Riddell District Football Netball League
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Hawks in Grand Final blowout
Woodend-Hesket A-grade netballers continue to be the record setters, outclassing Wallan 59-34 in Saturday’s 2026 season grand final. The winning margin of 25 goals was by far the biggest in the five Riddell League grand finals played at Romsey. Premierships in the other four grades were all decided by single figure margins. Sunny conditions prevailed…
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Giants hang on to claim flag
Leading by 29 points at three-quarter-time in a low-scoring U19.5s football grand final, Gisborne Giants were fully extended by a desperate Woodend-Hesket on Saturday. The young Hawks, coached by Jeremey Pennefather, came from fourth on the ladder to challenge the ladder leaders, who only lost one match in the home and away season — going…
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Carlisle will miss the GF
The saga of Wallan star Jake Carlisle jumping the fence early in the Riddell League semi-final against Kyneton resulted in a third tribunal hearing last night. The final outcome was that the former Essendon and St Kilda player was ‘outed’ for two weeks on the misconduct charge, which became the subject of an RDFNL appeal…
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Riddell bombs out of premiership race
Football premiers in 2024 and 2025, Riddell squandered a golden opportunity to win their way into the 2026 grand final when they could only manage a meagre four points against Wallan in the last quarter of the preliminary final on Saturday. At three-quarter-time, there were two goals the difference in an absorbing contest at Romsey,…
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Agonising finish — Tigers bow out
Oh, so close. Kyneton senior footballers bowed out of the 2026 Riddell League finals in a desperate last term finish that saw Wallan snatch victory by three points on Sunday. The Tigers put themselves in a great position to advance to the preliminary final when they opened up a lead of 21 points with a…
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Hawks into grand final
Chasing four premierships in succession, Woodend-Hesket A-grade netballers reached the RDFNL grand final by defeating Riddell 55-41 in Saturday’s semi-final. The Ty Coppinger-coached Hawks had to work hard to overcome the Bombers, drawing away in the last quarter in the clash between these two keen rivals at Kyneton Showgrounds. With an array of quality young…
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Dynamic Diggers, Kyneton run hot
There was plenty of sustained action as the Riddell League’s 2026 football finals series kicked off with qualifying and elimination finals at the weekend. On the football field, Diggers Rest jumped back into outright flag favouritism by outclassing ladder leader Wallan by 49 points on Saturday, and sixth-placed Kyneton turned in its best all-round team…
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Wonder women claim third flag
Macedon women proved why they were overwhelming favourites for the Riddell League’s 2026 women’s football premiership with a 76-point victory over Lancefield in the grand final late on Saturday afternoon. The third successive premiership for the Cats was widely expected, and the joy and jubilation from players and supporters after the final siren and the…
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Unpredictable final round
Round 18 football in the Riddell League produced its share of surprises on Saturday. With an eye on the finals, some clubs rested players, and others closely watched fitness levels. The big surprise was the senior goalkicking award, with Wallan’s versatile Lachlan Smart coming from the clouds to kick 10 goals and tip out favourite…
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Cats clinch third spot
Systematic and methodical, Macedon senior footballers wrapped up third spot on the Riddell League ladder by defeating fifth-placed Melton South by 40 points at Tony Clarke Reserve on Saturday. The Cats were runners-up to Riddell in a pulsating grand final in 2025, and they will now play sixth-placed Kyneton in an elimination final. Reigning premiers…
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Netball spots still uncertain
This Saturday the Riddell League A-grade netball final home and away round has plenty at stake for several sides. Macedon, after languishing just outside the top six for most of the season, jumped into sixth spot at Kyneton’s expense on Saturday. To remain there, the Cats would need to defeat third-placed Lancefield at Tony Clarke…
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Giants dethrone premiers
Inspired by an eight-goal haul from captain Brad Mangan, Gisborne Giants toppled reigning premiers Riddell by 16 points on Saturday. It was the most significant victory by the Giants since they entered senior RDFNL ranks last season, and augurs well for the club’s future. Round 15 was the most dramatic for 2026 as far as…