The worst day in Raiders history was 7th May 2012. That day Lizzie Watkins tragically died due to complications from head injuries after a ball deflected off her own stick. Lizzie, 24, was hit in the back of the head mid-way through the first half of a game against Victoria Park Panthers. She was knocked unconscious and never recovered.

Her death had a crushing effect on the Watkins family, her team and their opponents that day, her Raiders family, and the hockey community. The men’s national team wore black armbands in their next game and Twitter was clogged with comments from players at all levels of the game expressing their sorrow.

Lizzie had played with Raiders from the youngest of junior grades right through to First Division. She was so proud to play alongside her sister. The whole Watkins’ family were Raiders members: Lizzie and her three siblings—Cath, Hugh, and Sandy—and mum Caroline as players, and dad Frank, as coach, photographer, and stalwart Raiders supporter.

The following game Lizzie’s number was officially retired and for ten years , the Premier Women’s team played the Lizzie Watkins Memorial Match against Curtin, which not only remembers Lizzie but also celebrates how lucky we are that we are able to play this game. This game, at the request of the Watkins family, is now played not as a singular match against Curtin, but rather encapsulates an entire round of games, known as the Organ Donor round.

Lizzie’s decision to donate her organs helped her family deal with their grief. Her generosity of organ donation has given five people across Australia a new lease of life.