GFFL A Grade Round 13 Preview (2025)

Crunch Time: Just Two Rounds Left to Shape the Final Four

We’re down to the final fortnight of the 2025 Great Flinders Football League season — and the race for finals is the tight. Four teams are jostling for the final two spots in the top four, with just one point separating Elliston Districts (4th), Tumby Bay (5th), and Cummins Ramblers (6th). Every contest now carries massive implications — and Round 13 is shaping as a do-or-die weekend for several clubs.

Here’s what’s in store as we approach the sharp end of the season.

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Tumby Bay (5th – 10 points) vs Lock (2nd – 14 points) at Tumby Bay

This is it for Tumby Bay. With the club’s A Grade having the bye in Round 14, this is their final shot to break into the top four — and if they can’t get over Lock on Saturday, they’ll be watching the finals from the sidelines.

It would be a bitter pill for a proud club, especially given the outstanding form of their lower grades — with Tumby’s B Grade, Senior Colts and Mini Colts all sitting atop their respective ladders and shaping as genuine premiership favourites. A loss this weekend would mean the A Grade players will become their loudest supporters, willing their clubmates to September glory while their own campaign ends early.

Tumby’s run-and-gun style will need to be at its best against Lock’s physicality and structured ball movement. Playing at home gives them a spark, but it will take four quarters of precise, high-pressure footy to topple one of the competition’s most consistent sides.

Lock, meanwhile, are building nicely. After a long mid-season break, the Roos returned with a 45-point win over Cummins Ramblers and now look to solidify a top-two finish before their crucial Round 14 clash with Elliston Districts.

Tumby Bay

Ins: Brodie Higgins, Brodie Richter, Connor Newton

Outs: Jackson Murphy, Archer Trezise, Brayden Calderwood

Lock

Ins: Guy Morton, Jed Durdin, Fletcher Beard

Outs: Dusty Wheare, Doug Pearce, Kory Beard

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Elliston Districts (4th – 10 points) vs Cummins Ramblers (6th – 9 points) at Elliston

This clash might be the most significant of the round, with both sides locked in the mid-ladder finals fight. Just one point separates them, and with only two games remaining, it’s now or never.

Elliston Districts will be ruing missed opportunities from last week. They went toe-to-toe with United Yeelanna for much of the match, but inaccurate kicking after halftime proved costly — finishing with 2 goals and 7 behinds in the second half, compared to Yeelanna’s clean 7.3. The Roosters know their game style can trouble the best, but they must convert scoreboard pressure to stay in control.

Ramblers, on the other hand, are looking to recapture their Round 10 form, when they shocked the undefeated Eagles. After a bye and a tough loss to Lock last week, they’ll be desperate to bounce back. Their best is capable of winning anywhere — the challenge is producing it consistently. Expect a contested, gritty battle with finals intensity.

Elliston Districts 

Ins: Brandon Rosalia, Cooper Van Doorn, Boyd McCurry

Outs: Jaxon Bennett, Brody Kenny, Lachlan Forward

Cummins Ramblers

Ins: Ethan Parsons, Joel Modra

Outs: Phoenix Milburn, Bailey Doolan

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United Yeelanna (1st – 18 points) vs Eyre United (7th – 0 points) at Karkoo

The ladder leaders return to their Karkoo stronghold this week to take on bottom-placed Eyre United, who are still searching for their first win of the season. While the result may seem predictable on paper, there’s still plenty at stake for both clubs.

For United Yeelanna, the aim is simple: maintain top spot and fine-tune their system ahead of another finals campaign. They responded in style last week after their Round 10 stumble, overcoming early challenges against Elliston Districts to win comfortably in the end. The Eagles’ discipline, depth and fitness remain their edge.

Eyre United continue to show heart and resilience, particularly in patches where they control momentum and pressure the opposition. Though they’re yet to break through for a win, they’ll aim to finish the year with pride and promise — and test themselves against the best.

United Yeelanna 

Ins: Stephen Crettenden, Bryce Breed

Outs: Aaron Lawrie, Alex Glover

Eyre United

Ins: Brody Stratford, Declan Phillis, Malachi Fatchen, Winston Telfer

Outs: Riley Pugsley, Ethan Heath, Cohen Lawrie, Ryan White

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Finals Are Coming…

With just two rounds left, the equation is clear — win, and you stay alive. The pressure is immense, the ladder is tight, and the drama is only just beginning. For fans, this is winter footy at its best — fierce, desperate, and unpredictable.

See you at the footy — there’s plenty on the line!