Hockey grand final glory for Maccabi men

For the first time since 2003, two Maccabi Victoria Hockey Club teams have won Hockey Victoria metro premierships in the same season, in a giant boost and source of pride for Jewish hockey in Melbourne.

With an over-45 men’s grade C East grand final win by Maccabi already achieved on September 8, and the club’s women’s metro 1 side getting as deep as the semi-

finals, the focus turned to last Sunday afternoon’s men’s Metro 2 East decider between Maccabi and Old Melburnians – a team the Maccabi men lost 0-3 to in the first week of the finals series.

In warm and windy conditions at Hawthorn Malvern Hockey Centre, Maccabi rose to the occasion to win 2-1.

Captain Lior Aufgang – who the week before scored the winner in a 3-2 semi-final thriller over Old East Malvern – told The AJN it was “pure jubilation … and also a bit of a sense of relief” – for his teammates, for head coach Troy Williamson and assistant Joseph Brasacchio – when grand final victory was secured.

“It came down to self-belief …we believed we could win, and we took the time to set a plan to do that,” he said.

“We’d spoken of what we’d do if we fell behind, and how we’d keep a positive mindset – and that ended up happening.”

Both sides settled into the first quarter, in which Maccabi’s goalkeeper Jordan Rybalov saved a penalty stroke.

Old Melburnians scored midway in the second quarter, but Maccabi hit back minutes later, through a neat finish by Daniel Guttman, off a short corner set play.

The winning goal came in the third quarter, scored by Lior Middeldorf from a David Zwier assist.

“That gave us a lot of momentum, our defence was good, and the warm conditions suited us,” Aufgang said.

“We topped the ladder, so the decider was ours to lose … we held on for a 2-1 win, with a sense of humility and respect.

“We had about 250 to 300 supporters turn out, and hearing them roar really helped us.

“Our club only has five teams, but we have two 2025 premierships, and it’s great to know the club is thriving and hopefully we can keep growing.”

To find out more about the club, email maccabihockey@gmail.com