Round 13 Preview

Finals spot still up for grabs
Yanac will host all nine round thirteen Wimmera hockey matches on lush green fields this Saturday.
With five home and away rounds to go teams will be starting to think about finals.
The women’s final four could come down to the last couple of rounds with Kaniva and Yanac competing for the fourth spot. They are only separated by goal difference at the moment with Yanac slightly ahead after they beat Kaniva when they played last week. Women’s teams will play each team once more in the final five rounds giving Yanac and Kaniva equal chance to get ahead on points, although Yanac has a six-goal advantage at this point.
The top four are currently Highlanders, Dimboola Women, Warrack Women and Yanac Women.
The men’s and junior ladders are not yet set but neither is likely to change. The top four men’s teams are currently Tigers, Hoops, Hurricanes and Kaniva Men, while the top four on the junior ladder are Kangaroos, Leopards, Warriors and Raiders.
Kaniva Women will have a tough time on Saturday against Highlanders, who will be disappointed to have had their winning streak ended last week. The side remains unbeaten, having won the first eleven matches this season before a draw with Dimboola Women in the last round.
Dimboola Women will be strengthened after that draw and will be starting to eye a spot in the final. They will be too strong for Thunderbirds, who have been struggling somewhat this season.
Yanac Women have won their last two games but will need to score early this week against Warrack Women if they want another win.
Tigers and Hoops will have a tough match, although Tigers usually have the edge, creating more scoring opportunities.
Dimboola Men will be spurred on after their first win last week and if they keep up their enthusiasm and level of skill they may be a hard match for Nhill Men.
The only possible change on the men’s ladder this week will be if Kaniva Men beat Hurricanes. This would mean a swap over for Kaniva to third and Hurricanes to fourth. Hurricanes suffered a loss to Dimboola last week, giving Dimboola their first win of the season, and might be looking to regain some form they showed the previous week when they beat second-placed Hoops.
Revengers would have to win at least three matches to get ahead of Raiders on the junior ladder for a spot in the finals and this is perhaps unlikely. They did well to claim a draw with second-placed Leopards last week, however, and would do well to keep up the form against Warriors this week.
Bombers play Raiders and although Raiders should have an edge, Bombers have been playing well, last week scoring three goals against Warriors despite ultimately losing the game.
Leopards should have a comfortable game against Kookaburras.
Kangaroos have the bye.
- Rachel Clark