Southern Junior Premiers Crowned in Grand Final Action

Published Tue 15 Sep 2026

The 2026 Southern Junior Competitions have concluded with an exciting series of Grand Finals at the Aurora Energy Tasmanian Hockey Centre, as the season’s junior premiers were crowned over two action-packed nights.

University enjoyed a particularly successful Grand Final program, securing six premierships across the eight age groups.

In the Under 12 Girls decider, University produced an impressive defensive performance to defeat Canterbury 3–0. Grace Callinan, Poppy MacGregor and Sasha Forshaw were the goalscorers for University.

They also took out the Under 12 Boy's Final, winning a tight battle over DiamondBacks 1-0, as William Tucker scored early, and it proved to be the decisive goal.

University Red claimed the Under 14 Boys premiership with a commanding 6–0 victory over DiamondBacks. Harry Callinan led the scoring with two goals, while Fin Gillespie, Finn Clauson, George Castley and Lawson Close also found the net.

University then made it 4 from 4 in the Friday night finals by winning the Under 14 Girls Grand Final, overcoming DiamondBacks 2–1 in a thrilling battle. Issy Rayner proved the match winner, as she scored both goals for University, while Heidi Hodgson was on target for DiamondBacks.

The most dramatic of the Junior Grand Finals was undoubtedly the Under 16 Boys clash between North West Hobart Graduates and University Red.

Goals from Felix Murray and Shannon Waite had the Bulldogs leading 2–0 with only minutes remaining, but two goals in the space of 30 seconds from Henry Veska and Archer Close pulled University level and forced the match into a shootout. University Red completed the remarkable comeback by winning the shootout 3–1 and securing the premiership.

DiamondBacks took out the Under 16 Girls premiership with an impressive 5–2 victory over NWG. Skye Hansen scored twice for DiamondBacks, with Charlotte Pritchard, Heidi Hodgson and Jayda Reid also hitting the scoreboard. Amaya Williams and Edie Chuter scored NWG’s two goals.

NWG were dominant in the Under 18 Men’s decider, completing their season with an emphatic 8–0 victory over Canterbury. Cruze Gray scored a hat-trick, Angus McMullen and Edward Steedman each added two goals, and Nash Mansfield completed the scoring.

The Under 18 Women’s Grand Final saw University Red round out the program with a commanding 6–1 victory over Derwent. Essie Pelham led the way with a hat-trick, Georgia Grant scored twice and Harriet Sproule added the remaining goal. Claudia Windsor scored Derwent’s goal and she produced a typically classy display.

Congratulations to all the premiership-winning teams and every player, coach, manager, official and volunteer involved throughout the 2026 Southern Junior Competition.