The top two teams in each division will meet in the three Wimmera Hockey Association grand final matches on the Yanac ground on Saturday, and if the lead-up games are any indication, there will be some top hockey on display.

- Open Grand Final - Yanac Tigers v. Warrack Hoops

With Kaniva and Yanac meeting in both the Women’s and Under 16 grand finals, the Warrack Hoops denied the Association a triple western derby when they defeated the Kaniva Cobras last weekend to earn another crack at the Tigers in a grand final.

These two teams have met in fifteen of the thirty-three grand finals since this competition began in the mid-1980s, and although the Tigers have had the best of a majority of these encounters (but to be fair, they also have an enviable record against every other club they have played in grand finals as well), these two always play an exciting brand of hockey when they meet, regardless of the time of the season.
2023 Head-to-Head record -

Round 2 – Hoops 0 drew with Tigers 0
Round 6 – Tigers 1 defeated Hoops 0
Round 13 – Tigers 1 defeated Hoops 0
Semi-Final – Tigers 3 defeated Hoops 0
Considering the results of their four meetings this season, the Tigers have earned the right to go into the game as favourites, but the Hoops played a polished game in the preliminary final last weekend, so they are as prepared as they can be to confront the challenge of winning their first premiership since 2014.

On the other hand, the Tigers have the incentive of claiming their twentieth premiership and moving to the outright top of the all-time Wimmera hockey winners list, overtaking the dominant Warracknabeal Women’s team of the 1980s to mid-2000s.

Whichever way this game goes, these teams will put on a great display of hockey and will entertain the spectators right to the last whistle.

- Women’s Grand Final - Kaniva v. Yanac
2023 Head-to-Head record -

Round 3 – Kaniva 1 defeated Yanac 0
Round 10 – Kaniva 0 drew with Yanac 0
Round 14 – Kaniva 2 defeated Yanac 0
Semi-Final – Kaniva 0 (3) defeated Yanac 0 (2)
After suffering many seasons towards the bottom of the ladder of the Women’s competition, Kaniva has shown impressive improvement over the last few seasons, culminating in winning their first premiership last season.

This year they have built upon that performance and go into the premiership decider undefeated, which puts them in an excellent position to make it back-to-back titles.

The nucleus of the Yanac side has previously enjoyed premiership success, having played in six grand finals for four premierships in the last decade, and they will be keen to build on this legacy.

With both teams having significant motivation for success, this game will provide an entertaining
conclusion to the season between two very evenly matched opponents.

- Under 16 Grand Finals - Yanac Warriors v. Kaniva Raiders
2023 Head-to-Head record -

Round 3 – Raiders 3 defeated Warriors 0
Round 10 – Warriors 3 defeated Raiders 1
Round 14 – Warriors 3 defeated Raiders 0
Seim-Final – Warriors 2 defeated Raiders 1
The Horsham Bombers and Kaniva Raiders led the Uner 16 competition for much of the season, but the Yanac Warriors were never far behind. In the closing rounds, they made their move, and by the end of round fifteen, they had claimed the top spot on the ladder and were the first to book a place in the grand final with a semi-final win.

The match that earned the young Raiders the other place in the season decider was a close preliminary final with the Bombers that almost went to a shootout and could have gone either way.

With many of the Raiders squad still eligible to play in the Under 12 Development Program, it will be a big task for them to overcome the older Warriors team in such a high-pressure game, but with nothing to lose, they are sure to push the Warriors, and it only takes one extraordinary performance to spark a whole team to greater heights.

The grand finals will be followed in the evening with the annual Wimmera Hockey Association award presentation dinner, where the leading players and officials will be recognised.
Wimmera Hockey Association - Grand Final Fixture

At the Yanac Recreation Reserve, Saturday 9 September 2023

11 am - Under 16 - Yanac Warriors v. Kaniva Raiders

1 pm - Open - Yanac Tigers v. Warrack Hoops

3 pm - Women - Kaniva Women v. Yanac Women