On May 25, 2023 premiers Diggers Rest beat Riddell by eight points. Fast forward to Saturday at Bomberland for one of the most astonishing turnarounds in Riddell League history.
An absolutely dominant Riddell threw aside a couple of below average performances against Woodend-Hesket and Macedon and absolutely slaughtered a shell shocked Diggers Rest.
Final scores: Riddell 14.10 (94) d Diggers Rest 0.3 (3).
Riddell coach Aaron Bray has been waiting for his side to produce its best football, but even the staunchest of Bomber fans could not have imagined such a one-sided contest.
Obviously fired up for a big performance, the Bombers ignored the underfoot conditions after substantial rain and put the opposition to the sword. Their teamwork was hard to fault.
In one absolutely brilliant performance, the Bombers have rocketed into hot favouritism for the 2024 flag.
Bray has plenty of very experienced players at his disposal, including the league’s leading goalkicker Dean Galea.
Adding Matthew Darby (ex-Avondale Heights captain) to the list mid-season was more than vindicated on Saturday.
The match was all over at half-time, with Riddell leading 6.10 to 0.2, with players applauded from the ground.
Has a match between the top two sides ever produced a result like this? I doubt it.
Those at the ground found it hard to believe as Diggers Rest failed to fire in the second half.
Surprisingly, Riddell Reserves had earlier also beaten the Burras 3.8 to 0.0.
There were even phone calls made questioning if the final score was correct.
Some footy followers thought there must have been an extraordinary incident involving scores being ‘wiped’ because the Burras had excess players on the ground! Wrong.
It was hard to determine who was Riddell’s best player, but the trio of Ben Sonoghan, Darby and the irrepressible Dylan Tarczon must have been in the running.
Riddell netballers also had a good day on the court.
Experienced Diggers Rest coach Jamie Lobb won’t be hitting the panic button, knowing his side will be in the finals and has plenty of depth when all players are available.
This Saturday, Riddell goes to Melton Centrals, and Diggers Rest welcomes Kyneton coming off the bye. The Tigers are playing at Diggers Rest for the first time.
Fifth-placed Macedon hoped to fully extend Wallan, but the Magpies proved too strong.
The visitors led by 19 points at half-time, then kept the Cats to four points in the second half.
Wallan won 9.11 to 3.7, and anticipate strong showings with a bye this weekend, then very winnable matches against Melton Centrals, Lancefield and Kyneton leading into the finals.
Macedon coach Al Meldrum is keen to ensure his side ends up in fifth spot, having to play Lancefield, Woodend-Hesket, Melton Centrals and Romsey over the next four weekends.
Romsey came to Lancefield and in tough conditions defeated their old opponents 9.8 to 4.5.
Any chance of an upset vanished when the Redbacks took control in the third quarter.
This Saturday, fourth-placed Romsey face a danger game at home to a steadily improving Woodend-Hesket.
The Hawks were pleased to account for Melton Centrals 7.7 to 4.8 at Gilbert Gordon Reserve.
Once again Daniel Toman won plenty of possessions, and must be a chance to repeat his 2023 Bowen Medal success.
