3 teams remain in each grade. Plenty to play for this weekend, with the winners going straight through to the Grand Final.
We preview all the action below:
10:00am – Colts
Tumby Bay vs United Yeelanna
The Blues will go into this game as hot favourites after an undefeated minor round. The loser will get a second chance in the preliminary final next weekend against a Ramblers side who played some great team football to defeat Eyre United last weekend.
Previous contests between the two sides have been 10+ goal blowouts, however as shown last weekend, finals is a completely different ball game.
Both sides boast plenty of junior talent who have played senior football and represented Great Flinders.
If the Eagles are to be competitive they must keep a close eye on Henry Challinger who has played some superb football not only in colts but also in A Grade. Ollie Juett has been a goalkicking machine for the Blues, finishing with 79 goals throughout the minor round.
In the Eagles nest, Lachlan Hancock has had an extremely consistent year, finishing in the best players in 11 out of the 14 games. The X Factor of Archer Haylock and the classy ball skills of Brodie Cash will be crucial throughout the game.
United Yeelanna will battle hard but Tumby Bay look to have too much depth throughout and should advance to the Grand Final.
11:45am – Mini Colts
Tumby Bay vs Ramblers
One of the fiercest rivalries in senior football is set to reignite in the mini colts 2nd Semi-Final this weekend.
Although the Blues have taken the chocolates during the year against the Magpies, both matches have been decided by under 8 points.
In the Tumby Bay camp they will be led by captains Dallas Robinson and Arthur Pucci, both consistent performers week in and week out whilst Jed Lodge has been a force up forward kicking 23 goals in the minor round.
Ramblers will look to the likes of Harry Nagel and Jobe Crettenden, both of whom kicked 10 goals each for the minor round.
This looks like it could go either way! Will we have another draw like the 2nd Semi Final of last year?
12:45pm – B Grade
Tumby Bay vs United Yeelanna
In what shapes up to be a preview of the A Grade game following, the Blues and the Eagles once again face off in the B Grade finals.
The Blues lead the head-to-head battle 2-1 during the minor round, however the Eagles managed an 8 point win in their encounter.
The midfield battle between Edmonds and Francis could go a long way in deciding the game with both players more than capable of changing a game within a quarter.
Tumby Bay will be looking for a big game from their key forward in Fillipo Fiore who once again topped the association goalkicking with a whopping 66 goals from only 10 games.
Up forward for the Eagles will be the speedy Luke Howie who can kick a winning score off his own boot.
Experienced campaigners in Calderwood, Fleming, Cave and Lebrun will be eyeing off another Grand Final for Tumby Bay, with all 4 able to play either end of the ground.
United Yeelanna will look to utilise their height around the ground with players such as Ridley, Jack Crettenden, Eatts and Nicholls.
This should be a close game between the two sides, with the loser having to face a dangerous Ramblers next weekend.
2:30pm – A Grade
United Yeelanna vs Tumby Bay
United Yeelanna
Ins - Zac Glover Outs - Brayden Martin
Tumby Bay
Ins - Mitch Lawrie, Matt Hartwig, Ezra Foster, Tom Kelly Outs - Wade Gerrie, Tyson Whitelaw + 2 others playing B Grade
Speed vs Experience.
What a game this one is shaping up to be between the two dominant sides of the Great Flinders A Grade competition.
The Eagles are undefeated this season as they chase an amazing 9th premiership in 11 years.
The Blues have challenged them in every single game despite not managing to scrape over the line.
Grant McLeod and Latrelle Sumner have been huge inclusions to the engine room of Tumby Bay, adding some serious speed around the ground with both players more than dangerous in front of goal.
The battle between Joe Walker and Matt Crettenden will be worth the price of entry alone, with Walker taking home the Roger Dunn Medal (Tumby Bay A Grade B&F) at their presentation night and Crettenden kicking 70 goals from only the 8 appearances.
Jaxon Norton has been a reliable finals player for a long time and will likely be up against the big body of Matt Hartwig for the Blues.
There's Great Flinders and Eyre Peninsula Representatives all over the field from both sides. With conditions looking perfect, it will be a fantastic and high quality game of football
The ruck dual of Stephen Conlan vs Tom and Jack McDonald will be vital in giving their midfielders first use of the ball. Both teams are renowned for their ability to distribute effectively once in possession, led by former Mail Medallists in Mitch Lawrie and Xavier Watson.
Expect United Yeelanna to burst out of the blocks as they usually do in finals but if Tumby Bay can get out in the open and utilise their leg speed, they’re more than a chance to take the game away from the Eagles.
As said all year, you simply can’t tip against the Eagles until they give you a reason not to.
