# Australian Hockey League

The Australian Hockey League (AHL) was Australia's premier national domestic field hockey competition. Despite its non-professional nature, it was considered one of the strongest and most competitive national hockey leagues in the world, consisting of both men's and women's competition. It included many players from the Kookaburras and the Hockeyroos, with participating in the AHL serving as a selection requirement for all Australian national squad members.
The last edition of the AHL was contested in 2018, with the league was replaced by Hockey One, Australia's new elite domestic hockey competition.

## History

The first season of the Australian Men's National Hockey League (former AHL) took place in 1991, when the perpetual national championship was replaced by a new-look format. The competition, which was played over a two-month period, did not limit player eligibility to state of origin. Six teams competed in the first year – Brisbane Blades, Melbourne Redbacks, Adelaide Hotshots, Canberra Lakers, Sydney Stingrays and Tamworth Frogs. In 1991 and 1992, both the National Championship and the National Hockey League was played, placing a financial burden on the states. From 1993, the decision was made to play the National Hockey League as the sole competition in determining Australia's champion State.
The league has since evolved into an eight team competition played on a home and away basis before climaxing with a finals series. In 2000, 2004 and 2008 however, the league reverted to a two-week championship format. This format is designed to replicate the intense nature and heavy playing schedule of the Olympic Games. The league embraced some big changes leading into the 2001 season as the former Men's and Women's National Hockey League combined to form the Australian Hockey League (AHL). Both the men's and women's leagues shifted their seasons from mid-year to February–April and a unique format was adopted. The format devised allows a high level of hockey to be seen across Australia through four weeks of home-and-away competition. The league then climaxes with a full finals week that comprises three-round matches, the semi-finals and finals.

## Competition Format and Rules
### Past Editions

Prior to 2018, the Australian Hockey League was run as a centralised tournament.
Teams were split into two pools, Pool A and Pool B, playing in a single round robin format. At the conclusion of the pool stage, the top two teams entered the medal round, while the remaining teams played in the classification round.

### 2018 Australian Hockey League

Like in previous editions, teams are split into Pool A and Pool B. At the conclusion of the pool stage however, teams contest in a quarterfinal format, with each team still eligible to contest the medal round.

#### 2018 Rule Innovations

Played under FIH international rules. 4 x 15-minute quarters.
* At the end of the second and fourth quarters, one team is given a PumpPlay. During this 5-minute period, teams are reduced to 9 players, and goals for the team in possession of the PumpPlay are worth double.
If a field goal or penalty stroke is scored, that player has an immediate one on one with the goalkeep for an extra goal.
If any match culminates in a draw, the teams will contest a penalty shoot-out to determine a winner.

#### Point system

2018 Points System :
| W | WD | LD | L |
| 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |

## Australian Hockey League Teams
### Australian Capital Territory

Australian Capital Territory :
| | Teams | Teams | AHL Titles | Years | Home Stadium |
| Men | Canberra Lakers | 0 | | National Hockey Centre, Canberra |
| Women | Canberra Strikers | 0 | | National Hockey Centre, Canberra |
Both the men's and women's Australian Capital Territory representative teams entered the AHL in the inaugural year for each gender, 1991 and 1993 respectively.
The men and women have both previously represented ACT under different names. The men have represented as the ACT Lakers (2011), while the women have previously represented as the ACTAS Strikers (1995–1996) and the ACT Strikers (2011).

### New South Wales

New South Wales :
| | Teams | Teams | AHL Titles | Years | Home Stadium |
| Men | NSW Waratahs | 3 | 1995, 2001, 2005 | Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney |
| Women | NSW Arrows | 10 | 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2014, 2018 | Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney |
Both the men's and women's New South Wales representative teams entered the AHL in the inaugural year for each gender, 1991 and 1993 respectively.
The men and women have both previously represented NSW under different names. The men have represented as the Sydney Stingrays (1991–1992), the Sydney Scorpions (1993–1994), the NSW Warriors (1995–2000) and the NSW Panthers (2001–2004). The women have previously represented as the NSWIS Arrows (2000–2004).

### Northern Territory

Northern Territory :
| | Teams | Teams | AHL Titles | Years | Home Stadium |
| Men | NT Stingers | 0 | | Marrara Hockey Centre, Darwin |
| Women | NT Pearls | 0 | | Marrara Hockey Centre, Darwin |
Both the men's and women's Northern Territory representative teams entered the AHL at different times. While the women joined in the tournament's inaugural year of 1993, the men didn't join until 1998.
While participating for the first three years, the women's team were absent from the AHL between 1996 and 1999.
The men and women have both previously represented NT under different names. The men have represented as the Territory Stingers (2001–2008) and the Darwin Stingers (2010, 2012), while the women have represented as the Darwin Blazez (1993–1995) and the Territory Pearls (2006–2007, 2010).

### Queensland

Queensland :
| | Teams | Teams | AHL Titles | Years | Home Stadium |
| Men | QLD Blades | 10 | 1991, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018 | Queensland State Hockey Centre, Brisbane |
| Women | QLD Scorchers | 5 | 1997, 2005, 2013, 2015, 2016 | Queensland State Hockey Centre, Brisbane |
Both the men's and women's Queensland representative teams entered the AHL in the inaugural year for each gender, 1991 and 1993 respectively.
The men and women have both previously represented QLD under different names. The men have represented as the Brisbane Blades (1991–1997), while the women have represented as the QAS Scorchers (1995–1997, 2000).

### South Australia

South Australia :
| | Teams | Teams | AHL Titles | Years | Home Stadium |
| Men | SA Hotshots | 0 | | State Hockey Centre, Adelaide |
| Women | SA Suns | 2 | 1995, 2011 | State Hockey Centre, Adelaide |
Both the men's and women's South Australia representative teams entered the AHL in the inaugural year for each gender, 1991 and 1993 respectively.
The men and women have both previously represented SA under different names. The men have represented as the Adelaide Hotshots (1991–2007) and the Southern Hotshots (2008–2014), while the women have represented as the Adelaide Suns (1993–2007) and the Southern Suns (2008–2014).

### Tasmania

Tasmania :
| | Teams | Teams | AHL Titles | Years | Home Stadium |
| Men | Tassie Tigers | 1 | 2014 | Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart |
| Women | Tassie Van Demons | 0 | | Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart |
Both the men's and women's Tasmania representative teams entered the AHL following the inaugural year for each gender. The men joined in 1992, while the women joined in 1996.

### Victoria

Victoria :
| | Teams | Teams | AHL Titles | Years | Home Stadium |
| Men | VIC Vikings | 4 | 1996, 1998, 2016, 2017 | State Netball and Hockey Centre, Melbourne |
| Women | VIC Vipers | 3 | 2003, 2012, 2017 | State Netball and Hockey Centre, Melbourne |
Both the men's and women's Victoria representative teams entered the AHL in the inaugural year for each gender, 1991 and 1993 respectively.
The men and women have both previously represented VIC under different names. The men have represented as the Melbourne Redbacks (1991–1992, 1994–2001), the VIS Redbacks (1993) and the Azuma Vikings (2005–2006), while the women have previously represented as the VIS Vipers (1993–2004) and the Azuma Vipers (2005–2006).

### Western Australia

Western Australia :
| | Teams | Teams | AHL Titles | Years | Home Stadium |
| Men | WA Thundersticks | 9 | 1992, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2011 | Perth Hockey Stadium, Perth |
| Women | WA Diamonds | 6 | 1994, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 | Perth Hockey Stadium, Perth |
Both the men's and women's Western Australia representative teams entered the AHL at different times. While the women joined in the tournament's inaugural year of 1993, the men didn't join until 1992.
The men and women have both previously represented WA under different names. The men have represented as the Perth Thundersticks (1992, 1994–2001) and the WAIS Thundersticks (1993), while the women have previously represented as the WAIS Diamonds (1993–2002).

## Men's AHL
### Statistics

Men's Australian Hockey League :
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Player of the Tournament | Highest Goalscorer | Player of the Final |
| 1991 | Brisbane Blades | Melbourne Redbacks | Colin Batch (Redbacks) | David Shaw (Redbacks) | – |
| 1992 | Perth Thundersticks | Brisbane Blades | Jay Stacy (Redbacks) Todd Williams (Tigers) | – | – |
| 1993 | WAIS Thundersticks | Sydney Scorpions | – | – | – |
| 1994 | NHL Not Played in 1994 | NHL Not Played in 1994 | NHL Not Played in 1994 | NHL Not Played in 1994 | NHL Not Played in 1994 |
| 1995 | Perth Thundersticks | Brisbane Blades | Lachlan Elmer (Hotshots) | Bobby Crutchley (Lakers) | – |
| 1996 | Melbourne Redbacks | Brisbane Blades | Jay Stacy (Redbacks) | Greg Corbitt (Thundersticks) Jeremy Hiskins (Redbacks) | – |
| 1997 | NSW Warriors | Perth Thundersticks | Jay Stacy (Redbacks) | Glen Kingston (Lakers) | – |
| 1998 | Melbourne Redbacks | Canberra Lakers | Daniel Sproule (Tigers) | Daniel Davison (Thundersticks) | – |
| 1999 | Perth Thundersticks | QLD Blades | Michael York (Lakers) | Craig Keenan (Tigers) | – |
| 2000 | Perth Thundersticks | NSW Warriors | Brent Livermore (Warriors) | Craig Keenan (Tigers) | – |
| 2001 | NSW Panthers | Perth Thundersticks | Matthew Wells (Tigers) | Michael McCann (Panthers) | – |
| 2002 | WA Thundersticks | QLD Blades | Zain Wright (Tigers) | Andrew Smith (Vikings) | – |
| 2003 | QLD Blades | WA Thundersticks | Matthew Wells (Tigers) | Andrew Smith (Vikings) | – |
| 2004 | QLD Blades | WA Thundersticks | Stephen Mowlam (Vikings) | Troy Elder (Blades) | Dean Butler (Blades) |
| 2005 | NSW Waratahs | QLD Blades | Rob Hammond (Blades) | Taeke Taekema (Waratahs) | Michael McCann (Waratahs) |
| 2006 | QLD Blades | Tassie Tigers | Mark Knowles (Blades) | Chris Ciriello (Vikings) | Dean Butler (Blades) |
| 2007 | QLD Blades | WA Thundersticks | Bevan George (Thundersticks) | Marcus Richardson (Tigers) | Mark Knowles (Blades) |
| 2008 | WA Thundersticks | QLD Blades | Bevan George (Thundersticks) | Luke Doerner (Vikings) | Aaron Hopkins (Thundersticks) |
| 2009 | WA Thundersticks | QLD Blades | Brent Livermore (Waratahs) | Jason Wilson (Blades) | Graeme Begbie (Thundersticks) |
| 2010 | QLD Blades | NSW Waratahs | Des Abbott (Stingers) Simon Orchard (Waratahs) | Josh Miller (Waratahs) | Jason Wilson (Blades) |
| 2011 | WA Thundersticks | NSW Waratahs | Eddie Ockenden (Tigers) | Wouter Hermkens (Lakers) Eddie Ockenden (Tigers) Sam Pike (Thundersticks) | Sam Pike (Thundersticks) |
| 2012 | QLD Blades | WA Thundersticks | Simon Orchard (Waratahs) | Chris Ciriello (Vikings) | Matthew Swann (Blades) |
| 2013 | QLD Blades | VIC Vikings | Eddie Ockenden (Tigers) | Aaron Kershaw (Lakers) Mark Paterson (Waratahs) | – |
| 2014 | Tassie Tigers | WA Thundersticks | Eddie Ockenden (Tigers) | Blake Govers (Waratahs) | Tristan Clemons (Tigers) |
| 2015 | QLD Blades | WA Thundersticks | Eddie Ockenden (Tigers) | Blake Govers (Waratahs) | Cale Cramer (Blades) |
| 2016 | VIC Vikings | WA Thundersticks | Flynn Ogilvie (Waratahs) | Chris Ciriello (Vikings) | Chris Ciriello (Vikings) |
| 2017 | VIC Vikings | QLD Blades | Mark Knowles (Blades) | Kieron Arthur (Tigers) Chris Ciriello (Vikings) | Robert Bell (Blades) |
| 2018 | QLD Blades | NSW Waratahs | Jake Whetton (Blades) | Blake Govers (Waratahs) | Corey Weyer (Blades) |
Men's Australian Hockey League :
| Year | Goalkeeper of the Tournament | Play the Whistle |
| 2012 | – | Canberra Lakers |
| 2013 | – | – |
| 2014 | Leon Hayward (Stingers) | Tassie Tigers |
| 2015 | Andrew Charter (Lakers) | Tassie Tigers |
| 2016 | Tyler Lovell (Thundersticks) | WA Thundersticks |
| 2017 | Johan Durst (Vikings) | QLD Blades |
| 2018 | Andrew Charter (Lakers) | – |