My son Wesley Tronson usually writes this sport column on the EPL for this week in the five week cycle, but was unable to due to other commitments – he text me:' Write one on hockey Pop!' So here is is!
The Australian Hockey League tried out a fresh format this year with a week long tournament from 4-11 October in Adelaide.
As someone who wrote 'hockey' for The Australian for 24 years to 1994 covering Champion's Trophies, World Cups and Olympics, and written five books on hockey, it's been of much interest to me so watch the Australian Hockey League develop.
This fresh format for the Australian Hockey League (AHL) is almost a return to the future as for many years the Australian Hockey Championships were conducted over a week long schedule.
When the Australian Hockey League was initiated and developed it was in several parts, over a period of several months. This demanded a great deal of financial resources and travel. This new format brings it all back together although it doesn't have the continuing media impact.
I for one looked forward to the Spring and Summer of each year when watching the evening television news or listening to the morning radio news, when the Australian Hockey League results were given.
I realise it wasn't much, a few seconds of air play, a quick announcement, but it went on for quite a number of weeks and after a little time, one got used to the idea that there was a culmination coming. The Final!
Now it's all over red-rover in a week and no one in the media gives much of an interest in the pool rounds until the final. One announcement. I didn't even hear that one single announcement this year.
Results
So what were the results, or the result that I missed hearing on the morning radio news of the 2014 Australian Hockey League.
7th-8th classification place result was a resounding win by ACT over SA, wait for it, 8-0.
The 5th-6th classification place result was a 3-2 win by NSW over NT.
The Bronze medal match saw a 4-4 end of normal play result between Victoria and Queensland. In the end it came down to penalty plays with the Victorians coming out on top 4-2.
The Final for the Gold Medal was another drawn encounter at full time between Wester Australia and Tasmania. There was a time when I was involved in hockey at this level in the 70s and early 80s that it was a question of would play Western Australia in the final. In recent years it's been all over the shop as to who played the in the Final and became the champions.
This time, 2014, the penalty plays went in favour of Tasmania 3-2. There you are – the Australian Hockey League wrap for 2014.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html