Local weapons coming up big for Bendigo Strikers

By Oliver Shedden

Jun 11, 2024

Rochester FNC’s Teal Hocking has scored 228 goals in 11 games for the Bendigo Strikers senior side. Photo: Rochester FNC

Championship

We are now two-thirds of the way through the Victorian Netball League 2024 season, and the Bendigo Strikers have had a roller-coaster of year so far.

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Sitting eighth on the ladder, the Strikers may be looking at finals, barring a strong final stretch of the season, yet there have been some bright spots for their inaugural season.

Firstly, they didn’t secure their first victory in their history until a round five demolition job against Peninsula Waves where they blew them out 77-35.

They have had some extremely close games throughout the season, narrowly losing to Northeast Blaze by a pair of goals in round four and falling to Casey Demons by a single point in round six.

They have also won some games at the last minute, including a two-point win against fifth-placed Melbourne University Lightning and a recent three-point redemption against the Wilson Storage Southern Saints, who beat them comfortably in their first-ever game.

Some standout players for the Strikers have been local goal-scoring tandem Teal Hocking from Rochester and Milly Brock from Tongala, who have scored a combined 550 goals this season.

Hocking, who has battled injury this season, has played 11 games for the Strikers as an attacking Swiss army knife, playing goal attack, goal shooter and wing attack throughout the season.

Tongala’s Amelia Brock has been shooting the lights out for Bendigo, bagging 322 goals in 13 games, including a 50 piece in round five. Photos: Aidan Briggs. Photo by Aidan Briggs

She scored 228 goals this season on 84.44 per cent shooting, a very high efficiency rating for a part-time scorer who averages 40 minutes per game.

Hocking had back-to-back 34-goal games in two successive wins for the Strikers against Geelong Cougars and Wilson Storage South Saints.

Meanwhile, Brock has been a staple in the Strikers senior side, only missing two games so far this season.

As a pure scorer, she has bagged 322 goals on 75.06 per cent shooting for Bendigo, with a 51-goal master class against Peninsula Waves highlighting an impressive season.

With seven games remaining in their inaugural season, the Bendigo Strikers could pull off a stunning run to the finals.

They will face title favourites City West Falcons in round 16, a round three rematch that saw the Strikers fall 52-70 to the table-topping Falcons, who have only lost a single game so far this season.

23-and-under

Bendigo’s under-23s side is not faring as well as the seniors so far this season, sitting in 10th with a record of 3-12 through 15 rounds in 2024.

The Strikers patiently waited until round seven to claim their first victory in a single-point thriller against the Western Warriors, who sit 11th on the ladder.

Bendigo shocked fifth-placed Geelong Cougars in a six-point upset in round 12 and followed that up with a 10-point victory against Gippsland Stars in round 13.

Tongala’s Grace Hammond has been leading the Strikers under-23 side in its inaugural season. Photo by Aidan Briggs

The Bendigo Strikers 23-and-under side is captained by Tongala native Grace Hammond, who has played every game this season primarily in wing defence but cameos as centre when required.

Moama’s own Abby Larkin has also been a revelation in goal defence, playing every game for the Strikers this season.

Unfortunately, Bendigo’s chances of making the finals this season are slim, but it will be a good platform for the young side, which will continue to improve together.