Premier League Finals Week 1 Preview

Published Fri 04 Sep 2026

After 20 rounds of regular-season action, the Premier League finals begin at the Aurora Energy Tasmanian Hockey Centre on Saturday, with four high-stakes matches back to back.

North West Hobart Graduates and Derwent Hockey Club will open the finals in a sudden-death contest after both finished the regular season with impressive victories.

NWG secured third position with a 12–3–5 record, narrowly missing the double chance after finishing level with DiamondBacks on points but falling behind on goal difference.

The Bulldogs enter the finals in excellent form, having won their final three matches by a combined score of 17–1. They completed the regular season with a 3–0 victory over Canterbury, with Oliver Stebbings adding another two goals to take his season tally to 23 and 7 in his past 3 outings.

Derwent booked fourth position with a 7–3 victory over OHA in Round 20, producing its most prolific attacking performance of the season when it mattered most. Kurt Budgeon scored four times in the win, while Alex Shaw added two.

NWG enjoyed the better of the regular-season series, recording 4–3 and 6–0 victories. However, Derwent held the Bulldogs to draws in their other two meetings, including a 1–1 result in Round 3 and a 2–2 draw in Round 13.

The winner will advance to the Preliminary Final, while the loser’s season will come to an end.

Then a place in the Grand Final awaits when minor premiers University meet DiamondBacks in the second semi final.

University finished on top of the ladder with a 14–4–2 record, led by an extraordinary season from Oscar Sproule. The competition’s leading scorer found the net 39 times during the regular season and will loom as a major threat in Saturday’s contest.

DiamondBacks secured the double chance with a draw against University in the final round, finishing second ahead of NWG on goal difference.

University are unbeaten in their four meetings with DiamondBacks this year, but the results demonstrate how competitive the match-up has been. The minor premiers recorded 4–2 and 6–5 victories, while the other two encounters finished 3–3 and 2–2.

With two draws and 26 goals scored across their four meetings, another entertaining contest appears likely.

The winner will advance directly to the Grand Final, while the loser will host the winner of NWG and Derwent in next weekend’s Preliminary Final.

The Women's finals action gets underway when OHA and University meet in a sudden-death with a place in the Preliminary Final up for grabs.

OHA finished third with a 14–3–3 record, narrowly missing the double chance after remaining in contention for a top-two position until the final round.

University secured fourth position with a 6–2–12 record.

OHA enter the contest with an imposing record against University, having won all four meetings between the sides this season. The Ships claimed the opening encounter 2–0 before recording three consecutive 4–0 victories.

Despite those results, finals hockey presents a different challenge, and University now have an opportunity to reverse the trend in the most important meeting between the teams this season.

The winner will progress to the Preliminary Final, while the defeated side will be eliminated.

The opening week concludes with a blockbuster second semi final between minor premiers North West Hobart Graduates and defending champions DiamondBacks.

Only three points separated the teams at the end of the regular season, with NWG finishing first with a 16–1–3 record and DiamondBacks claiming second at 15–1–4.

The season series is also perfectly balanced at two victories apiece. NWG won the Round 2 and Round 12 meetings, while DiamondBacks prevailed in Rounds 7 and 17.

Their most recent encounter produced a dramatic 3–1 victory for DiamondBacks. Phillida Bridley scored all three goals, including two late strikes that broke a 1–1 deadlock.

NWG responded by winning its final three matches against Derwent, OHA and Canterbury to secure the minor premiership. DiamondBacks also enter the finals with momentum after recording an emphatic Round 20 victory over University to lock away the double chance.

With the season series locked at two wins apiece and the competition’s leading scorers lining up on opposite sides, little separates the teams heading into their biggest meeting yet.

The winner will book the first place in the Women’s Grand Final, while the loser will host the winner of OHA and University in next weekend’s Preliminary Final.