Trailing by 28 points in the Riddell League qualifying final at half-time and struggling, Wallan staged a remarkable second-half comeback to win by 13 points on Saturday.
It’s often said talented big men can make a real difference in football – and other sports as well – and now everyone knows why the Magpies recruited the oldest player on the field for the 2024 season.
Chris Stewart, a 37-year-old ruckman, is very tall and strong, and he is a legendary footballer with 11 premierships on his record.
He’s an assistant coach to Daniel Nolan (interleague coach) and has fitted in perfectly. So much so, he’s rated a real chance in the 2024 Bowen Medal voting.
With reigning premier Diggers Rest slamming on six unanswered second-term goals in the match at Romsey, something had to happen.
Long-time Wallan sporting identity Robbie Fowler is a good judge, and he was not surprised at Stewart’s second-half influence.
Stewart went forward, where he’s very hard to match, producing four second-half goals and finishing up best afield.
The other move that really worked, in Fowler’s view, was sending ex-AFL player Jake Carlisle to centre half back. Carlisle is another very big man, recruited mid-season.
The talented Magpies cut the deficit to 11 points as Diggers Rest could not replicate its second-term dominance.
A turning point came very early in the last quarter, with one of Diggers Rest’s best players, Mitch Day, being sent from the field for an indiscretion.
Being a player short, the front runners never recovered, and were restricted to just three points as the Magpies surged all over the ground.
Final scores were 12.8 (80) to 9.13 (67).
Wallan has promised much in past seasons, and has found Diggers Rest something of a nemesis. It was one-all in home and away this season.
Jaidyn Caruna, Marcus Calvaresi, coach-to-be Shaun Campbell and Campbell Wearne were good for ‘Diggers’.
Young gun Brodie Gilchrist, Reuben Rode, Patrick Mahoney and Michael Mannix were also prominent for the Magpies.
Now Diggers Rest face the task of trying to combat a well-organised Macedon in the “last chance” semi-final at Woodend this Sunday.
And Wallan will see if there is a way to overcome the powerful Riddell lineup at Romsey on Saturday.
