The top two teams in each division after the regular season have all earned the right to play off in the Wimmera Hockey Association grand finals that will be contested on Saturday at the Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre.
All of the teams involved have genuinely earned their place in the respective season deciders with consistent form throughout the season, and all have a real prospect of winning their title.
Each team features a number of players who can be ranked amongst the Associations best, and their contributions will prove critical to their team’s chances of victory, either by controlling the game themselves, or providing a distraction to their opposition which allows the next tier of players to step up and make the difference.
The winning teams will be the ones who can get the most consistent performance out of their entire squad, from the leaders to the interchange players.
Open - Grand Final - Yanac Tigers v Warrack Hoops
There will be a wealth of hockey finals experience on display when these two teams line up once again to play off for the Open division premiership.
At least one of these two teams have played off in every grand final over the twenty nine year history of this competition, including twelve when they have met each other.
In their four meetings so far in 2018 the Tigers have narrowly won on two occasions and the Hoops have fought out draws twice.
Both teams have potential match winners all over the field, starting with their defences that have only conceded five and eleven goals respectively, right through to their strong attacking combinations.
Although the Tigers have scored 62 goals this season, exactly twice as many as the Hoops with 31, it will only take one goal to win this game and both teams feature many forwards who are capable of scoring that goal.
Key players for the Tigers will include the Alexander brothers Bradley, Todd and Shaun, tireless midfielder Simon Farmers and finals veteran Kim Croot, whilst play makers Cameron Bardell, Jarrod Knoop and Darius Cosgrave will hold the key to leading the Hoops to a victory.
With their recent form, including not losing a game since the middle of the 2016 season, and their immense finals experience, it is difficult to tip against the Tigers but many of the Hoops’ premierships have come under similar under-dog circumstances so it would be dangerous for their opponents to take them lightly.
Regardless of who wins, these teams always provide a hockey spectacle and will provide at least seventy minutes of the most entertaining hockey seen in this competition this season.
Head to Head in 2018 -
Round 5 - Tigers 0 drew with Hoops 0
Round 10 - Tigers 2 defeated Hoops 0
Round 15 - Tigers 1 drew with Hoops 1
Semi Final - Tigers 1 defeated Hoops 0
Women’s Grand Final - Yanac Women v Dimboola Roos
The head to head record between these teams this season stands at two draws and two wins for the Roos from four games, but this should still be a close game.
The battle for the control of the game will be focussed on the midfield and will be fought between two of the leading players in the Women’s competition over recent years in Erin Alexander for Yanac and Elizabeth Klinge for Dimboola, both filling the pivotal centre half back positions for their respective teams.
These two players have the ability to win the game off their own stick but can also bring their team mates into the action providing many more options to score.
Both teams also have many other talented players who are also capable of influencing the game, with Natalie Jones, Susan Hedt, Shanaye Alexander and Mikalyla Farmers all able to step up and take control the game for Yanac.
Yanac will also have their hands full limiting the effectiveness of other key Dimboola players including Jennie Hauselburger, Rebecca Lovett, Vicki Smithyman and Brooke McMaster.
When these two teams played off in the grand final last season, it took a penalty stroke shootout after extra time to separate them, and form through the closing round of the season suggests that this game could be just as close.
Head to Head in 2018 -
Round 4 - Yanac 2 drew with Roos 2
Round 8 - Yanac 1 drew with Roos 1
Round 13 - Roos 1 defeated Yanac 0
Semi Final - Roos 2 defeated Yanac 1
Under 16 - Grand Final - Yanac Warriors v Warrack Revengers
The Yanac Warriors and Warrack Revengers have been very evenly matched when they have met four times so far this season, with their most recent meetings in round 15 and then the first round of finals yielding one victory each.
The Revengers rely heavily upon Oskar Bennett who is capable of singlehandedly manoeuvring through most opposition defences and scoring, but if the Warriors focus too much attention on him, worthy team mates including Ben Williamson, Heath Johns, Faith Eilola and Leah Eilola are all quite capable of filling the gap.
Mikayla Farmers has had a good season for the Warriors and will form an important link in the midfield for her team but can rely on plenty of help from Caleb Zanker, Jasper Croot and Nathan Colbert.
The difference between the teams could well come from one of the fringe players who get the opportunity to shine whilst their opponent is concentrating on stopping their team’s high profile players.
As they have demonstrated throughout this season there is not much separating these two teams which always leads to an entertaining final, and nothing different is expected on Saturday.
Head to Head in 2018 -
Round 5 - Warriors 2 drew with Revengers 2
Round 10 - Revengers 1 defeated Warriors 0
Round 15 - Warriors 3 defeated Revengers 0
Semi Final - Revengers 1 defeated Warriors 0
Grand Final Fixture
- at the Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre
11.00 am - Under 16 - Yanac Warriors v Warrack Revengers
1.00 pm - Women - Yanac Women v Dimboola Roos
3.00 pm - Open - Yanac Tigers v Warrack Hoops
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