The Victorian Vikings are a field hockey team which participate in Australia's national field hockey league, the AHL. The team is mostly made up of amateurs who participate in the Victorian State League Division 1. Previous to being known as the Victorian Vikings, the Victorian team have been referred to Melbourne Redbacks, VIS Redbacks and Azuma Vikings. The team's home stadium is the Victorian State Netball and Hockey Centre.http://www.hockeyvictoria.org.au/siteContent/teamDetail.asp?MainMenuID=4&SubMenuID=23&SubSubMenuID=122&TeamID=368
Championships Since their inception in the inaugural 1991 season, the Vikings have won 2 championships; the fourth most of any club in the league. These two championships came in the 1996 and 1998 competitions. They came second in 1991 season and have finished in 3rd place on numerous occasions.
2009 squad Player Victorian Club Angus Allen KEW Lachlan Anderson Essendon George Bazeley Hawthorn Andrew Beck Greensborough Chris Ciriello Doncaster Brett Dempster Doncaster Luke Doerner Waverley Russell Ford Doncaster Declan Geraghty Camberwell Matthew Guest Altona Corey Joseph Waverley Malcolm Kemp Greensborough Aaron Kleinschmidt TEM Paul Mackinnon Hawthorn Alistair McKlennan Essendon Josh Pollard Greensborough David Pruden Essendon Tom Scott Waverley Glenn Simpson Greensborough Heath Simpson Greensborough Ian Smyth Greensborough Tim Snow Doncaster Will Unkles Camberwell James Webster Camberwell
Notable players Player Stephen Mowlam Jay Stacy Colin Batch Luke Doerner Chris Ciriello Andrew Smith Jeremy Hiskins David Shaw Aaron Kleinshmidt Travis Brooks Glenn Simpson Russell Ford George Bazeley
Stadium The team's home ground is the State Netball and Hockey Centre. which is located within a kilometre of the Melbourne CBD. The stadium has a capacity of about 4,500 with 1000 seats however capacity is expanded through temporary seating for big tournaments. The stadium was used for the 2006 Commonwealth games and will host the 2009 Champions league.
Women's team Since the women's competition was included into the AHL in 1993, the Victorian Vipers have experienced varying levels of success. The solitary championship was won in 2003. Notable women in the team which have represented the Hockeyroos include Louise Dobson and Rachel Imison.
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