Hockey One Weekend: Grand Final Rematch in Melbourne, Pride Make Olympic Park History

Friday night in Melbourne is the one to watch. HC Melbourne host the Tassie Tigers at the State Netball Hockey Centre, and the men’s game is a Grand Final rematch.

The men play at 6:30 p.m. AEDT (12:30 p.m. PKT), with the women’s game at 8:15 p.m. AEDT (2:15 p.m. PKT). A rematch of a Grand Final always carries a little extra, and the Tigers will want to show the home crowd that last season’s decider wasn’t a one-off.

Saturday has two more Round 5 ties. Perth Thundersticks host Brisbane Blaze at Perth Hockey Stadium. And NSW Pride face Canberra Chill at Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre, which is a first. In seven years of Hockey One, no matchday has ever been played at Olympic Park before.

The Pride arrive in form. They’ve won three of their four games so far, and Blake Govers has scored in every one of them. Canberra have been the surprise package in the past, and they won’t roll over just because the Pride are at home in a new venue.

The season has already given us plenty. The Pride’s strong start and Perth’s good opening weeks set the tone. This weekend is about whether anyone can slow the leaders down, and whether Melbourne can get one back on the Tigers in front of their own fans.

Round 6, the Pride Round, follows on 13-15 November. That’s next week. This weekend is Round 5’s business, and there’s plenty of it.