New Hockey One franchise set to inspire the next generation

12pm AEST Wednesday, 11 March 2026

Hockey Victoria (HV) has officially unveiled the Melbourne Cobras as the eighth franchise to join the Hockey One League. Launched today before high-profile delegates and media, the Cobras represent a landmark shift in the state’s sporting landscape.

The franchise is the centre of Hockey Victoria’s ambitious strategy to expand the sport across Melbourne’s North-West metropolitan corridor and regional Victoria. Built on a foundation of connection and aspiration, the Cobras will provide a new High-Performance pathway for Victorian athletes while engaging one of the state’s fastest growing South Asian communities.

Quote from Anish Rajan, Consul-General India (Vic):

“The Cobras will be a bridge to connect the Hockey fans of Australia and India and further deepen economic and commercial partnerships between Australia and India as well as create avenues for economic growth and employment opportunities in industries that are related to sports leagues.”

A key pillar of the Cobras’ mission is to engage the Indian diaspora. By fostering deep ties with this community, the franchise will provide aspiration to the next generation of male and female athletes to pick up a stick and compete at the highest level. As well as inspiring the next generation of fans and sporting heroes to look up to providing connection and engagement. It will also mean more high level hockey for Victorians and the introduction of a Melbourne Derby which is sure to ignite fans.

Quote from Andrew Skillern, CEO of Hockey Victoria:

"The launch of the Melbourne Cobras is more than just a new team. It’s a bridge between Victoria’s rich hockey history and its diverse future. We are creating a platform that not only showcases world-class talent but also reinvests directly into the grassroots game here in Victoria."

The Melbourne Cobras will implement a selection strategy that reserves spots for players of Indian origin within their 25-player squad. The lineup will feature a mix of:

• Homegrown Victorian talent
• Emerging international stars
• Current and former legends of Indian hockey

This unique factor is expected to drive significant interest in domestic and international partnerships, providing Hockey Victoria with a fresh platform to generate business and fuel the game's long-term future. Already the launch of this team has opened doors to Bi-lateral trade with India and we look forward to a number of high-profile partners being announced soon.

About Hockey Victoria:
Hockey Victoria is the State Sporting Association responsible for the delivery of all Hockey in Victoria. We administer and develop competition and events for 15,000 participants from over 140 clubs across the state. With 90,000 registered participants nationally in 2025, hockey remains one of Australia’s most popular participation sports.

Additionally, HV manage two Hockey One Franchises including the Hockey Club Melbourne and the newly launched Melbourne Cobras. The teams play in the national Hockey One League. In 2025, HC Melbourne Men won the Hockey One title for the second time in a row. The women’s team also secured silver in an incredibly successful year.

About Hockey One:
Hockey One (H1) is Australia’s highest level hockey competition for both male and female players with a host of international talent across the league. There are currently eight (8) teams, each with a men’s and a women’s team playing under the same team name including Adelaide Fire, Canberra Chill, NSW Pride, Brisbane Blaze, Perth Thundersticks, Tassie Tigers, Hockey Club Melbourne and now, the Melbourne Cobras.

The league which is heading into its sixth season is seeing a rise in international players, profile and broadcast exposure. The games have been internationally broadcast across Asia, Africa, USA and the Middle East. All games are broadcast locally live and free on 7plus and globally through Hockey One’s Global Pass.

Right Free Images available here. 

Media Contact:
Brad Vanderwert
General Manager Government Relations & Melbourne Cobras| Hockey Victoria 
Email: media@hockeyvictoria.org.au
P: 3 9448 2100