Fresh from a week off courtesy of their top of the ladder finish, the Bombers defeated the Grasshoppers by 46 points  – 20.16 (136) to 13.12 (90) – in the Heathcote District Football League second semi-final at Heathcote to book their grand final berth.

“When our pressure is up we are really hard to beat and today was one of our top games of the year,” Bombers coach Matt Hawken said.

“We had no passengers and were able to get the job done with our work-rate.

“We got beaten in the centre clearances in the first half, but gradually worked our way back into it in there in the second half, our backline was terrific, and our inside 50s going forward were really clean and we converted our chances.

“I was really happy with what the boys showed today against a Colbinabbin side that had come in with really good form.”

After holding an 11-point advantage at quarter-time, the Bombers kicked away in the middle two quarters when they added 11.8 to 6.3 to take a 46-point lead into the final term.

“It was really important to get that week off last week. We came out fresh and covered the ground really well all game,” Hawken said.

In his return to the side Brendan Hancock provided a strong target for the Bombers up forward to kick four goals, while the dangerous Matt Perri also kicked four.

Jake Truefeldt (three), Tim Lincoln (three), Adam Decicco (two) and Joel Helman (two) were also multiple goalkickers for the Bombers, whose grand final berth comes just three years after the club had finished on the bottom of the ladder.

The best for the Bombers were Jackson McEwen and Steve Pretty off half-back, Bart Walsh, who had an entertaining midfield duel with Russell Douglas, onballer Daniel Couwenberg, Hancock and forward/wingman Helman.

The Bombers – who joined the HDFL in 2010 - haven’t played in a grand final since 1995 in the former Northern Echuca Football League in what was the first year of the merger between Leitchville and Gunbower.

The defeat ended a five-game winning streak for Colbinabbin.

“We were outclassed today… Leitchville moved the ball quick and their pressure on us was really good,” Colbinabbin coach Phil Morgan said.

“The signs weren’t good from the outset. It didn’t matter what we tried to do, they had an answer for it.”

The Grasshoppers named Grant Weeks, who kicked four goals and spent time up the ground, onballer Russell Douglas, ruckman Hadleigh Sirett and Cory Jacobs their best players.

As well as Weeks’ four, Lochlan Sirett and Shane Murdoch kicked two goals each for Colbinabbin.

The Grasshoppers have an injury concern out of the game to backman Matt McEvoy (hamstring).