With the 2024 winter season now complete Southern United has again enhanced its reputation as one of Melbourne’s most successful Premier Leagues hockey clubs with our; 

• Mens Premier League (MPL) adding a third premiership to those won in 2018 and 2019, following our sixth consecutive finals appearance.
• Womens Premier League (WPL) finishing fifth, having featured in finals in five of the past six seasons.

We extend immense gratitude and thanks to our coaches, Jesse Workman (MPL) and Matt L’Huillier (WPL), who have transitioned their respective teams from the lower rungs of Victoria’s Premier League competitions to perennial finalists, while also overseeing the development of our club’s exceptional home-grown talent. 
After very long and successful coaching terms it is now timely to bring an element of change to our Women’s and Men’s elite hockey programmes.
Southern United’s Committee of Management, with the support of a standalone Coaching Selection Steering committee chaired by Roger Arnold and input from the Women’s and Men’s Premier League leadership groups, have undertaken an exhaustive process to identify and appoint our 2025 Premier League coaches.
On behalf of the club’s Committee of Management I am now delighted to announce the following appointments:

• Jesse Workman has been appointed Head Coach of our Premier League Women’s team, allowing our club and Jesse to build on the incredible and unparalleled success he has brought to our Men’s Premier League team. 
• We welcome Neil Hodgson as our Men’s Premier League Coach.  Neil brings a wealth of experience and success including Premier League Head Coaching roles at MCC and Camberwell, Assistant Coaching roles at Hockey Club Melbourne (current) and in the United Kingdom.  Neil took MCC to the 2023 MPL Premiership and finished an unlucky third in 2024. Anyone who has watched MCC’s MPL team play in recent years will appreciate what Neil will bring to our club!

The Executive Committee particularly wants to highlight Matt L’Huillier’s significant contribution to the club.  Matt joined Southern United in 2013 and was pivotal to the survival of our MPL team in the early years and our subsequent progression up the ladder.  Matt received Hockey Victoria’s Fin McNab medal as the MPL Best and Fairest player in 2015, together with the Colin Batch Medal as the leading MPL scorer in 2018.   Matt has coached the WPL team since 2017, with the team regularly participating in finals, including a number of Preliminary Finals. The development in our WPL playing group is there for all to see.   

Jesse and Matt, your leadership, expertise and commitment have been fundamental to our club finally establishing itself as a respected and consistently successful participant in both of Victorian Hockey’s Premier Leagues.  Matt – we wish you the utmost success in the continuation of your hockey journey.  Neil – we welcome you to Southern United.  

Ross Walker
President 
Southern United Hockey Club