Last week at Bellbird Park, the under 14 and under 18 Strikers teams kicked off their semi finals.
With only nine players in the under 14s on the field and no reserves, the pressure was on as they took on Casey Cannons.

Casey made an early attempt to score, but Jacob Mock's solid defence kept them at bay.
Fuelled by the crowd's energy, the Strikers took control and played with heart.
By half time, they led 3-0 thanks to goals from Caleb Ballantyne, Zach Coster, and Josh Smorenburg. The break was a welcome relief for some tired legs.
In the second half, the Strikers dominated, much to the coaches' delight as the short corners strategy worked perfectly.
The game ended with an impressive 8-0 victory, with Flynn Furphy, Zach Coster, Josh Smorenburg, and Caleb Ballantyne adding to the scoreboard.
The Strikers will play the under 14s grand final in Melbourne this Friday night.
In the under 18s, at the hands of a powerful and talented Hawthorn Hockey Club, the West Gippsland Strikers were knocked out of the finals on Friday night at Bellbird Park by a score of 4-1.
This Hawthorn team was a vastly improved outfit from the one the Strikers beat on Hawthorn's home ground only six weeks ago in round nine.
The opponents scored three goals early in the first half and, despite the Strikers' best efforts, were able to coast to a fairly convincing victory.
It wasn't until later in the second half that the Strikers could hit the scoreboard, with Jordan Oellermann connecting from a short corner.
Jordan was once again amongst the Strikers' best until a leg injury late in the game brought him off the ground.
Amongst the many Strikers players contributing to the team effort one who particularly caught the eye was Marisah Mock, who was a solid force throughout the match in the centre of the midfield, time and again thwarting opponents' forward movements and delivering the ball to the advantage of teammates. She has been consistently a top-notch player for this team all season long.
While undoubtedly greatly disappointed with the result, the Strikers could hold their head up high for a well fought out match.
They caught an outfit at the absolute top of their game, and this reporter predicts that if Hawthorn can replicate this performance next week that they will upset the league-leading Southern United Red team in the grand final.
The under 18 Strikers team has represented West Gippsland exceedingly well throughout the whole season, and the region is very proud of them.
The club offered a thank you to coach Troy Stephens and all 16 players who pulled on a jersey to represent their country competition against the best the city comps could offer up.
And it took those comps their very best to defeat the fighting Strikers of 2024. Go green and black
Strikers men played top team St Kilda Powerhouse in their first round of the finals and lost 3-1.
They will now play East Gippsland in a do or die semi final. If they win they will get to seek their revenge against St Kilda in the grand final.
West Gippsland Hockey Association results.
Under 12s
Aztecs 4 defeated Warriors 2.
Goal Scorers Aztecs: Tyler Boltong 2, Alexis Burke and Wyatt Cobbledick.
Goal Scorers Warriors: Oliver Fallon and Tayte Minichiello.
Drouids 5 defeated Gulls 1.
Goal Scorers Drouids: William Ronalds 3, Isla Ronalds and Bethany Maskell.
Goal Scorers Gulls: Harrison Prigg.
Under 15s
Aztecs 6 defeated Warriors 1.
Goal Scorers Aztecs: Bowen McMaster, Ronan North 2, Vanessa McDonald and Deakin Boltong.
Goal Scorers Warriors: Zach Coster.
Gulls 2 drew with Drouids 2.
Goal Scorers Drouids: Eli Rumble and Elisha Maskell Goal Scorers Gulls: James Duiker.
Under 18s
Warriors 12 defeated Aztecs 2.
Goal Scorers Warriors: Hamish Zurrer 6, Issac Graziotin and Harry Coster 2, Lachlan Buchanan and Josiah Wells.
Goal Scorers Aztecs: Cailean Thomas.
Gulls 10 defeated Drouids 9.
Goal Scorers Gulls: Talitha Graziotin 7, Marisah Mock 2, Will Brown.
Goal Scorers Drouids: Flynn Furphy 4, Leith Metcalf 3, Caleb Van Der Marel 2.
Women
Aztecs 12 defeated Warriors 6.
Goal Scorers Aztecs: Kara North 5, Eve Thorpe, Monique McAskill 3 and Esther Clark.
Goal Scorers Warriors: Marisah Mock 4, Louise Higgins and Kylie Crawford.
Drouids 11 defeated Gulls 5.
Goal Scorers Drouids: Chloe Maskell 4, Belinda Coulton 3, Hannah Van Breugel 2, Stephanie Selvaraj and Justine Gooding.
Goal Scorers Gulls: Regina Brown 3, Libby Haynes and Hannah Spragg.
Men
Warriors 5 defeated Aztecs 3
Goal Scorers Warriors: Hamish Zurrer 2, Zach Coster, Scott Marks, Chloe Maskell.
Goal Scorers Aztecs: Brendan North 2, Kara North.
Drouids 5 defeated Gulls 2.
Goal Scorers Drouids: Seth Rumble, Alec Zurrer 2, Eli Rumble Goal Scorers Gulls: Joshua Graziotin, Samuel Graziotin.