HC Melbourne Game Day information Rd 3 Hockey One

It is not long now until our first HC Melbourne home match day takes place at the State Hockey Centre against Perth Thundersticks this Saturday 26^th October! A big thank you to our match day presenting partner, MS Group Australia.

Check out all the important information below if you are getting along!

Don’t forget that kids that are 12 and under get in for FREE! So, bring the kids along to see some of the best hockey players in the country battle it out.

Match Preview

HC MELBOURNE v PERTH THUNDERSTICKS
Saturday, 6.30pm AEDT (Men) 8.00pm AEDT (Women)
State Netball & Hockey Centre, Melbourne

After a bye in the second round, HC Melbourne are back and they’re playing at home for the first time this season, with a feisty match-up against the Perth Thundersticks. Opening the evening, the Perth Thundersticks men will be desperate to pull out a statement performance as they teeter in fifth place on the standings after two underwhelming performances for a stacked side first up. Co-captains, Kookaburras Jake Harvie and Tom Wickham know they need a big performance to contend with the top four spots on the Road to Hobart Finals Series. While the Thundersticks have only made one change with Matthew Bird in and Josh Bowen out, HC Melbourne has made three changes. Notably, Melbourne is unleashing their brand new international signing, Pakistani striker Rana Waheed. His speed, agility and goal-scoring ability will complement the likes of Cooper Burns and Ben White and he’s often turned the game around for Pakistan at the top level. He’ll be hoping to make the same impact on debut in the Liberty Hockey One League on Saturday night.

Melbourne women will be looking to build on their opening-round shootout win against Adelaide and they’ll need to as they face off against the tournament favourites Perth who are creating a storm early in this competition. The ladder leaders are sitting pretty on top and benefitted from the return of Hockeyroos midfield star Kaitlin Nobbs last week and their star signing, Eva Drummond. Also making an impact on her return from injury is former Hockeyroo Courtney Schonell, as she continues to audition for her spot back in the national set-up. Melbourne’s star German international signing Charlotte Stapenhorst made a huge impact in game one and Melbourne will be hoping that continues on Saturday night.

FORM
MEN
HC Melbourne: W –
Perth Thundersticks: L W

WOMEN
HC Melbourne: W –
Perth Thundersticks: W W

LEAGUE POSITION
MEN
HC Melbourne: 3rd
Perth Thundersticks: 5th

WOMEN
HC Melbourne: 4th
Perth Thundersticks: 1st

LAST TIME THEY MET
HC Melbourne Men v Perth Thundersticks Men
October 29 – HC Melbourne won 6-2 away from home in Perth

HC Melbourne Women v Perth Thundersticks Women
October 29 – Perth Thundersticks won 1-0 at home in Perth

Basic Details

Getting to the venue

Parking at State Hockey Centre is free, but spaces are very limited so we encourage you to get in early to avoid disappointment and where possible car pool with others that are attending.

You can also get public transport, with the 58 tram stopping at the back of the venue or you can jump off the Upfield line train at Royal Park station and take a short walk around the zoo to get to the State Hockey Centre 

Where to Enter the Venue – CHANGED FROM 2023

The only entry and exit point for HC Melbourne Matches at the State Hockey Centre will be ENTRY A. This is the entry closest to the big car park around the back of the building. 

You will not be able to access the outdoor hockey pitches if you come through Entry B (the one that is closest to the big round about the Indoor Hockey court). So, if you do park in the small car park, you will need to walk around the building to Entry A. 

Pre-purchasing Tickets

We have a great range of tickets, 3 game memberships and Polytan Corporate Hospitality package options available.

Tickets should be pre-purchased online or there will be QR codes on display outside the front of the venue that you can scan and purchase your tickets online. If you are having trouble purchasing your tickets at the venue, there will be a troubleshooting desk set up at the top of the stairs at Entry A where assistance can be provided.

To purchase tickets please use the following link - https://www.intix.com.au/event/hcm-vs-perth

It is not too late to buy your three game membership or corporate hospitality tickets either!

3 Game Memberships

You will receive undercover seats in the MS Group Australia Grandstand as well as a merchandise pack to show your support for HC Melbourne. 

Click here to purchase your 3 game membership!

Polytan Corporate Hospitality

If you want to watch in style, our Polytan corporate hospitality packages are for you. Not only do you get undercover reserved seating in the MS Group Australia Grandstand and a merchandise pack, but also food and beverages for the duration of the evening in the Hockey Olympians Room overlooking the pitch. You also get the opportunity to mingle with our sponsors and HCM players after their match!

 
Click here to purchase Polytan Corporate Hospitality Tickets. 

General Admission Tickets

These are tickets to single match days and permit you to watch from either end of the pitch or the Zoo side of the venue. You can either stand or sit on the tiered concrete steps surrounding the pitch, but you cannot access the undercover grandstand. Instant Marquees  have also provided 3 x marquees on the zoo side of the venue, which all GA ticket holders are welcome to stand underneath.

FREE Junior ticketing for 12 & Under is only available in the General Admission Area. 

Click here to purchase General Admission tickets. 

Reserved Grandstand Seating – MS Group Australia Grandstand

Reserved seating in the undercover grandstand for individual match days will be available from 10.00am Saturday 26^th October or can be purchased at the venue via the QR codes available on match day.

*Note that FREE Under 12 ticket holders cannot access the grandstand. They must purchase a junior ticket if they wish to access the grandstand. 

All ticket holders will need to either download the INTIX app or have their PDF tickets via email ready to present to enter the venue.

Ticket Upgrades

If you have already purchased a General Admission ticket and want to upgrade to get a reserved seat in the MS Group Australia Grandstand, you will be able to do so at the ticket desk at the top of the stairs at Entry A on match day. 

Merchandise Sales

There will be an awesome range of merchandise on sale at the venue on match days, thanks to our uniform supplier GAME.

·        HCM Replica Playing Top - $50

·        HCM Replica Goalkeeper Smock - $55

·        HCM Polo - $50

·        HCM Crew Jumper - $60

·        Scarves - $35

·        Hats - $25

There is limited stock available for all items and they are not available online, so be sure to get along to our first home match and get your merch!

The Merchandise table will be set up just beyond where the ticket scanning will take place, and transactions will be card only.

Food & Beverage Offerings

On the Zoo side of the venue, there will be a range of great food and beverage options available. This will include a beverage tent as well as food truck. These can be accessed by everyone!

In addition to this, the main café will be fully operational and the INSTANT MARQUEES kiosks in the grandstand breezeway will be open throughout the night.

To celebrate our German International, Charlotte Stapenhorst, there will be some German food and beverage offerings available on the night. 

Upcoming HCM Home Matches

If you cannot make it to the home matches this Saturday night, we have another two match days coming up very soon that we would love to see you at:

Friday 1^st November – HC Melbourne v NSW Pride (Women at 6.30pm and Men at 8.00pm).

Friday 22^nd November – HC Melbourne v Tassie Tigers (Women at 6.30pm and Men at 8.00pm)

Click here for tickets to those matches. 

Important Notes

BYO of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited at State Hockey Centre and there will be bag checks in place.

Unfortunately, the venue Terms & Conditions do not permit chairs to be brough into the venue. But we encourage you to bring a seat cushion or blanket and make yourself comfortable sitting on the tiered concrete steps around the pitch if you have a General Admission Ticket. 

HC Melbourne Team Lists

To check out the HC Melbourne Teams for 2024, as well as their player sponsors, please head to the following pages:

HCM Women's Team

HCM Men's Team