 teams from all of Europe come together for a competition. We have gone from 24 teams and now after our four games, one of them beating Bloemendaal and Teun de Nooijer (my old team), we are into the final 4 of this competition to be played this weekend in Rotterdam, Holland.

So without going into too much detail I hope this has given you all a little insight into my hockey experience in Spain. I look forward to getting back to Australia and getting stuck into the SL1 comp again soon.

Paul MacKinnon

If you have a story you want to have heard, or simply want to spread the word on something…(that’s relevant of course) send it to us at info@thehockeyshow.org

There’s something in our here sport that is decidedly lacking.

It’s the goal celebration.

A few years back on The Hockey Show we covered Goal Celebrations in an attempt to bring them into our game. There were some great ones: the worm, the bowling pins, the grenade, the spiderman etc. But now, in 2008. We’re going after it harder than ever.

That’s why its time for:

“The Campaign For Hockey Goal Celebrations”.

Now. There are some necessary things that have to be considered:

Safety.
At no stage should violence enter the equation in your goal celebration. You have to be careful with poking fingers, errant high-fives etc. Last thing you want to do is injure an excited teammate. A wayward fistpump or piston foream can spell danger in inexperienced hands.

Incorporation of props and/or team-mates.
Strongly encouraged. A blind man’s cane, the gun in the holster, a mobile phone in the pocket to notify family and friends of your goalscoring success or a pair of glasses down the socks to hand to the flailing goalkeeper. These are all useful options in your celebration.

Avoid Imitations.
Been there, done that bought the T-Shirt. Don’t need to see the thumb in the mouth, the boxing of the corner flag or the mid-air chesting of the teammate. Nor do we want to see the hand to the ear encouraging a roar – you’ve clearly been playing too much Fifa on your Playstation – originality is the key. …or alternatively well choreographed hockey specific celebrations are of course encouraged. THS recommends setting aside the necessary practice time at training to perfect your routines.

Game Situation.
It’s no use celebrating a goal if its the leveler at 1-1 with 60 minutes to go in the game. Especially if you’re wearing a headband and your name starts with Lincoln and ends with Stephen and play for MCC in the mens SL1 competition against TEM on the 28th of April 2008 and it’s a tap in when someone else has done all the work. A consolation goal is called a consolation goal for a reason. It does not need to be celebrated and this must be kept firmly in mind at all times. Reserve goal celebrations for scorchers, gamebreakers and last-ditched efforts getting your team over the line.

Crowd Interaction.
Whats the sound of one hand clapping? That’s the bottom line. The goal celebration is no use if there’s no one watching and the crowd loves a good one. High-fives down the sideline or a knowing wink to a “special” spectator these are all good. Tony Lockett goal style run-ons from the crowd are to be encouraged. There’s nothing like sticking it to the opposition crowd too.

You have got to have a celebration that you’ve seen and want free range to comment on? Get commenting!

So there you have it. THS’s very own guide to making your hockey goal celebrations something to remember.

Good Luck.

Beechworth And District Hockey Club have just notified THS that their club has reached the final of the Home Hardware “Sporting Moments” video competition.
They are in the final 3 and it is worth $10,000 to the club if they win and they need your help!

To vote:

Ring: 1902 555 123

or

SMS: “Video A” to 1997 66 99.

Anybody who votes is also eligible to win a $2000 shopping voucher from Home Hardware!

You’re wondering why your club never heard about this? Its only open to regional Australia who receive WIN TV!

Get on board! Its not everyday that a hockey club can go up against the big guns of those rubbish other sports.

Me: Hey you – Yes you! Have you started the 2008 season and thought to yourself…”Hmmm, this old stick really ain’t cutting the mustard?”

*insert lots of nodding heads*

You: Why yes! Yes I have!

Me: WELL – thanks to THS and F-H-E you can say bye bye to that old hunk of you know what and hello to a brand spanking new Gryphon Taboo Amber ’08, for $100 off the RRP! Yes, you read right…$100 off the RRP!

You: It can’t be true…can it?

Me: Hell yeah it can! Thanks to our friends at F-H-E, they’ve announced a monthly for Hockey Show subscribers!

You: …but hang on a minute, I’m not a THS subscriber yet…wow, this is awkward.

Me: WHY NOT? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHY DO YOU READ THIS AND NOT SIGN UP TO OUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE? DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE MISSING OUT ON? ARGGGGHHHH…..

You: Errr…..ummm…..sorry, I guess I’m a little lazy.

Me: Damn straight you are. But just cause I like you a little bit and the way you drag, you can have a brief insight into the crazy mixed up world of a THS subscriber…for a few days.

You: This infomercial has really deteriorated rather quickly.

Me: I know. I get carried away.

CLICK HERE for all the details! and then SUBSCRIBE, SUBSCRIBE, SUBSCRIBE.

…but hurry – this offer ends April 30. Steak knives not included.

The Hockey Show is playing Sherlock Holmes…a massive, world-wide search is on to track down some of the greatest players ever to play the game, to find out…that big question that Mel & Kochie were asking intermittently on the failed television show..“WHERE ARE THEY NOW?”

It strikes us, that there seems to be a fairly rapid drop-off of this calibre of former player soon after their careers are over.

THS poses the question: Why are these personalities not taken full advantage of to be the coaches and the faces of Hockey in this state, and around the country?

We are hell-bent on getting these important figures back to the game that made them household names…but to do this, we need to scout this super big round thing called Earth apparently.

To get the ball rolling, THS is asking for suggestions of people YOU want to hear from!

But more importantly if you know where they maybe, let us know!!

Some quick suggestions off the top…

• Baden Choppy
• Nova-Peris Kneebone
• Alison Annan
• Clare Mitchell-Taverner
• Neil Snowden
• Gavin Davis
• Lisa “Dutchie” Holland
• Lou Dobson
• Lachie Elmer
• Dan Falzon
• Ric Charlesworth
• Linda Harvey
• Michael York
• Paul Lewis
• Danni Roche
• Warren Birmingham
• Robbie Whitehouse
• Daniel Sproule
• Todd Williams
• Dee Jennings
• Grant Mitten

The Hockey Show has been fortunate enough to literally grab coach Toni Cumpston straight off the plane from Perth to get her thoughts on the Victorian Vipers’ performance at the recent National Championships. In fact, we masqueraded as a Taxi driver with one of those signs at the airport before throwing her into the back of The Hockey Show mobile and speeding off home…(within the legal limit of course)….now how’s that for service!

THS: Thanks for your time Toni, especially so soon after getting home.

TC: No worries again guys….just let me put my seat-belt on first.

THS: The Vipers this year appear to have struggled finishing a disappointing seventh, what didn’t go as planned at this year’s AHL?

TC: We were very disappointed with the result of Vipers this year, to finish 7th was a real let down after a solid preparation and a real belief that we were capable of contesting the finals. The area we struggled in most was our ability to handle the pressure applied in the games against the top 4 sides. In both the ACT and NSW matches we allowed them to score in the last 4 minutes of the match which cost us valuable points. An extra point in either of these matches could have meant we finished in the four. I think this can be attributed in part to the squad’s inexperience. As mentioned in my discussion on this website prior to the tournament we had quite a few new players in the squad and only one of our defenders had played as a defender at this level prior to the first game this year. The result was also disappointing in terms of it being the last game for Victoria for Rachel Imison who announced her retirement from AHL at the conclusion of the tournament after many years of quality hockey for Victoria.

THS: When we last spoke you talked of expecting a lot from your group, were there any standout players throughout the tournament?

TC: All the girls played well at various stages throughout the competition without anyone in particular standing out overall. Rachel Imison was one of our best each game and Claire Messent and Renee Trost also had an impact in most games.

THS: How did the younger girls fare this year?

TC: The younger girls played pretty well. It is quite a big step up from under 21’s and club hockey but they all showed enough over the course of the tournament to suggest that they are capable of playing at this level in the future.

THS: What do you think needs to change for next years AHL and what lessons have been learnt?

TC: I think our biggest/toughest lesson is our inability to be composed under pressure. We don’t value possession enough and allow opposition teams opportunities through our mistakes. At this stage it is hard to identify how we change this but exposing the girls to higher level competition and more pressure situations is one of the areas I think would assist in the future.

THS: Obviously focus now shifts to Beijing, what are your thoughts on the squad and the movements going forward?

TC: The Olympic squad was announced on the Wednesday following the conclusion of the AHL. Three Victorians were named in the squad Rachel Imison, Rachael Lynch and Renee Trost. Rachael Lynch played for Tasmania in this years AHL. The squad remained much the same as it was prior to the AHL with Queensland’s Wendy Beattie being the only addition. Wendy came out of retirement for this years AHL – reports on this are available on the Hockey Australia website. All of the national squad members, who have been training in Perth at the AIS since January, had an impact at this years AHL which was to be expected and hopefully will stand us in good stead for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games.

Four Victorians were named in the National Development Squad Kary Chau, Stacia Joseph, Claire Messent and Sarah O’Connor and hopefully with continued improvement these ladies will push for inclusion in the Hockeyroos squad post Olympics.

THS: So, in wrapping up…any final thoughts?

TC: Whilst finishing 7th is very disappointing for all involved there is certainly a commitment from within the group to continue striving to improve and to do better next year. Four of the girls from the AHL squad Kary Chau, Hannah Cohen, Hana Peake and Dannielle Schubach are trialling for the Victorian under 21 team whose selection is underway at the moment at the SHC. Hopefully they will make this team and can take their AHL experience with them into that group and have a positive impact on the team’s performance. The focus for the remaining 14 squad members now turns to our State League competition here in Melbourne. Hopefully through this competition they can continue to develop their skills and generate the intensity and pressure they experience at AHL to assist with an improvement in next years performance.

THS: Cheers again Toni, now you can get out of the car.

TC: Thank god, it really smells in here.

The 2008 Hockeyroo pre-olympic squad for Beijing was announced today and it’s super-dooper to see 3 Victorians in the mix.

Hawthorn’s superstar and experienced goalie Rachel Imison is well and truly in contention, while Waverley’s Renee Trost and Greensborough’s Rachael Lynch will be in line for their first Olympic experience.

Frank Murray has said, “The current players in the squad have done the work and they all deserved to keep their spots. But in saying that, we still have a lot of work in front of us and need to get better if we are to win a gold medal in Beijing.”

Congratulations to the all the girls who will head over to Perth into lock down to prepare! We hope to get the inside scoop from Hockeyroo Assistant-Coach Toni Cumpston in the coming days…

2008 Hockeyroos squad:

Has there been a season so hotly contested in this history of SL1 than Season 2007? Has there been more controversy and questions asked of the system in years? It’s certainly no secret that 2007 was a remarkable year for the 10 teams in State League 1 Mens; the difference between 5th and the 9th relegation spot a mere 4 points. If memory serves us correctly, Camberwell, TEM, Essendon and Altona were battling to both avoid relegation and grab a spot in the four in Round 18. Crazy. As history will tell us, all this hooplah and nerves were put to rest in the first game of Round 18 when Doncaster won, snaring them them the prized fourth position, while Essendon lost to Aaron Kleinschmidt.

And so we stand on the cusp of Season 2008, with two new teams up, and a star-studded Essendon residing to battle it out for a SL2 premiership. What lies ahead for the 10 teams in this Olympic year? Ben & Ballza have again donned their gypsy outfits and gazed into their Crystal ball to reveal the following truths…undeniable, unequivocal truths.

No siree, you won’t be seeing us gypsy blokes on A Current Affair defending our honesty…we’re the real deal. Lump it or Loath it.

Greensborough. Greensborough, Greensborough, Greensborough. What will we do with you? What can you say about a team who boast as a formidable lineup as the boys from Yan Yean Road. They seem to breed Vikings out there. Highly-skilled, super professional boasting a killer knockout punch, the Greensborough boys will be hard to beat in 2008…just for something different. Led by super-coach and super cliche-user Jim Irvine, the ‘Borough boys will be looking to build on their already epic empire. With the catchment area at their disposal, it won’t be long till we start seeing some in-breeding and a new sort of “super player” will be born. God help the rest of us.

Hawthorn always seem to perform year after year. Despite pre-season nerves bowing out to MCC in the first round of The Hockey Show Cup, the Hawkers will welcome Josh Hawes back to their list to join a very experienced lineup. Him, along with Charlie Tulloch returning will add some solidarity to their lineup to build their plays around. With Vikings backup goalie and “heir apparent” (quote – Stephen Mowlam) George Bazeley in the net, the Hawthorn boys will be tough to beat especially at home. The flip side, is an older list with little hope of blooding younger players. It’s no secret that the Hawkers have an absolutely rubbish junior program and have ran themselves into a bit of a corner. Hawthorn are a club in need of rejuvenation, and with Andrew “Dos” Aldons returning as coach he will be hoping that the Hawks can put their terrible finals hoodoo behind them…again…please…come on…do it…just once…see how you go…it feels nice. Don’t choke.

Waverley will again be a force to be reckoned with. Experience, backed by new coach Brett Thompson implementing the tried and true methods of “do as i say, not as i did” see Waverley raring to go. Surprisingly fit and serious this time around, the Waverley boys will be out to crush teams. If given a sniff, they pounce…(how very Panther like), but if they’re dominated from the outset they will can crumble. The Wav’s have to start blooding some younger players this year, and the absence of Travis Brooks and Luke Doerner due to both picking up nasty chopstick habits should provide plenty of opportunity. A definate Top 4 team, will just be a matter of which spot they want the most.

Doncaster will be buoyed by last years performance where they scraped into the 4 by a bee’s dick. This year is a different story with both Andrew Smith and Russell Ford sure to miss a truckload of games over in Perth and hopefully Beijing. It’s time for blokes like Rhys Hanna & Brad David (two first names) to step up and prove themselves while Chris Cirello – provided he doesn’t spend too much time in the change rooms grooming himself pre-game, will be a lynch pin. Coach Cam Muir had a stellar first year out in 07, and will feel confident he can make the most out of his list – provided they all don’t end up in hospital with some form of weird skin irritant condition from the bacteria growing on their ground at last check. HOWEVER! – If the Man Mountain Smitty and Rusty come back for the Donny boys, they are serious contenders for a Top 4 finish.

TEM. Never a shrinking violet and never short of a word, the TEM lads will be out to prove the doubters wrong in 2008. A couple of handy pickups in Brenton Perry and Steve Dempster will see the TEM boys strengthen their midfield and defensive lines respectively, while word on the street is that some of the Dandenong SL2 boys have decided that the merger between Dandenong and SNP leaves no room for fisticuffs and have packed up and moved to the Lions Den also. All these trades push to one side however, with the youngest coach in living memory appointed to lead the TEM chargers this season. Phil Merriman, a former Camberwell SL1 player will start his State League coaching career at the tender age of 26 and has it all in front of him. A disciplined approach could see a massive year for the TEM boys, but with weaker opposition coming up from SL2 they should be confident of their chances to stay up if they put it all together on game day.

Camberwell had a disappointing 2007 with many punters predicting them to be certain challengers for the premiership. After failing to win the must win games and dropping points unexpectedly, a new ethos has been pumped into the boys and the club for 2008. With their robotic like pre-season fitness routine, the ‘Weller boys should be ultra-fit come round 1, but at what cost? Relatively injury free at the moment, it will be an interesting test for some of the older guys to remain that way. Vikings Declan Geraghty, Will Unkles and Lachie Gibson will be crucial to the success for the Blue & Tangerine this year as will Lachie Dreher fronting up for his 22nd consecutive season of State League at the tender age of 41! These experienced heads combined with some exciting new talent at Matlock, will see coach Andrew ‘Rosie’ Henderson’s boys utilize their tailor made nutrition plans and carbo-gel shots at half time to reach their full potential. They run the risk however that perhaps this new age of professionalism bubble may burst by a strange phobia of hitting at the goals.

MCC begin the year with new coach Jarrod Lester up against it trying to work out what he does with men who’s hair is going grey who still want to play State League 1. With the oldest list going around and no Juniors coming through the ranks, this will be a testing year for the Demons. Main man PJ Weller will again be the key, but with this more than likely being his last year the answer is what to do next? Having lost up and coming goalie Steve Dempster to TEM and conceding 10 goals in The Hockey Show Cup semi-final to Greensborough, one feels that MCC may have shot themselves in the foot. Ben and Ballza think that the Dee’s may have one more roll at the dice with this current crop of players, before they will have to take a leaf out of the TEM poaching book for the years ahead.

Altona scraped through by the skin of their teeth last year avoiding relegation, but showed plenty of seagull spirit throughout the year pinching points off higher fancied opposition. With Darren Duff taking over the reigns as coach and a good group of youth and experience, mean the A’s have every chance this year to consolidate their position in the middle of the table. Not quite a Top 4 team at the minute, but extremely capable of knocking off tough opponents. With Viking elder statesmen Matthew Higgins moving to the country, the A’s will be surely forking out his petrol money to get him back to the big smoke on the weekends. The most important player in their lineup, we feel that they may be lost without him and need to find someone as a reliable backup. Further, both Greg Drake and Higgo will be heading to Beijing to check out the goings on, so Altona will need to get runs on the board early to contend with this. All this said though, is there a team that relishes the underdog tag as much as the boys from the west…and is there a more feared away fixture than “The Snakepit”?

Kew feel like they’ve come up just as quickly as they’ve gone down. The only problem is that the list remains almost entirely the same last time we saw them in SL1 minus superstar and former Kew favourite son Tom Allen having moved to Camberwell in 07 and staying there. It will be good to see Pete Bunting running around again, but the vertical stripes won’t hide the few KG’s he’s put on after a year off. No doubt this will be a challenging year for the ‘Cumbers, but perhaps with the odd point pinched here and there, the familiar catch cry of…“YOU CAN DO IT KEW!” may be heard on the odd occasion.

Albury-Wodonga. At last report, without a coach as Dennis Martin has stepped down after a long tenure. . . could be a long year. . .

THE FINAL WORD

Again, the same mathematical processes have been applied by Ben & Ballza to determining the outcome of Season 2008.

Greensborough again will be an unstoppable force, but will drop games to lower ranked opposition due to a lack of respect shown by the Kookaburras. Waverley will be their main opposition demolishing teams by big margins, while perhaps also losing low scoring encounters. Hawthorn will accumulate points quietly to finish again well and truly in the four with P.Mac controlling the centre like never before with a more aerodynamic hairstyle. Assuming all our Victorian boys make the Olympic squad, Doncaster will find it tough without Smith and Ford and won’t make the finals this year. Camberwell, on the balance of probabilities will make the four. They will need to improve their scoring rates and utilise a more attacking style to get there however.

Doncaster will finish outside the four, but only just. They will feel confident that their year has been a great exercise in proving to themselves that they can do it without the big guns. TEM will finish 6th and exceed other teams expectations. New coach Merriman will have a testing year, put under the microscope by the team at THS, but will come out better for the experience. MCC will scrape enough points from hard fought draws and the odd win to finish seventh, only just from a 7th placed Altona, unless they pick up those early points. Kew will struggle greatly, and Albury will do a lot of traveling for not much reward, but at least those nights out in the big smoke will make up for it.

Round 18 Ladder

Greensborough

Hawthorn

Waverley

Camberwell

Doncaster

TEM

MCC

Altona

Kew

Albury-Wodonga

So if you think we’re wrong…go on…doubt us…do it, we dare you…make sure you enter The Hockey Show’s tipping competition so you can beat us both senseless.

This is the gospel according to Ben & Ballza.

Boom.

The Women’s SL1 competition looks set for another big year. In complete contrast to the mens competition of 2007, WSL1 saw 4 teams streak ahead from the outset, with the fourth positioned team 12 points clear of 5th at the end of round 18. As always, the start of the new season brings new challenges to each and every club…and by a tried and true scientific method that we can not disclose to the public, Ben & Ballza have come up with the following thoughts about Season 2008.

Waverley will be looking to defend their premiership after beating MCC in a rather one-sided grand final last year. With Hockeyroo Renee Trost most likely missing for the majority of the year with International commitments, the Waverley girls will be extra reliant on their Viper stars, Leah Merrett, Stacia Joseph and captain Bec Eastman. With a strong attacking style, the girls will go into the year as one of the teams to beat. With an ageing list, and a mini baby-boom taking place, perhaps the Waverley girls will be coming to end the of an era in the next few years, but we think they’ve probably got one more solid tilt at it left…The Panthers will outclass all but Greensborough, MCC, Hawthorn & Altona.

MCC have seen substantial changes take place over the summer. With coach Graeme Chittenden pulling up stumps on the eve of the Grand Final last year and leaving the girls coach-less for the big game, the Dee’s head into the the year new coach Dan Coulson at the helm. Importantly, he appears to have galvanised the group and restored the ethos of “fun” that was so sorely missing from the girls in previous years with the constant barrage of abuse from Chitto on the sidelines. With Viper Bec Waley rumored to be leaving the club for Hawthorn, and captain Carla Bond away for the first 4 rounds of the season playing in the Netherlands, the responsibility will fall on the elder more experienced players in the group, Bec Snezkov, Steff Napolitano & Bec Dyball to harness the new blood at the club into a formidable line-up. The Dee’s may struggle a little this year, but should still make the four. Keep an ear out for an exorbitant amounts of Pommy accents on the field…

Greensborough with their young list continue to impress. After finishing minor premiers in ‘07 and winning the flag for the first time in the club’s history in ‘06, the girls from the bush will be in a similar position to the Waverley team with goal-keeper Rachael Lynch a chance to head to Beijing. If she’s lucky enough to be selected, ‘Borough’s main challenge will be to find a defence that can keep the ball out of their defensive 25 and away from the net. “Junior” saved the girls skins numerous times throughout last year, so with a new goalie in the net will see pressure mounting on the girls. Viper players Hana Peake & Stephanie Riordan coupled with an established midfield and dominating Centre-Half Tegan Riordan, combined FURTHER with an incredibly quick forward line will see the girls again go into the season as THE team to beat. The super-club of Greensborough, both in men and women’s looks assured to cement itself in 2008.

Hawthorn are always a strong unit provided all their players are fit and ready to take the field. With one of the older lists going around, the team will have to start blooding some new players in 2008 to continue their success at nailing a top 4 position. Again, Hockeyroo commitments will keep Rachel Imison out of their line-up for the best part of the year, but Emily White provides a better than decent backup in the net. Claire Messent is a chance for Beijing and as Hawthorn’s most potent striker may see a decline in goals scored for the Hawks. However, with young-gun Kary Chau ready to take the field fully fit, she holds the key to the success of the Hawthorn in our opinion.

Essendon Ladies are Essendon’s only SL1 team (with their men getting relegated last year) and will continue to blood a young list. Led by Viper co-captain and Hockeyroo Sarah O’Connor, the girls will have another tough year in ‘08 as they strive for the Top 4. This being said however, with Sue McGill roaring from the sidelines nothing is out of the question! Erica Trahar provides a rock of Gibralter in the defensive half, while super youngster and token rednut Georgia Nanscawen will continue to develop and stamp her authority up front. A young team that will view this year as a stepping stone to a 2009 Top 4 spot should see the Bombers have a very solid year.

Altona are another of the younger teams floating around in 2008, and with typical Altona determination and grit will pinch points off the more highly fancied teams throughout the year. Capable of dominating on a fast breakaway, the girls showed patches of brilliance throughout 07 which put to rest the rumours of easy beats. Danielle Shubach is the only Viper representative from the A’s playing in 2008, but with this young list and new coach Brendan Denning the girls should have a promising year and we wouldn’t be surprised if they make the Top 4.

Camberwell have had a funny few years showing moments of class but losing games against less fancied opposition. This year with the return of Jess Monkivitch as ‘The General’ in the middle, we should see a tougher more determined side come out in Blue & Tangerine. Her toughness both mentally and physically combined with a nice mix of experience and youth across the team sheet sees the girls poised as good as anyone, but they will have to dig deeper than they did last year to make sure they stay out of the relegation zone. Experienced Viper Jane Elzinga is crucial and former Hockeyroo Ngairie Smith will make a huge difference when available. However, with experienced defender Megan O’Connell taking the year off and with another new coach at the helm, the ‘Wellers have a big ask ahead of them.

TEM will continue to stabilise their position in the SL1 fold with a reformed attitude. With a very young list the girls may lack a little in skill, but make up for it in sheer fitness. A committed pre-season has seen the girls made into super-fit robots and with a teriffic attitude should pinch some points this year. A momentum driven team with a committed club behind them; if they get on a roll they could shake things up.

Doncaster come into 2008 as the new kids on the block. And by new…we mean new, and by kids we certainly mean kids. A very young squad, but with a whole lot of heart, the Donny girls will be competitive this year. After toppling an out of sorts MCC in the The Hockey Show Cup, the girls will feel confident that they can match it with the big boys (girls). With U/18 stars Emma Pearce, Hayley Padgit, and Sophie Peskett firing, they will be as good as anyone on their day. Ben & Ballza expect however, that Donny will be looking at 2008 as a consolidation year with experienced players Lisa Blake and Sally Cox holding the reigns.

Southern United join the SL1 crew desperately hungry to stay up. They will be up against it this year there is no doubt but crucial to their success is a never-say-die attitude. If they think they can do it, they’re half way there…that being said however, given that they wear one of the worst uniforms ever invented, they will need to fight like buggery to be a chance to stay up.

THE FINAL WORD

After much thought and mathematical calculation…Ben & Ballza have come up with these undeniable educationally sound thoughts:

Waverley, Greensborough and Hawthorn will comfortably make the 4, while MCC and Altona will battle for that 4th spot, but the Demons will sneak in there in the final few rounds. Essendon Ladies will be competitive and hold their own with a view for Top 4 in 2009, while TEM will do a enough damage and sneak their way into 7th spot. Doncaster will use youth to their advantage and pinch points while Camberwell will struggle and fail to capitalise on their list. Southern United will try, but ultimately fail.

Round 18 Ladder:

Greensborough
Waverley
Hawthorn
MCC

Altona
Essendon Ladies
TEM
Doncaster
Camberwell
Southern United

Premiers: Greensborough
Runners Up: Waverley
Relegated: Camberwell & Southern United

We last left our long lost travelers talking to Victorian players about their experiences during the 2 weeks of AHL. Oh, and to Colin Batch about Chuck Norris. SERIOUSLY – have you ever seen them in same room together? …same same you know what we’re saying…

But what of the Beijing Olympic squad?

The second and final installment of this Lord Of The Rings style epic concludes with much beer, much laughter and much of Andrew Smith taking his shirt off.

Ladies, prepare yourself.

Part 2 of The Hockey Show in Canberra.

Enjoy.