The game was in the balance until well into the last quarter, which started with a scoreline of two-all.
During some very intense hockey, some undisciplined play saw a regular parade of players to the penalty box with temporary suspensions from yellow cards.
This increased the pressure as the Hoops spent more of the closing stages of the game one or two players short on the field, which opened the door to the Tigers drawing ahead with two more goals to seal the win and qualify for an impressive 20th consecutive grand final.
Nhill Rangers’ juggernaut continues to roll on after a comfortable four-goal win in the elimination semi-final to keep alive their ambitions of contesting a season decider for the first time in 30 years.
After a very even, scoreless first quarter, the Rangers picked up the pace and set up the win with a three-goal second quarter, and maintained this pressure right to the end, not allowing the Kaniva Cobras to recover.
Yanac took full advantage of a Dimboola Roos’ team missing several key players and recorded a four-goal-to-one win to advance to the women’s grand final.
Scoring two goals in the first quarter, the Roos clawed one back in the second to still be in touch at half-time, but Yanac’s pressure yielded another two successful scores after half-time while preventing the Roos from adding any more.
While Yanac will now enjoys a week off before the season decider, the Roos will front up again on Saturday to play Kaniva, who had to fight hard to overcome a determined Nhill Thunderbirds in the other semi-final.
The only thing separating the two was a Kaniva field goal towards the end of the second quarter in an otherwise very even contest.
In the only match decided by a shootout, Nhill Leopards and Yanac Warriors were tied on one-all at full-time, with the Leopards holding their nerve in the shootout to outscore their opponents by three goals to one.
The Leopards now advance to the preliminary final against Kaniva Raiders, who lost a very close semi-final to Warrack Revengers, who are now bound for the grand final.
Preliminary finals
Attention now moves to Dimboola on Saturday when teams gather to do battle in the preliminary finals for the remaining places in the three grand finals, and all matches could go either way.
Open, Warrack Hoops v Nhill Rangers: Although Warrack Hoops finished in second place on the ladder, two games ahead of the Rangers, the Nhill team has defeated their higher-ranked opponents twice out of their three meetings so far in 2026, including their only meeting at the venue where they will play on Saturday.
The Hoops have a wealth of finals experience in their squad and will welcome back several key players who were missing from their semi-final loss to the Tigers, but the Rangers come into the game with the momentum of what is already their best season in over a decade and have a real chance of qualifying for their first season decider since 1997.
Women, Dimboola Roos v Kaniva:
The Dimboola Roos have been the dominant team in the competition this season and will want to convert that into a premiership.
With the return of a couple of key position players who were unavailable last Saturday, they should earn a spot in the grand final alongside Yanac, but Kaniva will be a worthy adversary.
Kaniva was the only team to defeat the Roos during the regular season and has the depth to seriously challenge them again this week, but even at their best, particularly on the Roos’ home turf, they might still come up just short of another victory.
Under-16, Kaniva Raiders v Nhill Leopards: This is one game that could easily go either way.
Kaniva Raiders made a slow start to their season, only breaking into the top four in round five, but by the end of 15 rounds they had claimed the minor premiership.
The Leopards have shown more consistency across the whole season, and when playing at their best they would deserve a place in the grand final.
Either result would not be an upset, as the Raiders have won both times they have met on the turf at Dimboola, but the experience of Nhill’s top-age players will probably give them the edge in this one.
Semi-final results –
Open, first semi-final: Nhill Rangers 4 (goals, L. Mills, O. Bone, S. Bone, R. Reichelt; best, A. Zanker, J. Knoll, L. Mills) d Kaniva Cobras 0 (C. Beattie, N. Krelle, T. Jorgensen). Second semi-final: Yanac Tigers 4 (B. Alexander 2, K. Croot, T. Alexander; B. Alexander, T. Alexander, H. Pedie) d Warrack Hoops 2 (H. Knoop, S. Schultz; C. Bardell, H. Johns, R. Brown).
Women, first semi-final: Kaniva 1 (O. Diment; N. Hutchins, I. Dickinson, L. Stimson) d Nhill Thunderbirds 0 (C. Rowe, C. Zanker, N. Gill). Second semi-final: Yanac 4 (E. Alexander, S. Hedt, C. Alexander, A. Farmers; E. Alexander, C. Alexander, S. Hedt) d Dimboola Roos 1 (T. Clark; J. Hauselberger, A. Rintoule, T. Clark).
Under-16, first semi-final: Nhill Leopards 1 (3) (D. Bee 2, B. Clark, A. Albrecht; J. Cannell, B. Clark, B. Cannell, D. Bee) d Yanac Warriors 1 (1) (H. Zanker, A. Zanker; L. Dickinson, H. Zanker, A. Zanker, I. Hedt). Second semi-final: Warrack Revengers 2 (H. Knoop, S. Williamson; H. Knoop, S. Williamson, R. Bish) d Kaniva Raiders 1 (R. Williams; L. Williams, F. Dodson, D. Stimson).
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