TEMtalk -

Amelia 'Tootie' Hough

Each TEMpo we will have a member profile so you can get to know some of our members a bit better. This week we Premier League legend Amelia Hough.

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Occupation: I work for a media agency as an executive (a title that’s probably misleading because I’m not anywhere close to being the CEO)

Hockey position: Currently dabbling in a bit of Right Half

Senior Games played: 228

Favourite food: I know that Mum’s probably reading this, so my answer is ‘anything and everything she cooks’

Footy team: The Mighty Cats

Favourite band/singer: ABBA and their mildly successful cover band that Braden and I saw at the zoo in 2001, BABBA.

Favourite TV show: Parks and Recreation

Ideal Holiday: Absolutely anywhere outside of my house

Siblings: Bronte (the hockey one) and Zoe (the non-hockey one)

Hobbies (other than hockey!): I had grand plans to take up many iso-hobbies such as learning to DJ or pottery but so far my only achievement is re-organising my Spotify playlists

Most people around the club know you as Tootie ( I wouldn't be surprised if some didn't actually know your real name!) How did 'Tootie' come about ?

Truly not an exciting story, my older sister Zoe just couldn’t pronounce Amelia when she was a toddler so somehow came up with Tootie as an alternative

Like Cam MacPhie who we interviewed in the previous issue of TEMpo, you’ve been a member of TEM, how old were you when you actually started playing?

I’m fairly sure Mum and Dad enlisted me as a TEM member at their first ultrasound but the first time I actually picked up a stick and played was when I was 4. Me being the young pest and attention-seeker that I was, I just ran onto the pitch during my older sister’s U9 game and attempted to hijack the ball (I’m also pretty sure that I was wearing clothes that were closer to the opposition’s uniform so it was a debacle all round).

Who was your favourite juniors coach?

Similarly to the question about my favourite food, I know that Darci’s probably going to show this to her mum, so my answer is Mary Kleinschmidt – unequivocally.

Have you played in any State teams?

I was lucky enough to play in a few junior state teams growing up – so my parents had the pleasure of using their holiday leave to visit glamorous destinations such as Newcastle, Adelaide (twice) and Canberra over the years.

You currently play in our Premier League team, what grade did you first play when you started playing seniors?

I was lucky enough to play my first season of senior hockey in Pennant C with my one and only Mum yelling at me from the defensive line. Her stick was twice as long as anyone else’s, her voice twice as loud and her analysis of my game post-match in the car ride home twice as cutting. 

Your dad Joe played with his 2 brothers Peter and Michael, and you currently play with your younger sister Bronte. Do you two get along ok on the field or are there times when you treat her differently to your team mates? Are you tougher or more lenient on her?

I think when you compare us to a few sisterly duos who play together in other Premier League teams we’re pretty tame – we’ve had sterner words over the shower schedule than anything that’s happened on the pitch.

You dad Joe and mum Karen (Gibbo) met while playing for TEM and obviously were married and had 3 lovely daughters.  Have there been any TEM romances in your TEM story so far? 

I’ve had my publicist look over this question and she has advised me to give no comment.

What has been your proudest hockey moment?

Playing in my first senior finals match last year in Premier League - most definitely. We may have gone down 2-1 at the end of the day, but I was so proud of our team, our supporters and our Club for making it that far (plus excited to know that we were only just getting started)!

Who would be your TEM hockey hero?

Hannah McKenzie – her brief yet magical summer hockey season spent on the goalpost tapping in deflections was a master class. 

You were planning on travelling overseas this year which has now been put on hold. Where were you planning on going and do you still plan on going in the future?

I was hoping to follow the footsteps of many young Australians and ‘doing’ London but unfortunately that’s been put on hold slightly (something about an international travel ban)? Once Scotty lets me out of the country I’d still love to go but for the time being TEM is still stuck with me.

What would you say is the best part of being a member of TEM?

Besides from Linda’s criminally undercharged vodka red bulls – it’s definitely a club that has become my extended family and I love the way TEM embodies that feeling of community!

If you were left to live on a desert island - what 3 things would you choose to take with you?

3 x 1kg tubs of Yumis Hummus.