LGSHA 2025: Spencer Park men seek fourth flag in a row as Mt Barker’s women look to clinch first premiership

Spencer Park and Manypeaks will renew their rivalry when they meet in the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association Retravision men’s A-grade grand final on Saturday. Meanwhile, in the women’s showpiece clash, Mt Barker will be chasing a maiden premiership as they tackle perennial champions North Albany in what promises to be a blockbuster day of hockey at the Albany turf. In the men’s match, Manypeaks will be missing some firepower in the shape of Ryan Johnson and Jesse Carman, who are both away. But the hope for coach Ashton Mills is that his side can play to their full potential against Park, who are chasing a fourth flag on the trot. “It’s a matter of whether we can put it all together on the day,” said Mills. “I’ve felt all year that we have been the team to beat but we just haven’t always done it when it counted. “We have had close games with them all season, but they are tough to score goals against.” Park will be hoping their LGSHA fairest and best David Wareham flies back from Perth on time but expect to be at full strength. Defender Darren Parkes echoed Mills in expecting a close encounter. “It’s always a challenge against them; they are a talented team who can adapt to different styles of play,” he said. Although their men won flags in 2017 and 2018, Mt Barker’s women have never claimed title glory in A-grade. However, they will hope their blend of youth and experience can see them through – even though Redbacks have had the edge in their meetings during the regular season. Mt Barker playmaker Renae Parsons said the league had been tightly contested between all four teams. “It went down to the last round, and we were lucky that the results went our way, so we ended up on top,” she said. “North are a good side, but we’ve had some really good tussles, and I think it’ll be an even contest.” A full-strength Mt Barker side, with Parsons, Clare King, Laura Carter and Caitlin Mead at full throttle will be a handful for Redbacks who may have to readjust their backline to cope with likely absentees Jessica Gatti and Georgie Powis. Redbacks’ Beck Gallimore is expecting a tough game as her side seek a fifth premiership in six years, having won four in a row before losing out to Spencer Park last year. “We have had some amazing games against Mt Barker and there’s mostly only been a goal in it each time,” she said. The women’s A-grade contest is at 2.15pm, with the men starting at 4pm. The B-grade women’s final between Spencer Park’s Light and Dark is at 12.30pm and the B-grade men’s final between Manypeaks B and Griffins B is at 6pm.