Round 6, 2025 preview

Great Flinders Football League – A Grade Preview (Round 6 - 31 May, 2025)

Final Round Before Mortlock Shield Bye

This weekend marks the final round of action before the competition breaks for the Mortlock Shield, and with the ladder starting to take shape, every match looms as crucial. With bragging rights, form, and momentum on the line, all six teams will be desperate to enter the break with a win under their belts. Three intriguing match-ups headline the round, with the top four clash between Lock and Tumby Bay taking centre stage.

Lock (3rd) vs Tumby Bay (2nd) at Lock Oval

Perhaps the most anticipated clash of the round, Lock host Tumby Bay in a top-three blockbuster that could have major implications for finals positioning. Lock have enjoyed a strong opening half to the season, winning three of their four games and proving tough to beat on their home deck with the stingiest defence in the league. Their brand of open footy is perfectly suited to Lock Oval’s larger spaces, and they’ll be keen to impose themselves early.

Tumby Bay, meanwhile, come into the match as a side that has flown slightly under the radar despite sitting second on the ladder. Their balanced lineup, featuring class around the ball and speed on the outside, has made them a hard side to stop once they get rolling. With key midfielders like Lachy Gale and Tom McDonald in good touch, and a forward line capable of kicking big scores, the Blues will be confident travelling to Lock.

This one shapes as a finals-quality encounter, and the result could come down to who controls the midfield battle. Expect a tight contest with momentum swings – and don't be surprised if it's decided in the dying minutes.

Lock

Ins: Luke Durdin, Jed Durdin, Blaze Kay

Outs: Guy Morton, Ty George, Lachy Heath

Tumby Bay

Ins: Connor Newton, Mackenzie Best

Outs: Dylan Eatts, Nigel James

Cummins Ramblers (6th) vs Elliston Districts (4th) at Cummins

Ramblers find themselves in unfamiliar territory near the foot of the table with no wins to date, but a spirited effort last week showed they are not far away. Injuries and player availability have hurt the Magpies’ consistency, but they’ll be desperate to notch a win before the break and reset their season. Home ground advantage could play a key role as they look to recapture their trademark run-and-gun style.

Elliston Districts, on the other hand, have been one of the league’s more intriguing teams – dangerous on their day but still searching for consistency. Sitting 2–2 and currently fourth, a win here would consolidate their finals aspirations and keep them in striking distance of the top two. Look for veteran leaders like Tom Lee, Rhys Kelsh and Kody Rosalia and the athleticism of Mitchell Gum and Fraser Smith to play key roles.

Ramblers will need to be sharp defensively to curb Elliston’s ability to score quickly in bursts. If they can do that and get some scoreboard pressure of their own, this could be closer than the ladder positions suggest.

Cummins Rambler

Ins: Bailey Doolan, Darcy Claughton, George Pedler, Joel Modra

Outs: Jake Skinner, Oscar White, Billy Pilgrim, Jacob Parsons

Elliston Districts

Ins: Jaxon Bennett, Ross Bascomb, Josiah Coleman

Outs: Logan Elliott, Oska Richards, Yarni boy Cobby, Braydn King

Eyre United (7th) vs United Yeelanna (1st) at Ungarra

The task doesn’t get any tougher for Eyre United, who welcome a red-hot United Yeelanna side that has been the clear benchmark of the competition through five rounds. With gun players on every line and a system that just works, they’ve steamrolled most of their opposition so far in 2025.

For Eyre United, improvement remains the goal. While they’re still chasing their first win of the season, they’ve shown glimpses of competitiveness in patches and will be aiming to use this game to test themselves against the league’s best. Playing at Ungarra gives them a familiar environment to work with, and they’ll need to bring four quarters of intensity to stay in the contest.

Realistically, United Yeelanna will be expected to win comfortably – but for the Saints, it's about building resilience, sticking to structures, and taking positives into the second half of the season.

Eyre United

Ins: Jonno Forrest, Corey Waters, Brandon Waters

Outs: Robert Beenham, Lucas Arnsby, Aidan Sheehan

United Yeelanna

Ins: Matt Crettenden, Matt Dyer, Tom Davis

Outs: Archer Haylock, Zac Glover, Riley Doolan

As we head into the Mortlock Shield break, Round 6 is set to offer a snapshot of where clubs truly sit. Will Lock make a statement against Tumby Bay? Can Ramblers cause a minor upset at home? And how much damage will the Eagles inflict at Ungarra?

All will be revealed in what promises to be a telling weekend of Great Flinders footy.