The 2024 season for the Geelong Hockey Association local competition concluded on Saturday September 14 with Grand Finals. There were some fantastic matches showing off the excellent skills of players all the way from the U10s to the D1 men and women.
Competition Winners
Congratulations to the Premiers and Runners Up in each competition:
- Under 10 Stead Park – Kardinia (Premiers) and Geelong Jaguars (Runners Up)
- Under 10 Lloyd Reserve – Newtown Rebels (Premiers) and Newtown Spirit (Runners Up)
- Under 12 – Newtown Strikers (Premiers), Newtown Spirit (Runners Up)
- Under 14 – Geelong Jaguars (Premiers) and Kardinia (Runners Up)
- Under 17 – Kardinia Blue (Premiers) and Torquay (Runners Up)
- Division 1 Women – Saints Black (Premiers) and Torquay (Runners Up)
- Division 1 Men – Torquay (Premiers) and Saints Black (Runners Up)
- Division 2 Women – Torquay Tornadoes (Premiers) and Torquay (Runners Up)
- Division 2 Men – Torquay (Premiers) and Geelong White (Runners Up).
Award Winners
Well done to the award winners on the day.
Player of the Grand Final
- D2 Women – Amber Bowey (Torquay Tornadoes)
- D2 Men – Mitch Gourley (Geelong White)
- D1 Women – Olivia Jenkins (Saints Black)
- D1 Men – Liam Kerr-Nelson (Torquay)
Best and Fairest Winners
- D2 Women – Natasha Wilkinson (Newtown Strikers)
- D2 Men – Nathan Harper (Torquay)
- D1 Women – Danita Eastman (Torquay)
- D1 Men – Liam Murphy (Torquay)
Umpires Awards
Thanks to the umpires for their work. We couldn’t play hockey without them!
- U12 – Charlie Maloney, Nate Harding
- U14 – Dominic Crowley, Prabha Ramanathan
- U17 – Daniel Glenn, Pearce Frost
- D2 Women – Brian Collis, Fionn Zele
- D1 Women – Tom Molyneux, Zoe Sykes
- D1 Men – Tom Molyneux, Tucker Kooloos
- D2 Men – John Larkins, Pearce Frost
Congratulations to Brian Collis, who was named the Most Improved Umpire and Zoey Sykes who was named the Most Improved Junior Umpire. We send our thanks to the Umpires Convenors, Pearce Frost and Tom Molyneux, for their terrific commitment and effort during the season.
Other Awards
The Presidents Trophy for 2024 was presented to Saints Hockey Club, with thanks for the many contributions which the club and its members make to the Geelong Hockey Association. This is nice way to top off a memorable year for the club, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.
The Geelong Hockey Association is also very pleased to award Life Membership of the GHA to Emmaline Shand and Joe Crosbie OAM in recognition of their outstanding contributions and dedication to the Association. Joe was unable to be present so the award was accepted on his behalf by Peter Stuart.
The winner of the John Stephenson Award for 2024 will be announced at a later date.
Thanks to All
Huge thanks to Emmaline Shand for all her organisation which resulted in a fantastic day. The only thing she didn’t have complete control over was the weather!
Thanks to Terry Moore, GHA Life Member, who did an excellent job as MC to keep the program on schedule. Thanks to Graeme Dent, GHA President, and to all the guests and Life Members who assisted with the presentation of awards and trophies. We were very pleased to have Jason La Rocca, Hockey Victoria Regional Development Manager in attendance. The children in the U10 teams received some great inspiration for their future hockey careers after receiving their awards from Liam Kerr-Nelson, inaugural captain of the Australian Hockey 5s team.
Thanks also to Dimpy Kalia and her canteen helpers for keeping up with the constant demands of the hungry hordes!
Thanks to our supporters, friends and family who braved the very cold (and sometimes wet) weather to cheer on their teams. Your support was much appreciated.
Hockey is a great sport for the whole family, and the Harper family (Grace, Nathan, Matt, Luke and Sally) from the Torquay Hockey Club are a great illustration of this, with all 5 members of the family playing, and all picking up awards on this Grand Final Day.
