2025 GFFL Preliminary Final Preview at Cummins

Finals football heats up this weekend as the 2025 Great Flinders Football League Preliminary Finals take centre stage at Cummins, hosted by the Cummins Rambler Football Club. With a Grand Final spot on the line in every grade, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Four cracking games are scheduled, beginning with the Senior Colts at 10am and building to the blockbuster A Grade clash between the Elliston Districts Roosters and the Lock Roos at 2.40pm.

This stage of the season is unforgiving — win and you go on, lose and the season ends. Expect ferocious contests across the board as teams fight to keep their premiership dreams alive.

Senior Colts – 10.00am

Cummins Kapinnie Cougars vs Elliston Districts Roosters

The day begins with a mouth-watering Senior Colts clash between the Cougars and the Roosters. Both sides have had excellent seasons, but it’s Elliston Districts who hold the head-to-head edge.

• Round 4: ED 12.11 (83) def CK 7.9 (51)

• Round 11: ED 7.10 (52) def CK 6.8 (44)

The Roosters’ ability to finish off games has been their strength this season, and they’ve shown a knack for punishing turnovers and capitalising inside 50. The Cougars, however, pushed them all the way in their most recent meeting, going down by just eight points in Round 11. That narrow margin will give Cummins Kapinnie confidence that they can turn the tables with everything on the line.

For the Cougars, midfield pressure will be crucial. If they can restrict Elliston’s run and avoid the costly lapses that hurt them in previous encounters, they’re more than capable of causing an upset. The Roosters will lean on their strong ball movement and balanced forward line to try and secure a Grand Final berth.

This looks like a tight contest in the making — expect a bruising, fast-paced clash to start the day.

Mini Colts – 11.40am

Elliston Districts Roosters vs Cummins Rambler Magpies

The Mini Colts Preliminary Final sees the Roosters take on the Magpies in what looms as a fascinating battle of styles. Ramblers have been the stronger side in both meetings this year:

• Round 6: CR 6.9 (45) def ED 4.0 (24)

• Round 13: CR 4.4 (28) def ED 0.3 (3)

Ramblers’ fast, attacking style has been their trademark, moving the ball quickly and applying scoreboard pressure whenever they gain momentum. Elliston Districts, meanwhile, will be desperate to flip the script and bring the heat around the contest. Their best chance lies in disrupting the Magpies’ flow and turning it into a scrappy, contested battle.

Finals footy often rewards the team that can adapt. Ramblers know how to score against the Roosters, but they’ll need to guard against complacency and maintain their pressure for four quarters. Elliston Districts, despite struggling to impact on the scoreboard in Round 13, will draw on their fighting spirit and resilience to lift on the big stage.

It’s a classic clash: a team with recent dominance against a side with nothing to lose. The Magpies will enter as favourites, but the Roosters can’t be discounted with a Grand Final place on the line.

B Grade – 12.45pm

United Yeelanna Eagles vs Cummins Rambler Magpies

The B Grade Preliminary Final promises plenty of intrigue as the experienced United Yeelanna Eagles take on a resilient Cummins Rambler outfit. Their two clashes this season were close and hard-fought:

• Round 3: CR 9.14 (68) def UY 3.3 (21)

• Round 10: CR 4.7 (31) def UY 4.2 (26)

Those results highlight the Magpies’ ability to win tight contests against Yeelanna, but also the Eagles’ knack for keeping games within reach. Expect another fierce encounter between two evenly matched sides.

Ramblers thrive when their midfield can win clearances and lock the ball in their half, using their physical edge to grind out wins. Yeelanna, however, will look to spread the ground and move the ball quickly to avoid being caught in a slog. Finals intensity always tests depth, and both clubs will be searching for unsung heroes to step up and make an impact.

The pressure of Preliminary Final football will bring out the best in these teams. Ramblers hold the psychological edge from two wins, but Yeelanna have shown resilience all season and won’t go down without a fight.

A Grade – 2.40pm

Elliston Districts Roosters vs Lock Roos

The headline act of the day is a blockbuster A Grade Preliminary Final between Elliston Districts and Lock. It’s a rivalry where Lock have the edge with Elliston Districts last beating Lock on 24th June 2023 when the now AFL-listed Jacob Newton dominated proceedings, and recent results suggest Lock enter as heavy favourites.

• Round 7: Lock 10.10 (70) def ED 7.2 (44)

• Round 14: Lock 25.13 (163) def ED 0.2 (2)

Those results paint a clear picture: Lock has had Elliston’s measure this season, particularly in the most recent clash where the Roos flexed their muscle in a 161-point demolition. The Roosters will need a monumental turnaround to challenge here, but finals football can produce the unexpected.

Lock have been a powerhouse in 2025, combining a strong defensive system with explosive ball movement. Their forward line is firing, and their midfield depth has been unmatched. The Roosters, by contrast, will look to build on their 1st Semi Final win and aim to use the spirit that carried them into the top four.

For Elliston Districts, the focus must be on contested pressure. If they can slow Lock down, win the ball at stoppages, and create repeat inside-50s, they’ll give themselves a chance. The Roos, however, will be determined to secure back-to-back Grand Final appearances and book a rematch with United Yeelanna in what would be another epic chapter in their rivalry.

The big question is whether Elliston Districts can rise to the challenge after such a tough run-in, or if Lock’s form and firepower will simply prove too much.

Final Word

Preliminary Final day is always one of the most dramatic on the GFFL calendar. With everything to play for, expect tight battles, emotional highs and lows, and unforgettable moments across all four grades.

• The Senior Colts promises a fierce clash as Cummins Kapinnie aim to overturn the Roosters’ season dominance.

• The Mini Colts pits Ramblers’ attacking flair against Elliston Districts’s determination.

• The B Grade is set for another grind between Ramblers and Yeelanna.

• And in the A Grade, the Roosters face a mammoth challenge to stop the rampaging Lock Roos.

Cummins will be buzzing with footy fever on Saturday, and the Cummins Rambler Football Club will provide the perfect backdrop for a day of high-stakes action. Grand Final places are on the line — and by Saturday evening, we’ll know who’s earned the right to keep their season alive.