Jun 4, 2015
Another win this week, albeit a hard fought one.
While we locked away a brilliant goal early thanks to Caroline Brooker, half time scoreline was 1 – 1, and we were trying to find a way to cut through a dogged Essendon defence.
PB’s half-time address again paid dividends, and we managed 2 early second half goals to Paul Klieve (goal no. 4 in 2 weeks) and David Stiles (lofted straight drive) to allow for a final score of 3 -1.
Defence was under pressure to the greatest extent this season, with the sweet smelling David Burns, Steve Ferry and Loretta Coverdale playing very important roles in our eventual win.
Injuries going into the game meant that we only had 12.2 players last night (team manager is generously allocated a 0.2 weighting).
We had a request from the Over 35s to provide some playing support that we were unable to accommodate. As it turns out the Over 35s managed to get 11 players together and register a 2-0 win over the previously undefeated Hockey Geelong.
Next game for the Men’s Masters teams are at Altona on Monday 15 June:
- Over 45s at 7.30pm against MUHC
- Over 35s at 8.30pm against Powerhouse / St Kilda
May 28, 2015
By Peter Kennedy.
Great to post another win on Monday night, this time a 5 – 0 result over Powerhouse.
Unlike Round 2, Powerhouse fielded a full team this time.David Burns and David Stiles started the game warmed up and ready to go, having filled in for the more energetic over 35s in the game before.
We came out of the blocks early, racing to a 3 – 0 lead in the first 10 minutes before taking the same lead to half time. Only a further 2 goals in the second half, but we were able to again mix around the positions after the break.
In the absence of Peter Symons, the goals came from Paul Klieve (hat trick and goals 2,3 and 4 this decade), David Morton (first goal this decade) and David Stiles.
Juha Myyrylainnen skilfully set up one of Paul’s goals, with a deft pass to the goal line.
Not sure what Paul was on in Sydney but he has come back a new man.
Some very handy work in defence, and it is the lack of goals at the other end, as much as our own scoring, that is enabling us to maintain winning form.
Next Monday night’s game is 7.00pm at Essendon (Ground 2).
Dec 4, 2014
The Inaugural Altona Hockey Club Fundraising Gala saw over 200 guests flock to Burbank Headquarters in Altona for a night of glamour, celebrities and music.
The ladies looked amazing, and the gents looked sharp, as they arrived on the blue carpet to the flashes of A’s paparazzi, John Camilleri and Alex Tyrrell.
The room, previously one of Burbank’s storage warehouses, had been transformed, even the Legends Bar sign was present!
The celebrities had the crowd enthralled… David “Ox” Schwarz told his amazing story of recovering from a gambling addiction… if you didn’t know it was true, you’d think it was a Hollywood script! 400 game veteran Kevin “KB” Bartlett taught us all about how good he was and still is!!! Katie Allen, Olympic, World Cup and Commonwealth gold medallist, shared her story of dealing with missing out on Atlanta in 1996, to winning gold at Sydney in 2000, and all the hard work of being a champion international hockey player. While Dave O’Neill had the crowd in stitches giving us a lesson in Western Suburbs geography and anthropology! Doc Turf, famous radio and horse racing personality (but more famous to Altona HC members as Phoebe’s dad), was amazing throughout as the MC, despite Briza trying to hog the microphone every chance he got!
The crowd was magnificent in supporting the fundraising efforts on the night, with a plethora of prizes given away in the raffle and the silent auction items attracting a lot of interest… who would’ve thought a day fishing with Millsy would be so popular?!
The Legends Bar was rocking throughout the night, and the band had Burbank HQ rocking into the night!
The night was not only an enjoyable one for all present, but also achieved our objective of raising over $9,000 for the facility development fund.
We acknowledge that a small group of guests were provided less than ideal service in relation to the food and for this we apologise. We have expressed our dissatisfaction with the caterer and appreciate the patience and understanding of those guests.
We are a small, tight-knit club, that relies on volunteers to get the job done. The way our volunteers pulled together to ensure the success of the gala, and thus raise money to develop our facilities, highlights what a fantastic group of quality people our members are.
Thanks to all volunteers who helped out with the event, including:
Alex Tyrrell
Angela Baugh
Ben Burriss
Brian Fanning
Brock Draper
Caleb Scanlon
Calum Mudford
Cam Jarry
Candace Reeves
Carol Noblett
Connor Otterbach
Cooper Burns
Cynan Baugh
Danielle Schubach
David Burns
Emma Faulkner
Heath McDonald
Ian Bartlett
Ian Ritchie
Jaimi Paten
Jake Macvean
Jarryd Otterbach
Jarryd Prentice
Jess Brennan
John Camilleri
Jyah Johnson
Karl Otterbach
Kate Holland
Kevin Brennan
Liv Rog
Matt Guest
Megan Prentice
Merryn Brennan
Michelle McIntyre
Mick Gallo
Mitchell Burns
Riley Faukner
Sarah Haslam
Seona Kelly-Pearce
Sian Baugh
Simone Otterbach
Steve McDonald
Steve Mills
Steve Ritchie
Tash Draper
Taylah Brennan
Tianie Grunwald
Tim Grunwald
Tyson Priddle
Silent Auction Donors:
Steve Mills
Craig Bancroft
Brian Fanning
Altona Bowls Club
Kooringal Golf Club
Raffle Donors:
Good Guys, Hoppers Crossing
Overtime Fitness
Tulle Fashion, Williamstown
Peter Sturton (Artist)
Bob and Sandy Guest
Love It, Williamstown
Book and Paper, Williamstown
Officeworks, Altona
Harvey Norman Electrical
Bunnings, Altona
Tim Watt, MP for Gellibrand
Powder Puff Hair
Rays Outdoors
Pet Stock
Mitre 10
McKenzie’s Spices
Taco Bill, Altona North
Inaugural AHC Blue Carpet Best Dressed Awards – Sponsored by OneLife Gym
After the challenge was laid down by Briza with an… um…. Interesting choice of gala outfit on the midweek video, the lads and ladies of the Altona Hockey Club turned out with all the glitz and glamour of the Oscars and Brownlow combined!
Paparazzi John Camilleri and Alex Tyrrell were capturing all the Altona beauties… who were all too happy to pose, given how fabulous they looked!
The judges chose a panel, and the guests at the gala voted… The voting was extremely close, but there could only be one winner in each category…
Best Dressed Woman – Tracey Drake
Best Dressed Man – Jake Macvean
Tracey looked very glamorous, and the former Womens Premier League Reserve coach was a deserved winner. The Mens winner was a little more questionable…. The man who is famous more for “what not to wear” pulled off a big upset win to take out the Male category.
Both Tracey and Jake will win a year of unlimited workouts, kindly donated by Onelife, a gym run by an ex-touring tennis professional, personal trainer and certified Crossfit and Olympic lifting coach.
If you’d like to find out how OneLife can help you be at the top of your sport, and how to get the best out of yourself, see contact details below:
Onelife Gym
Factory 18, 36 Aberdeen Road
Altona 3018
www.onelifeignite.com.au
www.Facebook.com/onelifeignite
Tristan Enright 0400 656 750
Sep 3, 2014
AUGUST IS OVER, SO THAT MEANS IT’S A-TEMBER!!!! AND A-TEMBER MEANS FINALS HOCKEY!!!!
Spring is here… that smell of freshly cut grass.. the temperature is a little warmer… it’s almost time to get your bag of fruit or pretty frock ready for the horse racing…. but before you do, we’ve got a truckload of Altona finals to support.
It’s time to get your colours out and rest your voice boxes, to JOIN THE BLUE AND GOLD ARMY… for a big weekend of A-TEMBER action.
If you’re in the crowd, wear your playing shirt.. wear it over your hoodie… We want to see royal blue EVERYWHERE at all of these finals..
Wear your hoodies, A’s coats, wear your scarves, wear you caps and beanies.. We want to create an environment where our players look to the crowd and are INSPIRED by a positive, loud force of BLUE AND GOLD!!!
Remember, be LOUD but be PROUD… Get our A’s over the line by putting ALL of your cheering efforts into supporting OUR CLUB…. let the umps do their jobs and help our players get the best out of them!
YOUR GUIDE TO THIS WEEKEND’S FINALS BELOW.
Carn the A’s!
Briza – The General of the Blue and Gold Army
#perfectharmony
#blueandgoldarmy
#beloud #beproud
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JUNIORS
As always, all of our juniors have had a magnificent year. Big thanks to all the parents for driving all over Melbourne on frosty Friday nights and Saturday mornings.. now it’s time to join these boys and girls for their GRAND FINALS. We kick off on Friday night with the U/14 girls at the SHC, and our U/14 and U/16 Mixed sides at Footscray. Then Saturday morning out at Footscray, we see our U/12 Mixed side in their big GF. Get out the Altona shirts, scarves and hoodies and get along to see if our five sides can bring home premiership glory. Give the kids all the support they need to get over the line! These are our future Altona champions in the making!!
Friday 5th September:
State Hockey Centre, Parkville
Under 14 Girls A Shield v Footscray @ 7pm
Footscray
Under 14 Mixed District NW v St Bernard’s @ 6:30pm
Under 14 Mixed Pennant NW v Yarra Valley @ 7pm
Under 16 Mixed Pennant NW v WestVic @ 8:30pm
Saturday 6th September:
Under 12 Mixed District NW v Werribee @ Footscray, 9:30am
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SENIORS – SATURDAY
Saturday also sees our Pennant and Metro sides do battle in their elimination and qualifying finals. The beauty of Pennant and Metro is the sides contain a mixture of old and new players, including some old guns from State League sides of yesteryear… Our five sides are spread out across the west and north, but plenty of opportunity to get your blue and gold on and get out to as many finals as you can to support the men and women, boy and girls, of these champion sides. Carn the A’s!!!!
Womens Metro 3 North West v Sunshine @ Altona, 2:30pm
Mens Metro 2 West v Melbourne Uni @ Altona, 4:30pm
Mens Metro 3 West v PEGS @ PEGS, 2:30pm
Womens Metro 1 North West v Brunswick @ Brunswick, 2:30pm
Womens Pennant B v Mentone @ Footscray, 4:30pm
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SENIORS – SUNDAY
Premier League v Camberwell @ SHC, 2:30pm
Droughts are meant to be broken…. the first one is now over.. 11 years between drinks for the Premier League boys… now we turn attention to our second one…. 18 years since a SL1/PL flag!!
We all see these blokes running hard each weekend, dazzling us with their skills and amazing us with their match winning saves and tackles… but not all of you see the work they do to get the side able to compete in the Premier League Finals.. long hot, gruelling pre-season running, hours of video, gym sessions, ice cold recovery…. Well, all of that has got the final four sides to this weekend.. after Sunday only three will remain…
We want to see the State Hockey Centre in a sea of BLUE AND GOLD… we don’t want the Orange Army to outnumber us. Get there and congregate together. Sit with your club mates.. cheer loudly, cheer proudly.. These boys are playing their hearts out, so you should be cheering your heart out!! Every contest, every trap, every tackle, every drag… be there to support YOUR BOYS… the A BOYS….
I know I can’t wait until Sunday, typing this gives me goose bumps.. Remember that feeling after the come-from-behind draw at Donny, well imagine the feeling after winning a final!
See you all throughout the weekend!!!!
GO ALTONA!
Aug 8, 2014
Altona is proud to be a Fair go, Sport! club, and recently Taylah Brennan has been involved a photoshoot with other Victorian Goalkeepers supporting Gus Johnston and the Fair go, Sport! message to keep homophobia out of sport – and particularly hockey.
It is always a poignant message and particularly great timing with the Fair go, Sport! round. We encourage all members to watch the report on the ABC and you can also read an article in The Age and an article in the Weekly Review supporting the message.
Feb 10, 2014
by Brian Fanning.
Despite the searing heat, the YC/YS and OC sides took to the field and played some entertaining hockey on Saturday evening. As most expected, the Young Sheilas took out the first game 4-1 and the Young Crew took out the mens game 3-1.
While the Old Codgers all play together on a Tuesday night over summer, the Old Chicks came together for the first time on Saturday. The line-up was star studded with multiple eras covered, and while they looked very impressive early, the heat did take its toll. Congratulations to both sides on a very high standard game, and particularly the OCs who some hadn’t played for a number of years.
Very special thanks to Cam Gracie for providing the trophy for the inaugural Steph Gracie Cup. It was a fantastic match to honour Steph, with several of her team mates playing in the OC side. Steph always was a feature at club days like these, so it was great to start a new tradition in her honour.
Thank you to Ben Newell for organising the uniforms; Tracey Drake for coaching the OC side; Phoebe Rothfield for organising the YS side and providing fantastic promotion of the match. Thanks to all for participating.
The Snakepit Challenge was again a high standard encounter with the benefits of a long pre-season and the ability to drag flick the key differences between the sides. In fact, the OC side could’ve scored another 4 goals if it wasn’t for a certain striker’s two posters and two near misses, all from directly in front! The Young Crew once again take home a trophy the Old Codgers had to fund, and have bragging rights for one more year. Bring on 2015 and more banter! Thanks to Alex Tyrrell for organising the promotional videos.
The big crowd was once again a tribute to our supporter base with members and families from all sections represented. A massive thank you to Bob Guest and Peter Dolenc for manning the BBQ and to all our volunteers in the bar throughout the evening. Thanks to Josh Young for the insightful commentary throughout the matches (wowee!).
iPod Shuffle Fundraiser
The second annual iPod Shuffle was once again sold out quickly, and well supported by members throughout the club and their friends. Once again, DJ Pax (aka Patty Phillips) organised the shuffle list, which had something for everyone of all ages. For some reason, the crowd was pretty pleased when last year’s winner, Briza, came out third last (no prize money)…. The prize money went to:
1st ($30 Shuffle) – Denise and Matt Campbell – $500
1st ($10 Shuffle) – Marc “184 SL1 Games, 0 Goals” Richardson – $170
2nd ($30 Shuffle) – Naish and Heath McDonald – $150
Thanks to Pat Phillips for organising the song list and technology; Kate Holland and Craig Bancroft for helping to collect money on match day and to all members and their families that participated in an important pre-season fundraiser for the club.
