With the fifteen rounds of the regular season now behind us, the four teams in each division remaining in the race for the premierships can now turn their attention to the first round of finals played on Anzac Park in Warracknabeal on Saturday.

Across all six matches, it is difficult to look past ladder positions when predicting results, but finals often come down to which teams can manage the nerves and expectations better, which can create opportunities for lower-ranked teams to perform better than expected.
The Yanac, Kaniva, and Horsham teams go into this first round of finals with a team in each division, but the other three clubs in the Association are also all represented, with Nhill in the Under 16s, Dimboola in the Women’s, and Warracknabeal in the Open.
- Open - Second Semi-Final - Yanac Tigers v. Warrack Hoops
Head-to-head this season -

Round 2 @ Warrack - Tigers 1 defeated Hoops 0
Round 6 @ Dimboola - Hoops 1 drew with Tigers 1
Round 11 @ Yanac - Tigers 1 defeated Hoops 0
The Yanac Tigers have been undefeated since 2019, but it was in this same game that year against the same opponent that they suffered their last loss. The only blemishes on their record this year have been three uncharacteristic, tied matches, and they always take their game up a notch in the big matches, so it’s difficult to see them faltering here.

Above - In a rivalry that dates back to the 1980s, the Yanac Tigers and Warrack Hoops meet in yet another semi-final to play for a place in the season decider.

However, the Hoops also find that little bit extra in the big games against this long-time rival and will not leave anything out on the pitch, so regardless of the result, this will be a cracking game of hockey.

- Open - First Semi-Final - Kaniva Cobras v. Horsham Hurricanes
Head-to-head this season -

Round @ Warrack - Cobras 5 defeated Hurricanes 2
Round @ Dimboola - Cobras 3 defeated Hurricanes 0
Round @ Yanac - Cobras 4 defeated Hurricanes 1
The Cobras went into the last round with a chance of finishing second, proving they are pretty close behind the leading two teams, while the Hurricanes have been inconsistent throughout this season but look good when things come together.

If both teams can put their best combination on the field this will also be a very competitive match, but as their head-to-head record this year shows, the Cobras should have the edge, particularly on the grass surface at Warracknabeal.

- Women - Second Semi-Final - Yanac v. Kaniva
Head-to-head this season -

Round 1 @ Dimboola - Yanac 1 defeated Kaniva 0
Round 7 @ Yanac - Kaniva 1 defeated Yanac 0
Round 12 @ Kaniva - Kaniva 1 drew with Yanac 1
These two teams have forged quite a rivalry over recent years, including playing off in two of the last three grand finals, from which they have claimed one premiership each.

So far this year, you could not get two more evenly matched teams, having defeated each other once and played a draw in their third encounter, and in these three matches, they have both scored and conceded just two goals.

Yanac’s better overall record for the season and their history of performing in big games, having played in every grand final since 2013, should give them the edge, but Kaniva is also developing a hunger for the pressure games and will ensure that this will be a cracking match regardless of who finished ahead.

- Women - First Semi-Final - Dimboola Roos v Horsham Jets
Head-to-head this season -

Round 4 @ Nhill - Roos 2 defeated Jets 0
Round 8 @ Dimboola - Roos 1 defeated Jets 0
Round 14 @ Yanac - Roos 2 defeated Jets 1
The return of the Dimboola Roos has added a new dimension to the Women’s competition this season, but they have proven that they aren’t back just to make up the numbers after finishing the regular season in third place.

Their opponent on Saturday will have unfinished business after missing the finals last season, dropping out of the top four on the result of the last match of the regular season, the Horsham Jets will be out to experience what they missed out on in 2023.

Their record against each other this season suggests the Roos go in as favourites, but a full-strength Jets could be hard to beat.

- Under 16 - Second Semi-Final - Yanac Warriors v. Kaniva Raiders
Head-to-head this season -

Round 1 @ Dimboola - Yanac Warriors 3 drew with Kaniva Raiders 3
Round 7 @ Yanac - Yanac Warriors 2 defeated Kaniva Raiders 1
Round 12 @ Kaniva - Yanac Warriors 4 defeated Kaniva Raiders 1
Although the Warriors hold the advantage in the three games this season against their semi-final opponent, the Raiders have always been competitive and are the best-equipped to inflict the reigning premiers’ first defeat this season if the Warriors were to take them too lightly.

Recent form suggests another Warriors’ victory, but they will have to play at their best to convert this potential into a direct path to the grand final.

- Under 16 - First Semi-Final - Nhill Leopards v. Horsham Bombers
Head-to-head this season -

Round 1 @ Dimboola - Nhill Leopards 4 defeated Horsham Bombers 0
Round 7 @ Yanac - Horsham Bombers 0 drew with Nhill Leopards 0
Round 12 @ Kaniva - Nhill Leopards 5 defeated Horsham Bombers 0
Throughout this season, there has been a noticeable gap between the top three and the lower three teams, which appears between the Nhill Leopards and Horsham Bombers.

While the Bombers have shown plenty of potential this year, they are not quite at the same level as the Leopards, but as the Nhill team proved last weekend with an unexpected win over the team above them on the ladder, anything can happen on the field.

At their best, the Leopards should win this game, but the Bombers have no pressure, so they can play more freely, which could yield an unexpected result.


Wimmera Hockey Association - Semi Finals Fixture

Anzac Park, Warracknabeal - Saturday 31th August 2024

Field One

9.30 am- Under 16 Second Semi Final- Yanac Warriors - Kaniva Raiders
11.30 am- Women’s Second Semi Final- Yanac Women - Kaniva Women
1.30 pm- Open Second Semi Final- Yanac Tigers - Warrack Hoops
3.30 pm- Open First Semi Final- Kaniva Cobras - Horsham Hurricanes

Field Two

9.30 am- Under 16 First Semi Final- Nhill Leopards - Horsham Bombers
11.30 am- Women’s First Semi Final- Dimboola Roos - Horsham Jets
  • The winner of a Second Semi Final will progress directly to the Grand Final
  • The loser of a First Semi Final is eliminated
  • The Preliminary Finals, to be played at Kaniva on Saturday 7 September will be played between the loser of the Second Semi Final and the winner of the First Semi Final.