The Demons proved too strong for the Lions, winning by 33-points at the Adelaide Oval. Horsham's Jarrod Berry featured for the lions and contributed with 11 disposals and a goal, in a side that was best served by Lachie Neale who collected a mammoth 46-disposals.

For the Demons Max Gawn was dominant in the ruck, while the midfield duo of Clayton Oliver (33 disposals and a goal) and Christian Petracca (30 disposals and two goals) continued to dominate.

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In the other elimination final it was heartbreak for former Horsham Demon Jake Lloyd and the Sydney Swans, who went down by a solitary point to GWS in Tasmania. The Swans had their chances in front of goal to seal the game but were hurt by their inaccuracy.

The two-time Sydney best and fairest collected 21 disposals for the Swans, while the Giants' Toby Greene was at his damaging best with three goals.

Melbourne's preliminary final opponents will be determined by Friday's GWS Giants and Geelong semi-final, which is being held at Optus Stadium.

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GWS will be without star forward Toby Greene for that match after he received a three-week suspension for making contact with an umpire during their elimination.

Ultimately whoever wins the Cats versus Giants match will face a tough ask the week after, when they take on the team many believe to be the premiership favourites.

Berry's Lions will now face off with the Western Bulldogs at the weekend in Brisbane, for a place in the other preliminary final against Port Adelaide.

The Bulldogs are coming off a confidence-boosting 49-point elimination final win over Essendon and will by no means be an easy assignment for the Lions.

If Berry or McDonald's sides make it through to the grand final and either is named, they will be the first Wimmera exports to play in the AFL's showpiece event since Lloyd in 2016.

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