# 2006 Women's Australian Hockey League

The 2006 Women's Australian Hockey League was the 14th edition women's field hockey tournament. The tournament was held between 7 April – 14 May 2006.
WA Diamonds won the tournament for the third time after defeating QLD Scorchers 4–2 in the final. Canberra Strikers finished in third place after defeating NSW Arrows 2–1 in the third and fourth place playoff.

## Participating teams

* Canberra Strikers
* NSW Arrows
* Territory Pearls
* QLD Scorchers
* Adelaide Suns
* Tassie Van Demons
* Azuma Vipers
* WA Diamonds

## Competition format

The 2006 Women's Australian Hockey League consisted of a single round robin format, followed by classification matches.
Teams from all 8 states and territories competed against one another throughout the pool stage. At the conclusion of the pool stage, the top four ranked teams progressed to the semi-finals, while the bottom four teams continued to the classification stage.
The first four rounds of the pool stage comprised two-legged fixtures based on aggregate scores to determine point allocation.

## Results
### Preliminary round
#### Pool

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | WD | LD | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | QLD Scorchers | 11 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 45 | 9 | +36 | 37 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | Canberra Strikers | 11 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 19 | +13 | 35 | Semi-finals |
| 3 | WA Diamonds | 11 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 35 | 17 | +18 | 30 | Semi-finals |
| 4 | NSW Arrows | 11 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 25 | 18 | +7 | 22 | Semi-finals |
| 5 | Azuma Vipers | 11 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 23 | 17 | +6 | 20 | |
| 6 | Adelaide Suns | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 25 | −13 | 12 | |
| 7 | Tassie Van Demons | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 47 | −38 | 9 | |
| 8 | Territory Pearls | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 37 | −29 | 3 | |

#### Fixtures

* 7 April 2006 18:00 (AWST)
| WA Diamonds | 2–2 | NSW Arrows |
| Nelson 61' Halliday 66' | Report | Brooks 7' Pritchard 53' |
| Penalties |||
| | 2–1 | |
* Perth Hockey Stadium, Perth Umpires: Melissa Trivic (AUS) Lisa Roach (AUS)
* 8 April 2006 13:30 (AEST)
| Canberra Strikers | 7–3 | Tassie Van Demons |
| Gallagher 3', 63' J. Lucas 14', 48', 54' Vaughan 23' Staunton 44' | Report | Jones 33' White 43' Paget Chaffey 65' |
* National Hockey Centre, Canberra Umpires: Deborah Brown (AUS) Susan Ford (AUS)
* 8 April 2006 16:00 (AEST)
| QLD Scorchers | 5–1 | Adelaide Suns |
| Hudson 8', 12' Smith 19' Beattie 48' Bennett 53' | Report | Shakes 34' |
* State Hockey Centre, Brisbane Umpires: Julie Ashton-Lucy (AUS) Aleeta Micallef (AUS)
* 8 April 2006 16:00 (AEST)
| Azuma Vipers | 3–0 | Territory Pearls |
| Messent 13' Merrett 16' Gillon 22' | Report | |
* State Netball and Hockey Centre, Melbourne Umpires: Catherine Mok (AUS) Judith Barnesby (AUS)
* 8 April 2006 16:00 (AWST)
| WA Diamonds | 2–1 | NSW Arrows |
| Munro 35' Halliday 64' | Report | Close 67' |
* Perth Hockey Stadium, Perth Umpires: Lisa Roach (AUS) Melissa Trivic (AUS)
* 9 April 2006 11:30 (AEST)
| Canberra Strikers | 2–0 | Tassie Van Demons |
| Ditton 20' Paul 32' | Report | |
* National Hockey Centre, Canberra Umpires: Susan Ford (AUS) Deborah Brown (AUS)
* 9 April 2006 13:00 (AEST)
| Azuma Vipers | 3–1 | Territory Pearls |
| Merrett 8' Riordan 11' Messent 23' | Report | Bergin 25' |
* State Netball and Hockey Centre, Melbourne Umpires: Judith Barnesby (AUS) Catherine Mok (AUS)
* 9 April 2006 14:00 (AEST)
| QLD Scorchers | 4–0 | Adelaide Suns |
| Faulkner 14' Bain 42' Blyth 46' Korner 64' | Report | |
* State Hockey Centre, Brisbane Umpires: Aleeta Micallef (AUS) Julie Ashton-Lucy (AUS)
* 15 April 2006 12:00 (AEST)
| NSW Arrows | 0–3 | QLD Scorchers |
| | Report | Boland 20' Pamenter 62' Paterson 66' |
* Grafton Hockey Fields, Grafton Umpires: Lisa Roach (AUS) Kellie Walker (AUS)
* 15 April 2006 13:00 (ACST)
| Adelaide Suns | 2–1 | Canberra Strikers |
| Pickett 17' Stacy 49' | Report | S. Taylor 65' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Peri Buckley (AUS) Minka Woolley (AUS)
* 15 April 2006 17:00 (AEST)
| Tassie Van Demons | 0–2 | Azuma Vipers |
| | Report | Trost 21' Messent 56' |
* Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart Umpires: Linda Gaskell (AUS) Angela Holloway (AUS)
* 15 April 2006 17:00 (ACST)
| Territory Pearls | 1–6 | WA Diamonds |
| Syder 51' | Report | Munro 13', 49' Halliday 41' Smithson 45' Riddell 60', 62' |
* Marrara Hockey Centre, Darwin Umpires: Alison Gowan (AUS) Leah Smith (AUS)
* 16 April 2006 13:00 (AEST)
| Tassie Van Demons | 0–6 | Azuma Vipers |
| | Report | Waley 16', 69' Messent 25' Morrow 33' Austin 45' Gillon 66' |
* Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart Umpires: Angela Holloway (AUS) Linda Gaskell (AUS)
* 16 April 2006 14:00 (AEST)
| NSW Arrows | 1–4 | QLD Scorchers |
| Harris 49' | Report | Hudson 17', 39' Bain 20' Boland 47' |
* Grafton Hockey Fields, Grafton Umpires: Kellie Walker (AUS) Lisa Roach (AUS)
* 16 April 2006 15:00 (ACST)
| Adelaide Suns | 0–1 | Canberra Strikers |
| | Report | Gallagher 55' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Minka Woolley (AUS) Peri Buckley (AUS)
* 16 April 2006 17:00 (ACST)
| Territory Pearls | 1–5 | WA Diamonds |
| Napier 22' | Report | Riddell 7' Smithson 16' Buckley 26' Munro 44' Ciallella 58' |
* Marrara Hockey Centre, Darwin Umpires: Leah Smith (AUS) Alison Gowan (AUS)
* 22 April 2006 16:00 (AEST)
| QLD Scorchers | 8–0 | Tassie Van Demons |
| Hudson 4', 40' Beattie 12' Bain 34' Paterson 58', 60' Phipps 63' Korner 65' | Report | |
* State Hockey Centre, Brisbane Umpires: Annette Crandell (AUS) Aleeta Micallef (AUS)
* 22 April 2006 15:00 (ACST)
| Adelaide Suns | 1–3 | Azuma Vipers |
| Trost 9' Messent 27' Merrett 43' | Report | Pickett 56' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Angela Holloway (AUS) Minka Woolley (AUS)
* 22 April 2006 17:00 (ACST)
| Territory Pearls | 1–6 | NSW Arrows |
| Syder 52' | Report | Brooks 16', 18' Sanders 34' Youman 64' Rivers 66' James 67' |
* Marrara Hockey Centre, Darwin Umpires: Leah Smith (AUS) Annette Asplin (AUS)
* 22 April 2006 17:00 (AWST)
| WA Diamonds | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Canberra Strikers |
| Robertson 40' Munro 47' Halliday 73' | Report | Urquhart 7' Gallagher 68' |
* Perth Hockey Stadium, Perth Umpires: Melissa Trivic (AUS) Judith Barnesby (AUS)
* 23 April 2006 13:00 (ACST)
| Adelaide Suns | 1–2 | Azuma Vipers |
| Hammond | Report | Brook Morrow |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Angela Holloway (AUS) Minka Woolley (AUS)
* 23 April 2006 15:00 (AWST)
| WA Diamonds | 3–3 | Canberra Strikers |
| Boyce 23', 38' Walker 26' | Report | Gallagher 20' Mihailou 21' Hanrahan 43' |
| Penalties |||
| | 4–5 | |
* Perth Hockey Stadium, Perth Umpires: Judith Barnesby (AUS) Melissa Trivic (AUS)
* 23 April 2006 16:00 (AEST)
| QLD Scorchers | 8–0 | Tassie Van Demons |
| Paterson 6' Smith 12' Holmes 14' Korner 39', 51' Pamenter 48' Hudson 56' Bain 70' | Report | |
* State Hockey Centre, Brisbane Umpires: Aleeta Micallef (AUS) Annette Crandell (AUS)
* 23 April 2006 17:00 (ACST)
| Territory Pearls | 0–3 | NSW Arrows |
| | Report | Close 45' Gale 57' Rivers 63' |
* Marrara Hockey Centre, Darwin Umpires: Annette Asplin (AUS) Leah Smith (AUS)
* 28 April 2006 12:00 (AEST)
| NSW Arrows | 1–2 | Adelaide Suns |
| James 55' | Report | Lee 36', 64' |
* Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney Umpires: Alison Gowan (AUS) Kellie Walker (AUS)
* 28 April 2006 13:30 (AEST)
| Canberra Strikers | 3–2 | QLD Scorchers |
| E. Taylor 28' Vaughan 42' Stewart 61' | Report | Eiser 13' Pamenter 58' |
* National Hockey Centre, Canberra Umpires: Deborah Brown (AUS) Susan Ford (AUS)
* 28 April 2006 17:00 (AEST)
| Azuma Vipers | 1–1 | WA Diamonds |
| Trost 26' | Report | Shaw 56' |
| Penalties |||
| | 1–0 | |
* State Netball and Hockey Centre, Melbourne Umpires: Catherine Mok (AUS) Judith Barnesby (AUS)
* 28 April 2006 18:00 (AEST)
| Tassie Van Demons | 2–0 | Territory Pearls |
| Duay 22' White 68' | Report | |
* Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart Umpires: Linda Gaskell (AUS) Angela Holloway (AUS)
* 29 April 2006 11:30 (AEST)
| Canberra Strikers | 3–3 | QLD Scorchers |
| Gallagher 50' Hanrahan 60' Paul 69' | Report | Beattie 23' Faulkner 54' Holmes 67' |
| Penalties |||
| | 5–4 | |
* National Hockey Centre, Canberra Umpires: Susan Ford (AUS) Deborah Brown (AUS)
* 29 April 2006 12:00 (AEST)
| NSW Arrows | 2–0 | Adelaide Suns |
| Rivers 11' Sanders 28' | Report | |
* Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney Umpires: Kellie Walker (AUS) Alison Gowan (AUS)
* 29 April 2006 14:00 (AEST)
| Azuma Vipers | 1–4 | WA Diamonds |
| Messent 17' | Report | Halliday 6' Smithson 10' Liddelow 39' Shaw 51' |
* State Netball and Hockey Centre, Melbourne Umpires: Judith Barnesby (AUS) Catherine Mok (AUS)
* 29 April 2006 17:00 (AEST)
| Tassie Van Demons | 2–3 | Territory Pearls |
| Paterson 21' Ockenden 49' | Report | Napier 4', 65' Caden 15' |
* Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart Umpires: Minka Woolley (AUS) Linda Gaskell (AUS)
* 8 May 2006 13:00 (ACST)
| Territory Pearls | 0–2 | Adelaide Suns |
| | Report | Marles 20' Patrick 53' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Judith Barnesby (AUS) Angela Holloway (AUS)
* 8 May 2006 15:00 (ACST)
| Tassie Van Demons | 0–5 | WA Diamonds |
| | Report | Liddelow 16', 66' Halliday 35', 37', 41' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Lynn Cowie-McAlister (AUS) Alison Gowan (AUS)
* 8 May 2006 17:00 (ACST)
| NSW Arrows | 1–3 | Canberra Strikers |
| Harris 17' | Report | S. Taylor 19' Mihailou 37' Stewart 41' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Julie Ashton-Lucy (AUS) Annette Asplin (AUS)
* 8 May 2006 19:00 (ACST)
| Azuma Vipers | 0–4 | QLD Scorchers |
| | Report | Bain 21' Boland 46', 47' Smith 70' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Minka Woolley (AUS) Melissa Trivic (AUS)
* 9 May 2006 13:00 (ACST)
| Canberra Strikers | 3–1 | Territory Pearls |
| Gallagher 5', 22' E. Taylor 67' | Report | Peris 54' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Alison Gowan (AUS) Melissa Trivic (AUS)
* 9 May 2006 15:00 (ACST)
| Azuma Vipers | 1–2 | NSW Arrows |
| Gillon 13' | Report | Rivers 2' Simpson 70' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Annette Asplin (AUS) Lynn Cowie-McAlister (AUS)
* 9 May 2006 17:00 (ACST)
| QLD Scorchers | 2–1 | WA Diamonds |
| Bennett 56' Korner 57' | Report | Walker 9' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Judith Barnesby (AUS) Minka Woolley (AUS)
* 9 May 2006 19:00 (ACST)
| Adelaide Suns | 0–2 | Tassie Van Demons |
| | Report | Paget Chaffey 4' Jones 70' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Leah Smith (AUS) Julie Ashton-Lucy (AUS)
* 11 May 2006 13:00 (ACST)
| Canberra Strikers | 4–1 | Azuma Vipers |
| Urquhart 4' Gallagher 32', 34', 48' | Report | Gillon 55' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Leah Smith (AUS) Minka Woolley (AUS)
* 11 May 2006 15:00 (ACST)
| NSW Arrows | 6–0 | Tassie Van Demons |
| Brooks 6', 37' Hollywood 54' Close 55' Rivers 56' Gale 67' | Report | |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Melissa Trivic (AUS) Julie Ashton-Lucy (AUS)
* 11 May 2006 17:00 (ACST)
| QLD Scorchers | 2–0 | Territory Pearls |
| Korner 9' Lennon 50' | Report | |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Angela Holloway (AUS) Kellie Walker (AUS)
* 11 May 2006 19:00 (ACST)
| WA Diamonds | 4–3 | Adelaide Suns |
| Halliday 3' Liddelow 5' Ciallella 24' Smithson 70' | Report | Pickett 37' Cibich 52' Patrick 60' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Alison Gowan (AUS) Lynn Cowie-McAlister (AUS)

### Classification round
#### Fifth to eighth place classification

| Crossover | Crossover | Fifth and Sixth Place | Fifth and Sixth Place |
| 13 May 2006 | 13 May 2006 |
| Azuma Vipers | 3 |
| Azuma Vipers | 3 | 14 May 2006 | 14 May 2006 |
| Territory Pearls | 0 | 14 May 2006 | 14 May 2006 |
| Territory Pearls | 0 | Azuma Vipers | 1 |
| 13 May 2006 | 13 May 2006 | | Azuma Vipers | 1 |
| 13 May 2006 | 13 May 2006 | Adelaide Suns | 2 |
| Adelaide Suns | 4 | Adelaide Suns | 2 |
| Tassie Van Demons | 1 | | |
| Tassie Van Demons | 1 | Seventh and Eighth Place | Seventh and Eighth Place |
| | | 14 May 2006 | 14 May 2006 |
| | | Territory Pearls | 2 |
| | | Tassie Van Demons | 1 |

##### Crossover

* 13 May 2006 08:30 (ACST)
| Azuma Vipers | 3–0 | Territory Pearls |
| Joseph 11' Riordan 24' Morrow 64' | Report | |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Lynn Cowie-McAlister (AUS) Kellie Walker (AUS)
* 13 May 2006 10:30 (ACST)
| Adelaide Suns | 4–1 | Tassie Van Demons |
| Pickett 4' Patrick 43' Marles 66' Rowe 68' | Report | Paget Chaffey 10' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Leah Smith (AUS) Annette Asplin (AUS)

##### Seventh and eighth place

* 14 May 2006 08:30 (ACST)
| Territory Pearls | 2–1 | Tassie Van Demons |
| Syder 24' Chiu 32' | Report | Duay 8' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Alison Gowan (AUS) Annette Asplin (AUS)

##### Fifth and sixth place

* 14 May 2006 10:30 (ACST)
| Azuma Vipers | 1–2 | Adelaide Suns |
| Elzinga 20' | Report | Militz 9' Rowe 27' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Angela Holloway (AUS) Lynn Cowie-McAlister (AUS)

#### First to fourth place classification

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 13 May 2006 | 13 May 2006 |
| QLD Scorchers | 6 |
| QLD Scorchers | 6 | 14 May 2006 | 14 May 2006 |
| NSW Arrows | 2 | 14 May 2006 | 14 May 2006 |
| NSW Arrows | 2 | QLD Scorchers | 2 |
| 13 May 2006 | 13 May 2006 | | QLD Scorchers | 2 |
| 13 May 2006 | 13 May 2006 | WA Diamonds | 4 |
| Canberra Strikers | 3 | WA Diamonds | 4 |
| WA Diamonds (a.e.t) | 4 | | |
| WA Diamonds (a.e.t) | 4 | Third and fourth Place | Third and fourth Place |
| | | 14 May 2006 | 14 May 2006 |
| | | NSW Arrows | 1 |
| | | Canberra Strikers | 2 |

##### Semi-finals

* 13 May 2006 12:30 (ACST)
| QLD Scorchers | 6–2 | NSW Arrows |
| Holmes 20', 67' Faulkner 38' Blyth 44', 64' Bain 52' | Report | James 5' Simpson 61' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Melissa Trivic (AUS) Minka Woolley (AUS)
* 13 May 2006 14:30 (ACST)
| Canberra Strikers | 3–4 (a.e.t.) | WA Diamonds |
| Taylor 11', 61' Mihailou 69' | Report | Halliday 4', 65', 76' Munro 50' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Julie Ashton-Lucy (AUS) Judith Barnesby (AUS)

##### Third and fourth place

* 14 May 2006 12:30 (ACST)
| NSW Arrows | 1–2 | Canberra Strikers |
| Gale 35' | Report | Mihailou 5' Arrold 43' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Julie Ashton-Lucy (AUS) Melissa Trivic (AUS)

##### Final

* 14 May 2006 14:30 (ACST)
| QLD Scorchers | 2–4 | WA Diamonds |
| Hudson 23' Beattie 40' | Report | Ciallella 21' Liddelow 57' Halliday 58' Nelson 61' |
* Pines Hockey Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Minka Woolley (AUS) Judith Barnesby (AUS)

## Awards

| Player of the Tournament | Top Goalscorer | Player of the Final |
| Peta Gallagher | Emily Halliday | Emily Halliday |

## Statistics
### Final standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | WD | LD | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | WA Diamonds | 13 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 43 | 22 | +21 | 35 | Gold Medal |
| 2 | QLD Scorchers | 13 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 53 | 15 | +38 | 40 | Silver Medal |
| 3 | Canberra Strikers | 13 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 37 | 24 | +13 | 39 | Bronze Medal |
| 4 | NSW Arrows | 13 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 28 | 26 | +2 | 22 | |
| 5 | Adelaide Suns | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 18 | 27 | −9 | 18 | |
| 6 | Azuma Vipers | 13 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 27 | 19 | +8 | 23 | |
| 7 | Territory Pearls | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 41 | −31 | 6 | |
| 8 | Tassie Van Demons | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 53 | −42 | 9 | |

### Goalscorers

There were 227 goals scored in 52 matches, for an average of 4.37 goals per match.
13 goals
* Emily Halliday
11 goals
* Peta Gallagher
8 goals
* Nicole Hudson
6 goals
* Shannon Bain
* Amy Korner
* Claire Messent
* Hope Munro
5 goals
* Belinda Brooks
* Megan Rivers
* Shelly Liddelow
4 goals
* Michaela Mihailou
* Sarah Taylor
* Wendy Beattie
* Danette Boland
* Renae Holmes
* Emma Paterson
* Bronte Pickett
* Amanda Gillon
* Sian Smithson
3 goals
* Jessica Lucas
* Jade Close
* Samantha Gale
* Kellie-Lee James
* Tate Napier
* Samantha Syder
* Madonna Blyth
* Suzanne Faulkner
* Lisa Pamenter
* Karen Smith
* Donna-Lee Patrick
* Lis Paget-Chaffey
* Leah Merrett
* Kimberley Morrow
* Renee Trost
* Chantelle Ciallella
* Felicity Riddell
2 goals
* Clare Hanrahan
* Alicia Paul
* Toni Stewart
* Emma Taylor
* Kyralee Urquhart
* Sally Vaughn
* Susannah Harris
* Rebecca Sanders
* Melissa Simpson
* Jane Bennett
* Emma Lee
* Mignon Marles
* Melody Rowe
* Eloise Duay
* Jacqueline Jones
* Charlotte White
* Tegan Riordan
* Rebecca Waley
* Fiona Boyce
* Ashleigh Nelson
* Amy Shaw
* Kimberley Walker
1 goal
* Nicole Arrold
* Ursula Ditton
* Tonina Staunton
* Kate Hollywood
* Nadia Pritchard
* Nicole Youman
* Terri Bergin
* Michelle Caden
* Olivia Chiu
* Emily Peris
* Prudence Eiser
* Carly Lennon
* Hayley Phipps
* Jessica Cibich
* Leanne Hammond
* Rachel Militz
* Jessica Shakes
* Elise Stacy
* Lucy Ockenden
* Katrina Paterson
* Lauren Austin
* Lauren Brook
* Jane Elzinga
* Stacia Joseph
* Jemma Buckley
* Rachel Robertson
Source: Clearing House