Premier League Preliminary Final Review

Published Sun 13 Sep 2026

OHA’s Women and North West Hobart Graduates’ Men have advanced to the 2026 Premier League Grand Finals following impressive Preliminary Final victories at the Aurora Energy Tasmanian Hockey Centre.

OHA overturned an early deficit to defeat NWG 3–1 in the Women’s Preliminary Final, while the Bulldogs produced a clinical 3–0 victory over DiamondBacks in the Men’s contest.

OHA Fight Back to Reach Decider

North West Hobart Graduates made the perfect start to the Women’s Preliminary Final, with Wavey Van Dorsselaer opening the scoring to give the Bulldogs an early 1–0 advantage inside the first minute, albeit via a somewhat fortuitous deflection.

However, OHA responded strongly through Zayna Jackson, who struck twice to turn the match around and put her side ahead 2–1 by quarter time, with her side starting to dominate the contest. Jackson was a major threat throughout the contest causing all manner of problems for the Bulldog's defence.

OHA controlled the match, but the score remained at 2-1 till deep into the match, when veteran Sofie McLeod then added a third goal to give OHA some breathing room and complete a 3–1 victory, keeping their premiership hopes alive.

The result sends OHA into the Women’s Grand Final, where they will face DiamondBacks in the premiership decider next Saturday.

Bulldogs Book Grand Final Rematch

North West Hobart Graduates secured their place in the Men’s Grand Final with a commanding 3–0 victory over DiamondBacks.

Oliver Stebbings delivered the decisive contribution for the Bulldogs, scoring twice to establish a 2–0 advantage.

His first was a clinical conversion from a penalty corner to give his side a 1-0 lead to take into halftime, and his second came via the penalty stroke early in the final term.

The Bulldogs were tested by the Snakes, but controlled the pace of the game expertly, with Angus McMullen pulling the strings in midfield and the Stebbings brothers producing brilliant performances. If not for some sharp goalkeeping from Will Dixon the Bulldogs might've put the result beyond doubt earlier.

Tyson Bessell then added the third goal into an empty net after DiamondBacks pulled their goalie, putting the result beyond doubt and completing an impressive Preliminary Final performance.

NWG will now face minor premiers University in the Men’s Grand Final, a rematch of the 2025 decider, which saw University break a 20-year premiership drought.