RDFL 2019: Woodend-Hesket still hopeful it can secure a finals spot

Woodend-Hesket snapped a six-game losing run in the RDFL on Saturday, but coach Tom Carland has not given up hope of securing a top-six berth yet.

Daniel Toman will be key to Woodend-Hesket’s hopes of contesting finals. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Reaching the Riddell District Football League finals is still the aim for Woodend-Hesket despite securing just its second win of the season on Saturday.

The Hawks bested Broadford to end a six-game losing streak, prevailing 13.16 (94) to 10.7 (67).

The home team dominated possession in the first half, but inaccuracy meant it only held a one-point advantage, before going on to kick a further nine goals to five.

Woodend-Hesket coach Tom Carland said it was pleasing to kick away again in the last quarter.

“Nothing has gone too much to plan this year,” he said of the Hawks’ 2-6 record at the halfway mark.

“We’ve shown up at times, even against the top teams we’ve controlled games for a quarter or a half, then just get blown out.

“In pleasing signs though, (Broadford) hit the front halfway through the third quarter but our players put themselves together, played the footy we wanted to, went back to basics and we were back on top for the last quarter.”

The Hawks next take on winless Rockbank before a date with Rupertswood.

Carland believes seven wins might be enough to earn a finals berth.

“We need three scalps on the way home,” he said.

“We have two winnable games on the way home and if we get three extras we’re still a chance.

“We haven’t been able to match it with the top teams at the moment, so it is a task, but it is still achievable.”

Carland will look to his forward half to fire more in the run home — although the ball hasn’t been in attack as much as he would have wanted this year — with the likes of young stars Liam Bianco and Baxter Slater among those to impress.

Elsewhere, Romsey pulled off a come-from-behind win against Rupertswood by 12 points to stay atop the ladder, with Jack Jedwab booting four goals for the winners, while majors were not in short supply during Riddell’s 347-point defeat of Rockbank.

The Bombers booted 17 goals in each of the first and third quarters, with Dylan Tarczon (14 goals) and Ethan Foreman (12) booting 26 majors between them as their team piled on 57.24 (366).

Jason Cooke kicked 10 goals for Macedon in its 144-point defeat of Lancefield, making it 25 in two weeks.

WHAT A LEADER LOCAL FOOTY SUBSCRIPTION GIVES YOU ACCESS TO

— Match reports, features, player and coach movements and analysis of all the leagues across Melbourne.

— Unprecedented AFL coverage.

— All the latest football news from across the country including Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph and Courier-Mail.

— Latest news and videos from the world’s leading leagues.

— Exclusive digital stories and videos before they go to print.