Geelong’s hockey talent recognised

GEELONG’S best hockey talent has been celebrated following a 2023 season filled with highlights and accomplishments.

Geelong Hockey Club conducted its annual Best and Fairest Awards night last Friday, rewarding several players for their efforts over the past season, as the organisation gears up for an exciting summer season.

Premier League player and event organiser Ashlee Craig said the awards were the biggest night of the year for the club.

Alice Arnold earned top honours among the club’s female cohort by securing the Premier League side’s Best and Fairest and MVP awards, while Jack Chadwick secured the same acknowledgement in the Premier Men’s Division.

Craig was honoured to receive Clubperson of the Year alongside men’s counterpart Pete Taylor for their contributions to the Geelong Hockey Club.

“It’s a great night overall to take a step back and look at the hard work everyone has put into the previous season,” she said.

“We had a number of deserving winners take out our coveted Best and Fairest awards across our three women’s and three men’s sides.

“It’s also just a great opportunity to get the whole club together and catch up.”

The Sharks enjoyed a number of highlights throughout the season, despite both Premier League sides getting relegated in their respective competitions.

Geelong’s Andrew Smith, Australian Kookaburra, was named head coach for the Hockey Club Melbourne men competing in the Hockey One tournament.

Liam Kerr-Nelson will captain Australian’s men’s hockey 5s team heading to Oman in January, while Jayden Schram, Ewan Wightman, Brayden Caldow, Kahlua Smart and Olivia Jenkins will represent Australia’s Under 21 Country team in Borneo the same month.

Lachie Hansford, Cale Rout, Liam Kerr-Nelson and Sophie Collings will also represent the Australian Country team in New Zealand in April, whereas Tammy Hansford was appointed assistant coach of the Women’s Australian Country Team.

The club is also excited to see a new hockey field begin to take shape in Torquay, providing an excellent opportunity for hockey talent to flourish on the Surf Coast.