Bill West
Riddell took out the 2022 football premiership in comprehensive style on Sunday, fighting back from a 28-point first term deficit to overhaul Diggers Rest, and finishing with a rollicking eight goals in the last term to trigger ecstatic celebrations.
Entering time-on in the last term, Riddell led by eight goals, but three very late majors – the only ones all game at the northern end of the Romsey ground – reduced the winning margin to five goal.
With a very important last home and away round elevation to top of the ladder, the versatile and talented Bombers initially won the second semi-final against a fancied Wallan lineup by three goals after a memorable 10-goal second term burst, then produced the goods again in the grand final.
The ground was in good condition despite heavy rain earlier in the week, and a very large grand final day crowd was in attendance.
“We’ve picked the best team we can,” quietly confident coach Justin Belleville revealed before the match when speaking at the official luncheon where football celebrity broadcaster Brian Taylor was compere.
Riddell inclusions included Riley Paterson, Lucas Shaw and full forward Tim Walsh, who had been out for weeks after requiring surgery.
Diggers Rest skipper Cole Laurie won the toss, and elected to kick with the advantage of a strong, swirly wind.
The Burras controlled much of the early play, and Riddell spent time turning the ball over; the coach provided some home truths at quarter-time and the whole on-field scenario changed.
Dylan Tarczan took a strong mark and goaled, another came from a 50-metre penalty, and the Bombers used space and pace to advantage.
“We’ve got ‘em,” one confident player told a cavalcade of Bomber supporters as the side hit the front.
A lead of two goals at the long break was a confidence builder for Riddell, and the Burras were unable to repeat their first term dominance in the vital third quarter despite keeping Riddell to two points.
Riddell players ran and worked hard, defending strongly, and went into the last quarter just two points in arrears.
The inevitability of a Bomber victory loomed large, and there seemed to be nothing that Diggers Rest could do despite a couple of promising early forward forays.
Nathan Croft ran into an open goal, and two more majors followed as Riddell surged ahead and their supporters became more vocal.
Some brilliant passages of play occurred as the scoring was monopolised at one end of the ground for much of the term.
After the eighth unanswered goal, Diggers Rest finally broke the drought in time-on, and two more majors followed.
Many Riddell enthusiasts rushed onto the ground when the siren sounded, converging on the excited Bomber players, some of them young and on the way up, others with the type of experience needed.
“It’s been a fantastic year,” Belleville said at the after-game presentations, praising Riddell’s sponsors, supporters and families for their backing.
“Even at this level it’s tough,” he said.
Bombers’ captain and key ruckman Josh Grabham, formerly with Gisborne, was thrilled to lead a premiership side at the age of 23.
The Bombers’ coach said the club had been building towards what had been achieved and it had been “a complete team effort”.
Speedy Riddell winger Callum Williamson received the Doug McIntyre Medal for best afield.
In the earlier matches, Diggers Rest accounted for Wallan in a low-scoring game that produced just seven goals, and Wallan Under 19.5s proved superior to Riddell by five goals, reversing the second semi-final outcome.
