Women's Premier League Grand Final Preview

Defending champions DiamondBacks will look to complete their premiership defence, and a Premier League three-peat when they face an in-form OHA side in the Women’s Premier League Grand Final on Saturday, with the Ships aiming to cap their impressive finals run by dethroning the reigning premiers.

DiamondBacks booked their place in the decider with a 1–0 Semi-Final victory over minor premiers North West Hobart Graduates, earning a week off and direct passage into the Grand Final.

OHA have taken the longer route but will enter the match with plenty of momentum following consecutive finals victories. The Ships began their campaign with a 3–0 win over University before recovering from an early deficit to defeat NWG 3–1 in the Preliminary Final.

Having finished third at the end of the regular season, OHA now stand just one victory away from the premiership. However, they face a DiamondBacks outfit packed with finals experience and chasing back-to-back titles.

(DiamondBacks downed NWG in a tight 2025 Decider)

The week off should leave DiamondBacks refreshed, while OHA will hope the momentum generated by two impressive knockout victories can carry them through one final challenge.

The sides met four times during the regular season. After a draw and a DiamondBacks victory in their opening two encounters, OHA won the two most recent meetings, 2–0 in Round 13 and 3–0 in Round 18, giving the Ships every reason to believe they can dethrone the defending champions.

While those results will provide OHA with confidence, star defender Georgie Carter knows they cannot afford to read too much into them.

“We don’t want to take too much away from the last two games against them, but obviously not conceding in either match is a good sign,” Carter said.

“We certainly stuck to our game plan and played the way we wanted to. We didn’t let them play the way they wanted to, and that’s what we’ll be looking to do again this week.”

(Georgie Carter has been a rock at the back for the Ships)

DiamondBacks star Phillida Bridley is expecting a frantic opening and believes her side must remain committed to the possession-based style that has served it so well.

“It’s anyone’s game, it’s finals hockey, so it’s going to be very frantic in the first quarter, but the girls are super keen to get the job done,” Bridley said.

“It will come down to who wants it more on the day and who can win every tackle.

“They’ve got some really good ball runners, so shutting them down early will be important. We don’t want to be drawn into the type of game they like to play. We play really strong possession hockey, so we want to stick to that and avoid being forced into playing their way.”

With OHA looking to impose their high-energy, direct approach and DiamondBacks determined to control the contest through possession, the battle to dictate the style and tempo of the match could go a long way towards deciding who lifts the premiership trophy. 

(Phillida Bridley was crowned the Premier League's Best and Fairest on Saturday night)

Both sides are stacked with talent across every line, and it starts at the back. Goalkeepers are so often the difference in tight contests, and both teams have been well served by Jessica Stevens and Bobbie Hamlett throughout the season. With goals likely to be at a premium on Saturday, their ability to produce a decisive save at a key moment could prove paramount. 

Stevens kept a clean sheet in DiamondBacks’ Semi-Final victory over NWG, while Hamlett shut the door on any hopes of a Bulldogs comeback in the Preliminary Final. Her crucial kick save in the opening moments of the third quarter preserved OHA’s lead and helped the Ships maintain control of the contest.

At the back, both teams are rock solid, with the Snakes, led by their player/coach Nicole Geeves, and the likes of Ellie McDonald conceding just 17 times in 21 games this year and shutting out the Bulldogs in their Semi Final. 

The Ships’ defensive unit is led by the steady Carter, whose outstanding season has earned her a place in the Tassie Tigers squad. Taylor Brooks remains another key influence and is so often the launch pad for OHA’s attacking movements. She is one of the stars of the competition, able to progress the ball upfield, and she produced another outstanding season for her side, and has played a major role in both her side's finals victories so far.

(Taylor Brooks has been instrumental for her side in 2026.)

OHA also have plenty of firepower further up the field. Julia Gunn has led the way with 18 goals, while Zayna Jackson enters the decider as one of the competition’s most in-form players after her brace helped fire the Ships into the Grand Final.

McLeod adds another major threat, having led the competition’s scoring before departing for the Masters World Cup.

The DiamondBacks attack is spearheaded by competition best and fairest winner Bridley. The league’s leading goalscorer has gone from strength to strength this year following her standout 2025 Hockey One campaign.

She is one of several Tigers in the DiamondBacks outfit, with influential midfielder Madi Clark and rising defensive star Stella Pritchard also adding some additional class.  

The DiamondBacks have another ace that they can call upon in the form 2025 best and fairest winner Sophie Kruimink. One of the league’s most skilful players, her ability to break lines and drive the play will be crucial to creating opportunities for the defending champions. She was the best on ground in her side’s triumph last year, underlining her credentials as a big game player.

(Sophie Kruimink was Best on Ground in the 2025 Grand Final and Looms as a key player in 2026.) 

Both sides also possess experienced leaders capable of thriving on the Grand Final stage. Nicole Geeves, Emily Donovan and Belinda Page bring a wealth of big-game experience to DiamondBacks and still play key roles in their side.

Sarah McCambridge and Sofie McLeod provide the same assured presence for OHA and likewise remain instrumental in their side's setup.

The stage is set for a thrilling decider; DiamondBacks enter the final with the confidence of a side that has been here and done it before, boasting the experience needed to handle the pressure of Grand Final day. Yet OHA have emerged as something of a bogey side for the reigning premiers, winning their past two meetings without conceding. It has all the making of a finals classic, with everything on the line, who will stand up, and deliver on the biggest stage?