Australian Hockey League
 |
|
| Sport | Field Hockey |
|---|---|
| Inaugural season | 1991 |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Country | Australia |
| Most recent champion(s) |
Victoria Vikings (men) Queensland Scorchers (women) |
| Most titles |
WA Thundersticks (10 times)(men) NSW Arrows (9 times)(women) |
| Official website | Official website |
The Australian Hockey League (AHL) is Australia’s premier national domestic field hockey competition. Despite its non-professional nature, AHL is considered one of the strongest and most competitive national field hockey leagues in the world. The AHL consists of both men's and women's competition. It includes many players from the Kookaburras and the Hockeyroos, and participating in the AHL is a selection requirement for all Australian national squad members.
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.
The 2015 tournaments are hosted in Darwin (men's league) and Sydney (women's league) from 25 September to 2 October. The tournament is divided into two pools, Pool A and Pool B, consisting of four teams with each team playing the others in its pool in the first round (round robin). The top two teams in each of these pools then progress to Pool C, the pool from which they can progress to the grand final. Also, the bottom two teams in these pools go into Pool D. The teams then play the teams that they haven’t already played, carrying the points from their first round match against the other team that came through with them. The top two teams in Pool C go on to contest the grand final, while the bottom two teams in Pool C contest for the bronze medal. The top two teams in Pool D contest for 5th/6th place and the bottom two in Pool D contest for 7th/8th place.
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