Ironbank-Cherry Gardens are through to their third grand final in four years in the Hills Football League (HFL) Country Division following a dominant 93-point preliminary final demolition of reigning premier Gumeracha at Macclesfield Oval on Saturday. After finishing on top of the ladder, Ironbank-Cherry Gardens enjoyed the week off while Gumeracha lost their semi-final to Birdwood to set up this clash between the previous two years’ premiership clubs. Ironbank-Cherry Gardens held a slender six point lead at quarter time after kicking 2.7 (19) to 2.1 (13). The second quarter was all Thunderers as they kicked 6.6 to 1.0 to take a commanding 42-point lead into halftime. Gumeracha’s premiership defence was all but over and the Thunderers weren’t about to let up as they slammed on 11 goals to three in the second half to win 19.19 (133) to 6.4 (40). Josh Vandermeer (6), Jeremy Johncock (4), Todd Pfeiffer (2) and Elijah Ware (2) were the multiple goalkickers for Ironbank-Cherry Gardens. Vandermeer and Johncock have kicked an impressive 87 goals between them in just nine games this season. Joel van Paridon, Will Van Den Berg, Matthew Raitt, Henry Moss and Vandermeer were named best for the Thunderers. Charlie Graeber, Brendon Moon, Danny Leith, Daniel Wood and Braden Hutt were best for Gumeracha.

Birdwood have won their way through to their first grand final since 2011 with a 12.11 (83) to 10.13 (73) victory over Kangarilla at Birdwood Oval in the second preliminary final on Sunday. Both these sides missed out on finals action in 2019 so they’ve shown massive improvement in this truncated 2020 season. It was a very scrappy first term with no goals scored and Kangarilla leading 0.6 to 0.1 at the first change. Birdwood came out firing in the second quarter to kick seven goals to two to take a 26-point lead into halftime. A further four goals to two in the ‘premiership quarter’ took Birdwood's lead out to 40 points at the last change. Kangarilla would not lie down and kicked six goals to one in the final term to cut the margin back to 10 points at the final siren. Christian Elliott kicked three goals for the Roosters while Matthew Collie also kicked three majors for Kangarilla. Jed Russell, Riley Gooden, Fraser Gehrich, Scott Sullivan and Jake Maczkowiack were best for Birdwood. For Kangarilla, Michael Ross, Josh Albanese, Adrian Albanese, Aydan Bartlett and Brendan Hillier were their best players.

Grand Final fixtures (Saturday 19/9/20 @ Kersbrook Oval)

A Grade: Ironbank-Cherry Gardens v Birdwood (2.30pm)

B Grade: Birdwood v Bridgewater-Callington (12.30pm)

Junior Colts: Meadows v Ironbank-Cherry Gardens (10.55am)

Mini Colts: Birdwood v Mount Barker  (9.30am)