Pain of close RDFL grand final loss lingers for Riddell

RIDDELL was still coming to grips with its devastating grand final loss last week, describing the extra-time defeat as “like a death in the family”.

Riddell players after the club’s grand final loss. Picture: Josie Hayden

RIDDELL was still coming to grips with its devastating grand final loss last week, describing the extra-time defeat as “like a death in the family”.

After finishing fourth on the ladder at the end of the Riddell District Football League regular season, the Bombers produced an impressive finals campaign which saw them defeat Rupertswood (43 points), Macedon (three points) and Broadford (four points) to qualify for the decider.

But they came up short in the big dance, Diggers Rest kicking four of the final five goals of the day to claim a six-point win in extra time.

“I thought our game was pretty good, it was just little errors late in the game that cost us and you can’t do that against a pretty good opposition,” Riddell coach Jamie Elliott said.

“It’s heartbreaking. It’s like a death in the family, really.

“What do you say as coach? You’ve just got to stick together, butter up and reload for next year.

“But to come from fourth, I was really proud of the boys. The whole finals series I think they’ve been terrific.”

Riddell was in what seemed to be winning positions twice in the grand final against Diggers Rest.

The underdog led by 13 points at the 20-minute-mark of the fourth quarter before the Burras kicked the final two goals to draw level.

Then after the first five minutes of extra time, the Bombers held a seven-point lead before the Burras hit back with two goals to none in the second five minutes to claim their first premiership since 1993.

“They were the best team by a mile all year so they deserved their win,” Elliott said.

“They’re a pretty quality opposition so you can’t really be anything but proud of our boys.”

Cameron Casson and Matthew Panuccio were standouts for Riddell in the grand final, while Elliott said he could not have more pleased with the performances of recruits Scott and Tim Walsh, who joined the club from Gisborne this year.