Mac Reith-Snare
Almost one year on from their disappointing first round exit in the 2019 finals series, Confederates Hockey Club have gone above and beyond anyone’s expectations in a pandemic affected season.
Going into 2020, Confederates would be armed with their usual young core of talent. But after bowing out in the previous year’s minor semi-final to an experienced Lithgow side, they knew that they would need more than age on their side to make a deep playoff run.
As if on cue, the club would begin their offseason with the addition of new head coach Nic Milne, while club legend Fiona Reith will step down to an assistant role.
Milne, a Confederates junior, was acquired by the club after spending the last two years as the captain/coach of Lithgow’s mens team that won back-to-back premierships in that span.
On paper, bringing Milne in to mentor a youth-filled Confederates side was a genius move by the club’s executives. It would prove to be just that.
After a false start in the first round going down 2-0 to Parkes United, Milne’s women were given a wakeup call.
It was made very apparent that returning to the finals in 2020 would no easy task and that Confederates’ youth could once again be their downfall.
But Milne’s experience not only on the field but of it would come into play early in the piece knowing his team needed a little pick-me up.
Immediately after the loss, he would recruit another Confederates junior that had been on a club hiatus.
Enter Rachel Divall. A former NSW representative with a plethora of experience in Sydney’s first grade competition would prove to be exactly what the doctor ordered for Confederates.
After the addition of Divall, the Orange side would go on to only lose one of their remaining fives game in a COVID shortened season.
Coming into their final regular season game, Confederates would find themselves in an unfamiliar position. Tied for second place on the ladder.
With a spot in the major semi-final up for grabs, scoring four goals in a winning effort would get Milne’s women into the unforeseen promised land.
Answering the call to arms, a 4-2 victory over Bathurst Souths would see Confederates qualify for their first Premier League major semi-final in the clubs history.
Could they find the holy grail and bring it all home for a fan base so desperate for a premiership?
Only time will tell…