Hockey finals begin

The final round for the West Gippsland Strikers Hockey Club has ended with the under 14s finishing top (despite a bye this week) and the under 18s second to ensure finals are still to come.
In the seniors the Women finished strong with a big last round win but finished fifth overall. The Men finished second and like the juniors are expected to go deep into the finals series.

The under 18 Strikers got back on the winning track in emphatic fashion on Friday night, beating the visiting KBH Brumbies 8-0 in the final match of the regular season.
Jordan Oellermann led the way with four goals, a total which could have easily been doubled if he wasn't constantly passing and setting up teammates in the D for shots.
Another stand-out for the match was Zizi Pozzebon as she scored a goal from one of the multiple short-corners she drew in the first half.
These two featured in the play of the game as Oellermann's long and low toss from the centre was beautifully received and controlled by Pozzebon in front of goal, off-footing the opposition.
The Brumbies goalie saved the resultant shot by Zizi, but the rebound bounced to the other side where a perfectly positioned Ronan North gobbled it up and sent it promptly into the back of the net.
Charlotte Smith was a notable presence in the forward line, especially in the second half. It seemed as if she was going to be denied from scoring all game despite several fine shots and drawing multiple short-corners.
Once she brilliantly stole an opponent's pass out from defense to go straight in on goal, only to be denied once again by a great save from the opponent's goalie. Charlotte finally got her well-deserved goal, though, with the final score of the match, assisted by a brilliant back-handed pass across the goal mouth from Zizi.
Despite having no hockey ground or team, Neerim South is punching above its weight in hockey talent. This is most dramatically demonstrated within the under 18 Strikers by the valuable presence of Neerim South's Three Musketeers - Leith Metcalf, Regi Brown, and Caleb VanderMarel.
The rapid improvement and resultant growth in confidence of Caleb VanderMarel was probably never more dramatically demonstrated than when, in the second half, he suddenly unleashed a devastating tomahawk shot at goal. While it failed to score, it certainly drew people's attention!
On a more successful note, Caleb showed off his growing talents and field awareness, especially in the first half, whether he was beating multiple opponents down the wing to send the ball on its way into the offensive D, or consistently dashing forward to present viable options for teammates.
His advantageous positioning paid off when he scored a goal with a tip-in from a hot Oellermann pass to his advantage.
The other two of the Neerim South Musketeers, Leith Metcalf and Regi Brown, were less notable than usual because in this one-sided match they were, as they have been all season long, constant stalwarts in the Strikers' defence.
Leith had one particularly eye-catching moment when an opponent broke free in midfield, rollicking up the centre of the pitch as if he owned the place, only to be met head on by Leith who, in seemingly one motion, nonchalantly picked the ball off him and dashed in the opposite direction so masterly that he left the Brumbies player far in his wake, metaphorically scratching his head.
The third Musketeer, Regi Brown had to wait until late in the game for her highlight. In a rare chance at the offensive end of the ground, with brilliant stick work, Regi beat three opponents, just breaking free into open space with the D begging when the final siren sounded to end the match.
Senior Results:
The Strikers Women finished the season on a high with a 6-0 win over Melton Mustangs at Bellbird Park on Sunday afternoon. In delightful, sunny conditions and with their biggest crowd of the season cheering them on, the Women repelled the skillful attack of the Mustangs through the midfield, sending balls flying from the backline to the Strikers time and time again.
Charlotte Smith, in her first season as a Striker, ended the year as the Women's highest goal scorer with 11 to her name.
She was well supported in this match by Lauren Austen converting off short corners, and Monique McAskill and Tessa Martin slotting one each. Tessa was awarded player of the match for her penetrating runs down the sideline. Robin Fitzpatrick, Hannah Van Bruegel and Eve Thorpe all played outstanding games at half-back, while Charlotte Axtell and Hattie Horton tackled well to shut down the Mustangs play.
Flick Johnson and Steph Selvaraj worked hard through the midfield to work the ball forward to Ebonie McAskill who played with presence on the forward line.
The Strikers Women finished a clear fifth on the ladder in Vic League 2 this year, winning five games and drawing one. They are looking forward to regrouping in January for some pre-season running!
Those keen to join the 2025 squad should follower the Strikers social media.
The West Gippsland Strikers Men 10 defeated Greater Dandenong Warriors Hockey 1.
West Gippsland Hockey Association results:
Under 12s:
Aztecs 8 defeated Gulls 1.
Goal Scorers Aztecs: Wyatt Cobbledick 4, Tyler Boltong 2, Alexis Burke and Hannah McAskill.
Goal Scorers Gulls: Ben Tepper.
Drouids 0 drew with Warriors 0.
Under 15s:
Aztecs 4 defeated Gulls 0.
Goal Scorers Aztecs: Ronan North 2, Tyler Boltong and Lilli Ashman.
Drouids 3 drew with Warriors 3.
Goal Scorers Drouids: Oscar Callanan, Flynn Furphy, Damian McNamara.
Goal Scorers Warriors: Zach Coster.
Under 18s:
Gulls 10 defeated Aztecs 6.
Goal Scorers Gulls: Talitha Graziotin, Marisah Mock 3, Bobby Haynes (Happy 18th Bobby!) 2, Nikita Conley and Will Brown.
Goal Scorers Aztecs: Cailean Thomas 5 and Brock Nelson.
Warriors 10 defeated Drouids 8.
Goal Scorers Warriors: Lachlan Buchanan, Sam Pepper, Josiah Wells 3 and Zach Coster.
Goal Scorers Drouids: Leith Metcalf 5, Damian McNamara 2 and Flynn Furphy.
Women:
Gulls 18 defeated Aztecs 6.
Goal Scorers Gulls: Merri Spalding 7, Hannah Spragg 5, Kylie Crawford 3, Chloe Maskell 2, Justine Gooding.
Goal Scorers Aztecs: Stephanie Selvaraj 4 and Robyn Risdale 2.
Drouids 15 defeated Warriors 3.
Goal Scorers Drouids: Nicole Creaser 4, Stephanie Selvaraj 3, Justine Gooding, Belinda Coulton 2, Chloe Maskell and Nicki Cann.
Goal Scorers Warriors: Emily Coster.
Men:
Aztecs 14 defeated Gulls 5.
Goal Scorers Aztecs: Ronan North 5, Jordan Oellermann 3, Matt Taylor, Shaun Hudgell 2, Owen Polderman and Kara North.
Goal Scorers Gulls: Chris Miles, Issac Graziotin 2, Sukhraj Boparai.
Drouids 8 defeated Warriors 7.
Goal Scorers Drouids: Jordan Oellermann 4, Seth Rumble 3 and Leith Metcalf.
Goal Scorers Warriors: Andrew Harrison 3, Scott Marks 2, Zach Coster and Charlie Coster.