Defending premiers Wombats will face United, but only after surviving a spirited Wodonga 3-2.

Dogs key Hugh Cullen, recently selected in the Australian Country team to travel to Fiji for the Oceania Cup, was a major casualty, with an MRI today to determine the extent of damage to his knee.

In the women’s fixture Norths and Magpies were forced into golden goal extra-time after last year’s runner-up Norths squandered a 2-0 lead.

“I said to the girls there is no holding back now — we had the ball and just went straight forward, the chance fell our way and we scored after just 1½ minutes,” Norths captain Nan Latta said.

“We’ve been the second best team all year — capable of amazing hockey at times and abysmal at other times.

“Last year we were favourites, but Falcons have been the best team this year.

“They have Jess Madden and Kate Bardy who set up the play all day.

“They are physically tough and can be a little intimidating for some of our younger players.

“We’ll try a few things in the grand final and try to score early and see whether we can pressure them into mistakes.”

Wombats’ Pete Barber and United’s James Foster are set to travel back from work in Sydney for the men’s grand final.

Both moved after starting the year as coaches of their respective teams.

Barber said it was a huge effort for Wombats just to make it after losing so many from last year’s premiership team.

“I’ve only come back for the finals — the boys have done it themselves without five of the players in last year’s decider,” he said.

“Players like Zac Craich have just come on in leaps and bounds — he was a fringe A grader last year but has dominated games this season.

“The score was 3-2 our way on Sunday when Hugh Cullen hurt his knee with 25 minutes to go, and that is the way it stayed.

“United have been good all year, but it was the same story last year and we won the game that mattered.”