All conquering Lockleys are straight through to the grand final. They wait this week while Kenilworth and Colonel Light Gardens do battle to see who earns the right to face the Demons in the premiership decider
By Jacob Matheson

Second Semi Final
Lockleys versus Kenilworth

Lockleys welcomed Kenilworth to Lockleys Oval on Saturday afternoon in a game that would see the winner book a spot into the Grand Final. It was a wet and windy day, making the conditions tough as both teams struggled to get going early on. The Demons, with the aid of the breeze adapted the quickest and where able to etch out a 16 point quarter time lead. Their lead could have easily been greater, as they missed a number of opportunities as they only manage 3 goals from 10 scoring shots. In the second quarter Kenilworth kicked back as they managing to hold the Demons goalless, whilst kicking five goals of their own. Luke Wilson coming off a season high nine goals last week was again looking dangerous up forward, kicking three first half goals to give the Kookaburras a 13 point lead at the main break. Whatever the coach said to the Demons at half time worked, as the 13 point margin was quickly erased as the ‘premiership quarter’ got underway. The home side found another gear with Alexander Stidiford and Hayden Martinello winning plenty of the football as the Demons ran riot kicking seven goals to two and setting up a 20 point lead at the final break. Kenilworth would be coming home with a slight breeze and would still fancied their chances heading to the last quarter. However, Lockleys had other ideas as they kicked a further five goals on their way to a 15.14 104 to 10.9 69 victory and book themselves a spot in the Grand Final. After a slow start, where they could only manage three goals in the first half, the Demons looked irresistible in the second half as they were able to take control of the game kicking 12 goals to 4. Simon Ascoli and Liam Narcys were superb in front of goal, combining for 7 of Lockleys 15 goals on the day. Along with Stidiford and Martinello, Ryan Langcake had his best game of the season for the Demons. For the Kookaburras, Wilson continued his impressive form, finishing with four goals and was well supported by Jordan Wilson-King, who booted 3 goals of his own in the defeat. Samuel Scott and Nicholas Chesser again lead the way for Kenilworth as they both refused to give in as Lockleys got on top in the second half. Lockleys now get a week’s rest, while Kenilworth will play host Colonel Light Gardens in next weekends Preliminary Final.
    

First Semi Final
Salisbury versus Colonel Light Gardens

Colonel Light Gardens welcomed in-form Salisbury to StreetFleet Park on Saturday afternoon in the First Semi Final. The Lions, coming off of a 44-point defeat to Kenilworth in the Qualifying Final were looking to get back into the win column in front of their home fans. Whilst Salisbury had been in sensational form of late capped off with a 77 point victory in last week’s Elimination Final over Pooraka and entered the game full of confidence. In the end it would be Colonel Light Gardens coming away with a 10.13 73 to 7.7 49 win and a spot in next weekend’s Preliminary Final against Kenilworth. The victory came off the back of a big second quarter by the Lions. After a dour opening stanza that saw CLG take a 14 point buffer to the first change. The home side found a spark in the second quarter kicking five goals to one and set up a 40 point half time lead that the Magpies would never recover from. The Lions were in control with Alex Brown and Samuel George leading the way. To the Magpies credit they did come out after the main break with a new sense of purpose. Jack Banwell and Jack Howden got the visitors going as they held the hosts goalless in the third term, while managing three goals of their own to reduce the margin back to 23 points with one quarter left to play. However, that would be as close as the ‘Pies would get as Colonel Light Gardens and Salisbury traded goals in the final term, allowing the host to run out winners by 24 points. Bryce Smith was again influential up forward kicking three goals to back up his seven against Kenilworth last week. Brown and George were well supported by James Conlon who is starting to show his early season form again. Mitchell Slater (2 goals), along with Banwell and Howden gave their all for the Magpies. The loss ends what was has been a very exciting 2020 for Salisbury, who after losing their opening two games have played an exciting brand of football that should see them well placed to challenge the likes of Lockleys and Kenilworth in 2021. For the victors they get another crack at Kenilworth for chance to play Lockleys in Grand Final.


Finals Week 3

Preliminary Final
Colonel Light Gardens versus Kenilworth

Colonel Light Gardens will make one of the shortest road trips in the SAAFL as they travel the five minutes down the road to Simonds Park on Saturday afternoon to take on Kenilworth in the Preliminary Final. When these two teams meet in the Qualifying Final at the same location only two weeks ago it was Kenilworth who were victorious, winning by 44 points. For the winner a date with Lockleys and a spot in the Grand Final awaits, whilst for the loser it will be a matter of what could have been, as they can start planning for the end of season footy trip. The Lions are yet to beat the Kookaburras this season having lost both games by over seven goals. If the Lions want to avenge these results, they will need to find a way to stop Luke Wilson who has kicked 13 goals for Kenilworth across the two games including nine in the Qualifying Final whilst Trent Grosser has also created headaches for the Lions with six goals from the two games. Kenilworth will need to be weary of Colonel Light Garden’s Bryce Smith. Smith kicked 7 goals in the Qualifying Final and continued his good form kicking another three against Salisbury. The Kookaburra’s Nicholas Chesser has been in outstanding form over the last month whilst the Lions’ Nathan Studham has been in the thick of it week in week out. Whichever one of these two men comes out on top could well determine who wins this game. Kenilworth would be disappointed with their second half against Lockleys and will be desperate for an opportunity to set up a third meeting in five weeks with the Demons. CLG would have some confidence of the back of last week’s win, in which they played some of their most exciting footy for season in the second quarter. They will need to play with some dare if they hope to knock off the Kookaburras and advance. Will it be a matter of third time lucky for the Lions or will Kenilworth make it a hattrick, whatever the result you can expect this to be an intense tight contest that could go either way. 

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