RDFL 2019: Diggers Rest learns lessons from last premiership

COACH Jamie Lobb is adamant Diggers Rest will not repeat the mistakes it made last year as it targets its third premiership in four seasons.

Taylor Hine takes possession for Diggers Rest this year. Picture: Andy Brownbill

COACH Jamie Lobb is adamant Diggers Rest will not repeat the mistakes it made last year as it targets its third premiership in four seasons.

Lobb conceded the Burras, who defeated Riddell by 21 points in this year’s Riddell District Football League decider, “went through the motions” during their flag defence in 2017.

AFL GOLDFIELDS LOCKS IN PLAYER POINTS LIMIT FOR 2019

WALLAN SIGNS NORTH BENDIGO PREMIERSHIP PLAYER

DEPTH KEY TO ROMSEY’S HOPES OF CONTENDING

WOODEND-HESKET TARGETS TOP-FOUR FINISH IN 2019

Diggers Rest still reached a preliminary final, surrendering its title when it succumbed by 25 points against Rupertswood.

Lobb said the club had learned several important lessons from its response after claiming the 2016 premiership.

“We bluffed our way through the season and got ourselves into the finals and made a prelim,” he said.

“But we never really hit our full stride.”

Andrew Tyquin and Deven Costigan have returned to the Burras full-time after being on Northern Blues’ VFL list this year.

Mathew Medcraft will be a notable omission for Diggers Rest. Picture: Aaron Cook

However, no recruits have been confirmed as Lobb bides his time and takes a selective approach to the club’s additions for 2019.

His main priorities will be replacing influential on-baller Mathew Medcraft, who has crossed to Ovens and Murray club Wangaratta, and skipper Tom Gleeson (overseas).

“The guys are all really keen. Yes, we won the premiership, but during the season we didn’t really get going until late in the year,” Lobb said.

“Losing that first final to Riddell was the big eye-opener for the guys. No one really gave us a chance grand final day but we knew ourselves that we went in confident.”

Only four players — Jesse Flannery, Cameron McCabe, Tyquin and Medcraft — featured in 20 games for Diggers Rest this year. Lobb hopes greater continuity in the Burras’ playing stocks will form the backbone of their push for another flag.

“We had a pretty inconsistent season in regards to our players that were available for every week,” he said.

“I think we had four, five or six changes most weeks.”

Diggers Rest came from third to achieve the ultimate success this year and Lobb said he expected little would separate the leading contenders again.

“The clubs that are up the top, you can see they have been pretty active on the recruiting front,” he said.

MORE LOCAL SPORT NEWS

DIGGERS REST SHOWCASES GDCA TITLE CREDENTIALS

GISBORNE TRIO SHINES IN GDCA REPRESENTATIVE WIN

RUPERTSWOOD SNARES PROVEN FINALS PERFORMER