Hills Football League (Division 2) - Week 2 Finals preview

Second Semi-Final (2.30pm Saturday 31 August @ Kangarilla Oval)

Kersbrook will be red-hot favourites to win their way through to a second consecutive Grand Final when they take on Gumeracha at Kangarilla Oval this Saturday in the second Semi-Final. The Brookers went through the minor round undefeated with an average winning margin of a whopping 86 points. Gumeracha finished the minor round strongly and continued their good form into the Qualifying Final last week where they upset the reigning premier Ironbank Cherry Gardens by 22 points at Kersbrook Oval. The teams met twice during the minor round with Kersbrook winning by 92 points in round four and by 52 points in round 13. The Magpies can take some heart from the round 13 clash as they only trailed by 10 points at half-time before being blown away after the long break. The Brookers have plenty of forward power with seven players kicking 20 goals or more this season, led by Charlie Graeber who took out the Division Two goal kicking award with 48 majors. Brendon Moon has kicked 39 goals for the Magpies this year and he’s been well supported by Ben Hanna with 28 goals and Sam Hanna with 27. Hard to go past Kersbrook in this one but it should be a cracker between the northern neighbours. My tip...Kersbrook by 27 points.

First Semi-Final (2.30pm Sunday 1 September @ Mount Pleasant)

Ironbank Cherry Gardens suffered a shock loss to Gumeracha in last week’s Qualifying Final and will need to bounce back against a buoyant Macclesfield to keep their dream of back-to-back flags alive. The Thunderers were brought undone by Gumeracha to the tune of 22 points last week with the Magpies kicking 20 goals for the afternoon. Meanwhile, Macclesfield prevailed in a seven-point Elimination Final thriller against Bridgewater-Callington and will be full of confidence heading into another cut-throat final. When the teams met back in round five, the Thunderers were on fire, winning by a massive 116 points with Jeremy Johncock bagging seven goals. It was a tighter affair at Maccy in round 14 with Ironbank Cherry Gardens prevailing by 27 points. Adam Shearwood was the star that day with six of the Thunderers 10 goals. It should be an intriguing affair but I expect Ironbank Cherry Gardens to keep their premiership dreams alive. My tip...Ironbank Cherry Gardens by 21 points.