After the youth ranks had their time in the spotlight last week, the senior grades will shine this weekend, with the A-grade men, B-grade women and B-grade men’s grand finals being held on Saturday.
The A-grade men’s season is set to finish in prime time on the day, with the Strikers taking on Echuca-Moama at 3.30pm.
Yet to lose a game all year, the Strikers will go in red-hot favourites for the clash and captain Evan Collins said it was exciting to play a grand final after two years of COVID-19 interruptions.
“We’re just looking forward to Saturday and hopefully we can get a win,” Collins said.
Collins said Echuca produced an impressive win over SYC last week.
“They never give up and they’ve got some really strong players, so they’re always a really good opposition for that reason,” Collins said.
“You sort of don’t really quite know what you’re going to get with them, they can go forward and score goals quite quickly and don’t need too many opportunities to put you under pressure, so that’ll be something we’re sort of wary of early.”
Xavier McBain will be one to watch for the Strikers this weekend, with the talent coming back from a hamstring injury, while Lachie Russell is also shaping up for a good game on the forward line.
Taking to the turf before the men’s A-grade action will be the B-grade women’s competition, with the decider set to begin at 1.30pm.
This game will have the minor premier Mooroopna taking on the second-placed Strikers in a game that could go either way.
Last time these two sides met they played out an entertaining three-all draw and Strikers team manager Debbie Black said her side was super excited to be in the grand final.
“We haven’t been able to beat Mooroopna all year, we had a draw with them last time we played, so we’re just planning on adding a bit extra effort and we’ll see how we go,” Black said.
Black said the Strikers had a number of players to look out for this weekend, with plenty of talent in the line-up.
“We’ve got three senior players that support the team really well in Rachelle Collins, Olivia Forbes and Rachel Gardiner, who’s our top goal-scorer this year,” she said.
“And we’ve got a couple of juniors that have filled in and played pivotal roles throughout the game and that’s Emme Cole and Eloise Collins.
“The whole team has put in this year and I think part of our success is we’re having fun and it’s just great to be back out on the pitch.”
Earlier in the day Echuca-Moama will face off with SYC in the B-grade men’s final, with play to start at 11.30am.
GVHA Grand Finals at the Sheppartion Regional Hockey Complex
A-grade men
Strikers v Echuca-Moama at 3.30pm
B-grade women
Mooroopna v Strikers at 1.30pm
B-grade men
Echuca-Moama v SYC at 11.30am
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