Hockey
7 August, 2026
Final fours taking shape but still room to move
Players and spectators enjoyed some welcome sunshine after a frosty start at Kaniva on Saturday for round 12 of the Wimmera hockey season, where several teams confirmed their place in the finals while others remain locked in a battle to join them.
With three rounds remaining, the top two on both the senior competition ladders have been locked in, although there is still the possibility that they could swap places before the finals.
The next two places in the women’s have been set, while the battle continues for three teams to fit into the last two open places.
In the under 16s, the teams to make up the top four have been decided, but they are so evenly matched that they could still finish in any order.
The only team to change their position on the open ladder after the weekend's round was the Nhill Rangers, who gained two points from a bye and moved up to third place after the two teams now below them were both defeated.
The Yanac Tigers remain four points clear at the top of the ladder after a three-goal win over the Kaniva Cobras.
They earned the lead just five minutes into the game when Simon Farmers scored off a penalty corner, but despite seven more similar opportunities before half-time, the margin remained at one at the long break due to some determined Kaniva defence.
A field goal by Shaun Alexander less than a minute after play resumed for the second half and a third Tigers’ goal off Brad Alexander’s stick had them in control of the game three-quarter-time.
Some good work across the Cobras' back line held out another five penalty corners in the second half, but the sheer number of scoring options that the Tigers brought to the field saw them comfortably win the match.
It was a similar story on the other field, with the Warrack Hoops scoring early with a field goal to Caleb Baldock, and they earned some breathing space when captain Sandon Schultz converted a penalty stroke late in the second quarter.
While the Hurricanes repelled five penalty corners in the second half to prevent the Hoops adding to their score, the early goals were enough to see the Warrack team earn the points, confirm a top-two finish and keep themselves within reach of matching the Tigers by the end of the regular season.
The remaining three teams now have three weeks to settle who will fill the last two places in the top four, and while the Rangers and Cobras are currently best placed, the Hurricanes are still in with a chance to displace one of them, but they will need to win at least two of their remaining three matches if this is to happen.
In the women's competition, the biggest result from round 12 was Warracknabeal Women earning their first points for the season with a scoreless draw with the Horsham Jets.
These two are resigned to finishing in the lower two places on the ladder but are more evenly matched with each other than with any of the teams above them – something that contributed to a very entertaining and closely fought match.
Horsham dominated the penalty corner count but, to their credit, the Warrack defence held firm and fended off everything thrown at them, with goalkeeper Madisson Bentley responsible for several impressive blocks to deny the Jets’ forwards any goals.
With both teams sensing the opportunity for the win, the game was fought out at a high intensity right to the final whistle, and the tie was a fitting result reflecting the evenness of the teams.
The leading two teams entered the round locked together on both points and goal difference, and after the Dimboola Roos defeated the Nhill Thunderbirds by four goals and Yanac defeated Kaniva by three, they remain on the same points, with Dimboola now just ahead with a one-goal-better goal difference.
Dimboola dominated much of the play in their game, although the Thunderbirds fought hard to shut down many strong attacking moves to keep the score to a reasonable four goals, considering the Roos have had some much larger victories this season.
The final scores also suggested that Yanac had an easy win over Kaniva, but on the field they had to work hard to earn their three goals.
With the four teams to contest the women’s finals now decided, and Kaniva and the Thunderbirds set in third and fourth places respectively, the most interest is now in the battle for the minor premiership between Yanac and the Roos.
With recent form suggesting they can both continue to win against other opponents, the final order in which they finish may not be settled until they meet again in two weeks (unless they play out a draw with each other).
While there were no positional chances on the under 16 ladder after round 12, the final finishing order remains a mystery with many combinations among the top four still possible.
The Nhill Leopards defeated the Dimboola Kangaroos to remain on top, and the Warrack Revengers are hot on their heels after a win over the Horsham Bombers.
The third-placed Kaniva Raiders and fourth-placed Yanac Warriors played out a scoreless draw but are both still within reach of a top-two finish if either team above them falters.
The Bombers are now out of the race for the finals, and the Kangaroos would need a very unlikely combination of results to go their way for them to rise up the ladder.
This does not mean that their remaining games are insignificant, as they are both quite capable of upsetting any team above them and having a big influence on the finishing order.
The weekend ahead
It will be a big day at Yanac on Saturday as not only will the host club be welcoming back many former players and supporters for its Back to Yanac Hockey Club function, but on the field, several teams will be competing to keep their chance of playing finals alive while others are still jostling for the prime positions to mount their assault on the premiership.
The biggest match of the day will feature the open division's top-of-the-ladder clash between the Yanac Tigers and Warrack Hoops, the two most successful teams in this division over its 40-year history.
They have already locked in to meet again in the semi-finals at the end of the month, and while this week’s result will not influence their place in the finals, with a record of one win each in their two meetings so far this season, the psychological advantage of a win on Saturday will not be lost on either team.
With the remaining three teams still fighting for the last two places in the top four, the other match will have a totally different level of pressure, particularly for the Horsham Hurricanes who must win if they are to maintain any ambitions of progressing to the finals.
The Nhill Rangers have shown significant improvement this year, and a win will confirm their place in the finals.
A loss to Horsham will not eliminate them from the finals race but will make their task so much harder, as they will then have to defeat the dominant Tigers for the first time in more than 10 years in the following round to stay in the race.
Despite having the bye, the Kaniva Cobras will hold their place in the top four for at least another week.
The big game in the women’s division will see the Dimboola Roos take on Kaniva.
The Roos are currently on top of their ladder but on equal points and just one goal ahead of Yanac, so they need to keep winning if they are to remain there at the end of the last round.
Kaniva are comfortable in third place but need to put in some good performances against the top teams if they are to seriously challenge once the finals begin.
After defeating the Roos when they last met in round 10 and offering up a solid performance despite losing to Yanac last weekend, Kaniva should put in a good show, but the Roos should prove too strong on this occasion.
The Nhill Thunderbirds will be looking to fine-tune their game-plan when they take on the Horsham Jets.
The Jets are out of contention for the finals while the 'Birds are assured of fourth place on the ladder, but Horsham could get some satisfaction out of defeating a certain finalist while the 'Birds need the confidence that will come from a win.
The rivalry between Yanac and Warrack Women has softened in recent years as the latter’s form has not reached the highs of their multiple premierships in the 1990s and early 2000s, and even after earning their first points for the season with a draw with the Jets last weekend, Warrack will still find Yanac a formidable opponent.
With the order of the top four in the Under 16 competition still up in the air, recent form suggests the Yanac Warriors and Warrack Revengers should put on the best display in this division.
The Revengers are vying for top spot with the Nhill Leopards, while the Warriors are currently at the bottom of the top four and a win over a fellow finals opponent would boost their confidence.
The Leopards should retain their grip on top spot for at least another week with a win over the Horsham Bombers, and although the Kaniva Raiders will find the Dimboola Kangaroos more challenging, they should add to their seven wins and stay within reach of challenging for a top two finish.