Hockey One: How Tassie Tigers fared in opening round

The Tigers scored the opening three goals inside the first 10 minutes of the contest against HC Melbourne on Sunday afternoon but doubles from Melbourne duo Hannah Cotter and Hannah Gravenall helped the travelling side to a 4-3 victory.

Melbourne lost three players during the second and third quarter to sin bins but Tassie were unable to pounce on the opportunities to extend their lead.

Beth Dobbie was Tassie’s multiple scorer with Stephanie Kershaw scoring the opening goal of the game from penalty corner.

In the men’s game, a four-goal third quarter led Melbourne to claim a victory in Tasmania as they ran out 5-2 winners.

The Tigers held a 2-0 lead heading in the half time break but four goals in 11 minutes thanks to Nathan Ephraums, a double from Nye Roberts and Daniel Smits penalty claimed the lead as Melbourne went into the three quarter time break up 4-2.

Tassie threw everything they could at Melbourne in the final quarter but couldn’t find the back of the net with Melbourne’s Carlin Walker scoring the final goal and the sealer in the 54th minute.

The Tigers will now head to New South Wales to take on the Pride on in round two on Saturday October 18.

The Pride are coming off round one wins with a 5-4 win in the men’s over Canberra Chill and a 3-0 win in the women’s.

Meet the husband and wife set for unlikely Tassie debuts

When the Tassie Tigers stride out this Sunday to open their Hockey One League campaign, the spotlight will fall on a pairing unlike any other.

Matt and Roos Swann, husband and wife, parents of two, and veterans of very different hockey journeys, will debut.

For Matt, 36, it’s a return after a decorated international career.

For Roos, 32, it’s a comeback after children with the pull of the game she once dominated in the Dutch Hoofdklasse.

Their children, Willow (4) and Lyndon (2), will be in the stands, perhaps cheering for the Tigers’ mascot as much as for mum and dad.

Swann’s career needs little introduction. Known as the “firefighter” in defence, he built his reputation on defusing danger with fearless tackles and endless energy, often punctuated by the flash of his trademark headband.

Across 13 years he claimed bronze in London in 2012 alongside Tasmanian stalwarts Eddie Ockenden and Tim Deavin, before enduring the heartbreak of a quarter‑final exit to the Netherlands in Rio.

Chasing that elusive gold medal, Swann was forced to reassess when the Tokyo Olympics were postponed, and Roos was due with their first child on the closing day of those re-scheduled Games.

He agonised for months before deciding family came first.

“We looked at a variety of scenarios before it went from unlikely to impossible,” he said then. “In 10 years, I’ll still believe I made the right decision to be there for Roos.”

That choice echoed Matt’s beginnings in Mackay, where he first learned the game playing with his three sisters.

Now, two decades later, he’ll run out in Hobart with Willow and Lyndon in the stands. It’s a full‑circle moment that blends family and hockey once again.

Another thread that pulled him south is his long friendship with ex-national teammate Luke Doerner, who is based in Lewisham and driving the Southern Beaches Pool project.

For Swann, it has meant a “working holiday” of sorts, returning to the Hockey One League while enjoying a laid-back lifestyle.

“I’ve got some great mates playing for Tassie that I played Kookaburras with, so that was definitely a draw card,” Swann said.

“For me it’s about encouraging younger guys to step up, take the game on and enjoy top‑quality hockey.”

Tassie Tigers men’s head coach Ben Read knows what the Swann’s bring.

“To have someone of Matt’s calibre join us is invaluable,” Read said.

“His experience at the very top level, and the way he reads the game, will be a huge asset for our younger players. I’m really excited to see him link up with guys like Eddie Ockenden during this Hockey One, where I expect to see some real chemistry between them.”

Tasmanian hockey culture is one of grit and graft. It’s defined by the workmanlike ethos of a small state punching above its weight through sheer effort and unity.

The men’s team last won the national title in 2014, their first ever, in a dramatic penalty shoot‑out against WA. It remains the benchmark for the current generation.

For Roos, her return to the top has been no less remarkable. The Dutch product has spent years in the Hoofdklasse before stepping away to raise her children.

Now, with Willow and Lyndon a little older, she felt the time was right to return.

“It’s amazing to physically work more on myself again,” she said.

“When the kids are very little, they take up all your time, energy and focus. Now that they’re a bit older, it’s great to put some time back into myself and show them that mum is more than just mum.”

Roos will line up for the Tassie Tigers women’s side, joining four Paris Olympians in Maddi Brooks, Steph Kershaw, Jane Claxton and Renee Taylor.

After finishing fourth last season, the Tigers are aiming to push higher, and Roos’ experience as a striker adds another layer of leadership.

“The most important things are to have fun, stay patient and keep grinding,” she said.

As for the decision to sign together for Tassie.

“I think it’s the only way we could have made it work,” she said. “Plus, it’s very special to do this together as a family. The Tassie Tigers community have made us feel so welcome.”

Away from the pitch, the Swann’s are embracing a slower rhythm of life.

Days are punctuated by beach walks, playground visits, and the kind of small‑town warmth that Tasmania does so well.

It’s a balance of freedom and family time for the kids to soak up, alongside the discipline and hard work that elite sport demands.

On Sunday in Hobart, the Swann’s will both take the field against HC Melbourne.

For Roos, it’s a comeback. For Matt, it’s a reunion.

For both, it’s a reminder that hockey is more than just a game — it’s a family, a community, and now, their shared story.

Written Oct 13, 2025 by Adam Clifford and Jake Garland for the Mercury

Photo credit: @skwhockeypics & @solsticedigital