Orbost Hockey Club has its biggest day of the year coming up; this Saturday their under 14s side will contest the East Gippsland Hockey Association grand final at the WORLD precinct in Bairnsdale at 9.30am.
They will be trying to convert their 2026 minor premiership into ultimate glory, when they face off against Sale.
Having won 14 out of their 15 home-and-away fixtures this season, the Green and Gold triumphed over Sale in the qualifying final to book their spot in the final game of the year.
Now they will meet the same opponent in the season finale for the season’s biggest prize.
Although recent history would appear to be on Orbost’s side, they certainly can’t take Sale lightly as they are the only team to have beaten them in 2026, edging home in a seven-goal thriller back in July at WORLD precinct.
And as perhaps a grand final should, the matchup will also pit together the league’s highest scoring team (Orbost) against the side with the best defensive record (Sale), setting up what is sure to be another tightly-fought contest between two equally-matched outfits.
Orbost are also chasing their own piece of history, as it has been many years since one of the club’s teams tasted the ultimate victory, all the way back in 2009.
Since winning a pair of junior grade flags in that year, teams of Green and Gold youngsters have come up short on grand final day in each of 2011, 2013, 2019 (twice) and 2023.
Club officials hope that their turn will finally come this Saturday in Bairnsdale be a case of sixth-time lucky.
