2018 Women's Australian Hockey League

The 2018 Women's Australian Hockey League was the 26th edition of the women's field hockey tournament. The 2018 edition of the tournament was held between 6 – 28 October, and featured a new format from previous editions.

2018 Women's Australian Hockey League

Tournament details
Host country	Australia
City	Gold Coast (finals venue)
Dates	6 – 28 October
Teams	8
Venue(s)	9 (in 9 host cities)
Final positions
Champions	NSW Arrows (10th title)
Runner-up	QLD Scorchers
Third place	Canberra Strikers
Tournament statistics
Matches played	24
Goals scored	155 (6.46 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Rebecca Greiner Jodie Kenny Emily Hurtz (9 goals)
Best player	Elena Tice Lily Brazel
← 2017 (previous) (next) 2019 →

The finals phase of the 2018 tournament was held in the Queensland city of the Gold Coast, from the 25 – 28 October.

NSW Arrows won the tournament for the tenth time, after defeating the QLD Scorchers 7–6 in the gold medal match. Canberra Strikers won the bronze medal after defeating VIC Vipers 2–0 in a penalty shoot-out following a 4–4 draw.

Competition format

Unlike previous editions of the Women's Australian Hockey League, the 2018 edition will include a very different format. Instead of the tournament being held at a single venue, the teams will play at least one home and away match during the pool stage, before converging on a singular venue for the Classification Round.

The teams will be divided into two Pool A and Pool B, both consisting of four teams, with each team playing each other once. The teams will then progress to the Classification round, with each team playing a qualifying match, before progressing to either the fifth to eighth place playoffs, or the first to fourth place playoffs.

Rule Innovations

As well as a new format, the 2018 AHL brought in new rule innovations from standard international hockey.

Field Goal Conversions

When a field goal is scored the same athlete will have an automatic one-on-one shootout with the goalkeeper for an extra goal.

Power Plays

Each team possesses a five-minute Power Play to use at the end of either the second or fourth quarters, when teams are reduced to nine players each and where that team’s goals are worth double.

The allocation of Power Plays will be decided by the team which wins a pre-game coin toss. For example, if the coin toss winner elects to take their Power Play at end of the fourth quarter, the opposition must use at theirs at the end of the second quarter.

In the second and fourth quarters, the clock is initially set for 10 minutes, then re-set for a further five minutes for the Power Play. Play will re-commence with a centre pass taken by the team in possession of the Power Play.

Point Allocation

All matches must have an outright result so drawn matches will be decided in a penalty shoot-out. Match points will be as follows:

· 5 points for a win
· 2 points to each team in the event of a draw
· 1 point will be awarded to the winner of the shoot-out
· 0 points to the loser of the match

Participating teams

• Canberra Strikers
• NSW Arrows
• NT Pearls
• QLD Scorchers
• SA Suns
• Tassie Van Demons
• VIC Vipers
• WA Diamonds

Venues

Sydney	Melbourne	Perth
Sydney Olympic Park	State Netball and Hockey Centre	Perth Hockey Stadium
Capacity: 8,000	Capacity: 8,000	Capacity: 6,000
Adelaide	Brisbane Gold Coast Adelaide Sydney Canberra Melbourne Perth Darwin Hobart
State Hockey Centre
Capacity: 4,000
Brisbane
Queensland State Hockey Centre
Capacity: 1,000
Canberra	Hobart	Darwin
National Hockey Centre	Tasmanian Hockey Centre	Marrara Hockey Centre
Gold Coast
Finals Venue: Gold Coast Hockey Centre

Results

Preliminary round

Pool A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	WD	LD	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	QLD Scorchers	3	2	0	0	1	23	6	+17	10
2	NSW Arrows	3	2	0	0	1	13	6	+7	10
3	Canberra Strikers	3	2	0	0	1	6	5	+1	10
4	Tassie Van Demons	3	0	0	0	3	1	26	−25	0

Source: Hockey Australia

6 October 2018 14:00 (AEST) NSW Arrows 5–3 QLD Scorchers Smith  4', 4' Watterson  38' Stewart  50', 50' Report Kenny  27' Greiner  58', 58' Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney Umpires: Kylie Seymour (AUS) Michelle Farnill (AUS)

6 October 2018 17:30 (AEST) Tassie Van Demons 0–3 Canberra Strikers Report Evans  12' M. Bone  55', 56' Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart Umpires: Kerryl Chandler (AUS) Kristy Robertson (AUS)

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14 October 2018 13:00 (AEST) Tassie Van Demons 1–8 NSW Arrows Lawrence  60' Report Watterson  13', 13' Jenner  26' Stewart  30', 30', 55', 55' Johnston  54' Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart Umpires: Caroline Davis (AUS) Michelle Farnill (AUS)

14 October 2018 13:00 (AEST) Canberra Strikers 1–5 QLD Scorchers Taseska  10' Report Taylor  22', 40' Greiner  60', 60', 60' National Hockey Centre, Canberra Umpires: Kerryl Chandler (AUS) Emily Carroll (AUS)

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20 October 2018 14:00 (AEST) Canberra Strikers 2–0 NSW Arrows Middleton  28', 28' Report National Hockey Centre, Canberra Umpires: Emily Carroll (AUS) Kristy Robertson (AUS)

20 October 2018 18:00 (AEST) QLD Scorchers 15–0 Tassie Van Demons Kershaw  3', 3' Malone  10', 10', 27', 27', 27', 46', 46' Greiner  23', 23' Kenny  28', 28', 28' Holzberger  39' Report Queensland State Hockey Centre, Brisbane Umpires: Aleisha Neumann (AUS) Tamara Leonard (AUS)

Pool B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	WD	LD	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	VIC Vipers	3	3	0	0	0	15	0	+15	15
2	SA Suns	3	2	0	0	1	6	3	+3	10
3	WA Diamonds	3	1	0	0	2	7	5	+2	5
4	NT Pearls	3	0	0	0	3	1	21	−20	0

Source: Hockey Australia

7 October 2018 14:00 (ACST) SA Suns 3–2 WA Diamonds Welstead  28', 28', 28' Report Rogers-Uff  41' Tonkin  54' State Hockey Centre, Adelaide Umpires: Nicola Brown (AUS) Melissa Trivic (AUS)

7 October 2018 17:00 (ACST) NT Pearls 0–13 VIC Vipers Report Utri  7', 42', 42' Brazel  7' Hurtz  11', 15', 44', 44' Gravenall  30' Ratcliffe  30', 40', 40' Hammond  45' Marrara Hockey Centre, Darwin Umpires: Bernadette Pangrazio (AUS) Lauren Berndt (AUS)

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13 October 2018 15:45 (AEST) VIC Vipers 1–0 WA Diamonds Ratcliffe  60' Report State Netball Hockey Centre, Melbourne Umpires: Nicola Brown (AUS) Cassigy Gallagher (AUS)

13 October 2018 17:00 (ACST) SA Suns 3–0 NT Pearls McMahon  30', 30', 41' Report State Hockey Centre, Adelaide Umpires: Tamara Leonard (AUS) Aleisha Neumann (AUS)

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20 October 2018 16:00 (AWST) WA Diamonds 5–1 NT Pearls Squibb  40', 40', 56', 56' Slattery  43' Report Martin-Brown  8' Perth Hockey Stadium, Perth Umpires: Melissa Trivic (AUS) Kimberleigh Todd (AUS)

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21 October 2018 14:00 (AEST) VIC Vipers 1–0 SA Suns Gravenall  45' Report State Netball Hockey Centre, Melbourne Umpires: Michelle Farnill (AUS) Nicola Brown (AUS)

Classification round

	Quarterfinals				Semi-finals				Final
	25 October 2018
	QLD Scorchers	13
					27 October 2018
	NT Pearls	0
					QLD Scorchers	2
	25 October 2018
					Canberra Strikers	1
	SA Suns	0 (2)
									28 October 2018
	Canberra Strikers (p.s.o)	0 (4)
									QLD Scorchers	6
	25 October 2018
									NSW Arrows	7
	NSW Arrows	6
					27 October 2018
	WA Diamonds	0
					NSW Arrows	4
	25 October 2018
					VIC Vipers	3			Third place match
	VIC Vipers	6
									28 October 2018
	Tassie Van Demons	0
									Canberra Strikers (p.s.o)	4 (2)
									VIC Vipers	4 (0)

Quarterfinals

25 October 2018 13:00 (AEST) QLD Scorchers 13–0 NT Pearls Kenny  15+', 43', 49' Greiner  22', 22' Wilkinson  24', 24' Eleison  25' Kershaw  28', 29', 49', 49' M. Fitzpatrick  33' Report Gold Coast Hockey Centre, Gold Coast Umpires: Michelle Farnill (AUS) Melissa Trivic (AUS)

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25 October 2018 14:45 (AEST) SA Suns 0–0 Canberra Strikers Report Penalties Spano Evans Welstead Claxton 2–4 Taseska Middleton Tice Evans E. Bone Gold Coast Hockey Centre, Gold Coast Umpires: Kerryl Chandler (AUS) Tamara Leonard (AUS)

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25 October 2018 16:30 (AEST) VIC Vipers 6–0 Tassie Van Demons Padget  5', 5' Ratcliffe  18', 41', 41' Brazel  20' Report Gold Coast Hockey Centre, Gold Coast Umpires: Kristy Robertson (AUS) Caroline Davis (AUS)

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25 October 2018 18:15 (AEST) NSW Arrows 6–0 WA Diamonds Jenner  11', 28', 28' Smith  31', 31' Stewart  34' Report Gold Coast Hockey Centre, Gold Coast Umpires: Nicola Brown (AUS) Emily Carroll (AUS)

Fifth to eighth place classification

	Crossover				Fifth place match
	27 October 2018
	NT Pearls	0
					28 October 2018
	SA Suns	5
					SA Suns	2 (3)
	27 October 2018
					WA Diamonds (p.s.o)	2 (4)
	WA Diamonds	10
	Tassie Van Demons	0
					Seventh place match
					28 October 2018
					NT Pearls	5
					Tassie Van Demons	3

Crossover

October 2018 08:45 (AEST) NT Pearls 0–5 SA Suns Report Talbot  17', 17' Spano  26' Grist  53', 54' Gold Coast Hockey Centre, Gold Coast Umpires: Emily Carroll (AUS) Caroline Davis (AUS)

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October 2018 10:30 (AEST) WA Diamonds 10–0 Tassie Van Demons Slattery  4', 46', 46' Broek  11', 59', 59', 59' Squibb  20' Bestall  27', 27' Report Gold Coast Hockey Centre, Gold Coast Umpires: Tamara Leonard (AUS) Michelle Farnill (AUS)

Seventh and eighth place

October 2018 08:45 (AEST) NT Pearls 5–3 Tassie Van Demons J. Graf  18', 18' Lidbetter  33', 33' G. Graf  41' Report Gunn  6', 6' Arthur  55' Gold Coast Hockey Centre, Gold Coast Umpires: Nicola Brown (AUS) Caroline Davis (AUS)

Fifth and sixth place

October 2018 08:45 (AEST) SA Suns 2–2 WA Diamonds Grist  15', 60' Report Broek  58', 58' Penalties McMahon Welstead Evans Claxton Spano —— McMahon 3–4 Malan Squibb Rockliff Broek Slattery —— Slattery Gold Coast Hockey Centre, Gold Coast Umpires: Kerryl Chandler (AUS) Michelle Farnill (AUS)

First to fourth place classification

Semi-finals

27 October 2018 12:30 (AEST) QLD Scorchers 2–1 Canberra Strikers Holzberger  14' Kenny  25' Report Bailey-Price  48' Gold Coast Hockey Centre, Gold Coast Umpires: Melissa Trivic (AUS) Nicola Brown (AUS)

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27 October 2018 14:00 (AEST) NSW Arrows 4–3 VIC Vipers Smith  30', 30' Williams  36', 36' Report Hurtz  47', 47', 55' Gold Coast Hockey Centre, Gold Coast Umpires: Kerryl Chandler (AUS) Kristy Robertson (AUS)

Third and fourth place

28 October 2018 12:30 (AEST) Canberra Strikers 4–4 VIC Vipers Gaughan  23', 23' E. Bone  34' Tice  45' Report Brazel  17', 17' Hurtz  57', 57' Penalties Taseska Middleton Tice 2–0 Hurtz Ratcliffe Brazel Bates Gold Coast Hockey Centre, Gold Coast Umpires: Tamara Leonard (AUS) Kristy Robertson (AUS)

Final

28 October 2018 15:30 (AEST) QLD Scorchers 6–7 NSW Arrows S. Fitzpatrick  12', 12', 56' Kenny  33' Kershaw  59', 59' Report Williams  5', 5' Hayes  21', 21' Farrell  35' Stewart  49' Wilson  53' Gold Coast Hockey Centre, Gold Coast Umpires: Melissa Trivic (AUS) Emily Carroll (AUS)

Awards

Player of the Tournament	Top Goalscorer	Player of the Final	Goalkeeper of the Tournament
Elena Tice Lily Brazel	Rebecca Greiner Jodie Kenny Emily Hurtz	Kaitlin Nobbs	Rachael Lynch

Statistics

Final standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	WD	LD	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
	NSW Arrows	6	5	0	0	1	30	15	+15	25	Gold Medal
	QLD Scorchers	6	4	0	0	2	44	14	+30	20	Silver Medal
	Canberra Strikers	6	2	2	0	2	11	11	0	16	Bronze Medal
4	VIC Vipers	6	4	0	1	1	28	8	+20	22
5	WA Diamonds	6	2	1	0	3	19	13	+6	13
6	SA Suns	6	3	0	2	1	13	5	+8	19
7	NT Pearls	6	1	0	0	5	6	42	−36	5
8	Tassie Van Demons	6	0	0	0	6	4	47	−43	0

Source: Hockey Australia

Goalscorers

There were 155 goals scored in 24 matches, for an average of 6.46 goals per match.

9 goals

• Rebecca Greiner
• Jodie Kenny
• Emily Hurtz

8 goals

• Grace Stewart
• Stephanie Kershaw

7 goals

• Ambrosia Malone
• Madeleine Ratcliffe

6 goals

• Emily Smith
• Roos Broek

5 goals

• Penny Squibb

4 goals

• Kate Jenner
• Mariah Williams
• Emily Grist
• Lily Brazel
• Kathryn Slattery

3 goals

• Jessica Watterson
• Savannah Fitzpatrick
• Karri McMahon
• Leah Welstead
• Aisling Utri

2 goals

• Meredith Bone
• Sophie Gaughan
• Beckie Middleton
• Greta Hayes
• Jacqueline Graf
• Erin Lidbetter
• Jordyn Holzberger
• Renee Taylor
• Britt Wilkinson
• Lucy Talbot
• Julia Gunn
• Hannah Gravenall
• Hayley Padget
• Danielle Bestall

1 goal

• Catriona Bailey-Price
• Edwina Bone
• Naomi Evans
• Tina Taseska
• Elena Tice
• Lisa Farrell
• Sarah Johnston
• Abigail Wilson
• Georgia Graf
• Jessica Martin-Brown
• Layla Eleison
• Madison Fitzpatrick
• Michaela Spano
• Ashleigh Arthur
• Samantha Lawrence
• Nicola Hammond
• Sage Rogers-Uff
• Shanea Tonkin

Source: Hockey Australia