Hockey
8 September, 2026
Hockey grand finals set
The last three teams to contest the 2026 Wimmera Hockey Association grand finals were decided after three enthralling preliminary finals on the turf at Dimboola on Saturday.
The reigning premier, the Under 16s, earned the right to play for back-to-back titles, the Women’s minor premier fell just short of making the grand final, and a traditional match-up was confirmed for the Open decider.
Under 16
The Nhill Leopards earned the opportunity to add to the premiership they won last season after a last-minute goal got them over the line against the Kaniva Raiders in the Under 16 preliminary final.
This year’s junior competition has been one of the closest in recent years, with the top four teams very evenly matched, and this was highlighted again in this game, which was between the teams that finished first and third on the ladder.
In a close start to the match, neither team could capitalise on the opportunities they created, with the Leopards earning the only two penalty corners in the first quarter, but some determined Kaniva defence prevented them from getting onto the scorecard.
The Raiders narrowly missed a scoring opportunity early after play resumed, with the Leopards counterattacking quickly by gaining possession and running the ball the length of the pitch and scoring a goal from a scrappy piece of play once the ball made it to their ‘D’.
This was the highlight in another otherwise close quarter from which neither team could take control, but the Leopards had gained an important, albeit small, advantage by half time.
A successful penalty corner by the Raiders minutes into the second half saw the scores back on even terms, and as the play ebbed and flowed, some dark storm clouds rolled across the venue which required the floodlights to be turned on at midday, before the heavens opened with a brief deluge that soaked the players and umpires, but this did not dampen the enthusiasm of the competing teams, or slow the game.
The fast pace continued into the last quarter as both teams fought valiantly for victory, and with the game looking set to progress to a tie-breaking shootout, the Leopards took the initiative and, with a solid shot, found the goal to take the lead as the final whistle loomed. With just a minute to go, the game was not finished there as the Raiders made a fast break from the restart and earned a penalty corner just before full time, and in a tense finish, the corner was played out, with the Nhill side successfully defending their lead to claim a place in the grand final.
Women
The closing stages of the Women’s competition have not played out as many would have predicted, considering the dominance of the Dimboola Roos throughout the regular season, which saw them only drop one game on their way to the minor premiership.
In the first week of the finals, they fell short in a tough game against Yanac and then had to play in the preliminary final to earn a place in the season decider, where they faced Kaniva, the only team to have defeated them in the first 15 rounds.
The determined Kaniva team dominated early, earning four penalty corners before the first break and establishing a lead with two field goals mid-quarter.
The Roos regrouped after the first break and took control of most of the play for the next quarter and were back in the game after converting a penalty corner to be within striking distance by half time.
The second half featured exciting attacking play, met with solid defence at both ends of the ground, and only one penalty corner was played out after half time, which saw the Roos successfully ward off a solid scoring attempt by Kaniva.
By the final whistle, Kaniva’s productive first quarter proved to be sufficient to earn them a place in a fourth grand final in the last five seasons.
Open
The Open match promised an engaging encounter, with the nothing-to-lose enthusiasm of the improving Nhill Rangers up against the experience of perennial finalists, the Warrack Hoops.
A fast-paced, entertaining display of hockey ensued, and with the Hoops playing with a bit more composure than in their semi-final loss to the Tigers, they took the lead early after the first break and added then one more goal per quarter for the rest of the game, all from penalty corners, to finish with three goals.
Despite the scoreline, the Rangers were not disgraced and kept the pressure on the Hoops for the entire match, frequently looking dangerous, and it was only solid work by the Warrack defenders that kept them scoreless.
Despite this loss, the Rangers have enjoyed their best season in over a decade by reaching the preliminary final, while the Hoops can now focus on striving for their first title since 2014.
Charity Match
The day concluded with a fun challenge match to promote mental health awareness and raise funds for Beyond Blue, between the two teams in the Women’s competition who did not reach the finals.
The Horsham Jets played in superhero costumes, while Warracknabeal channelled some of their predecessors with a retro Warrack Women uniform, enhanced with capes and tutus.
Despite drizzly, cool conditions, the match was entertaining, with Horsham taking a narrow victory,
though the cause was more significant than the result.
