After a 16-year wait, Woodend-Hesket is back on the RDFNL’s big stage

Woodend-Hesket is back on the Riddell District’s big stage after a stirring preliminary final win over Wallan to reach the club’s first grand final since 2007.

Jack Arceri in action for Woodend-Hesket. Picture: Hamish Blair

After a 16-year wait, Woodend-Hesket is back on the Riddell District biggest stage.

The Hawks charged into next week’s grand final with a 21-point preliminary final win over Wallan at Romsey Park on Saturday.

It’s the latest in a season full of drought-breaking achievements for the club with one more box to tick – a first premiership since 2007.

Trailing by four points at half-time Woodend-Hesket ran over the top of the Magpies, kicking six goals to two after the main break, to prevail 9.6 (60) to 5.9 (39).

Coach Josh Pound said the small half-time margin actually fuelled his team’s plenty of belief.

Riley Paterson in action for Woodend-Hesket. Picture: Hamish Blair

“I’d be lying if I said we didn’t have belief, both times we’d lost to Wallan it was by small margins and we did a fair bit wrong,” Pound said.

“We felt like if we could clean up a few execution things we’d always be a good chance of winning the game.

“The message at half-time was, we’re not chasing a significant margin.

“In the latter part of the year we found ourselves in situations where we were down by three or four goals at half-time and had to do it tough.

“I saw it as a positive that we didn’t have to make up any ground and our third quarters have been fairly strong this year.

“Wallan got a few injuries, (Michael) Mannix hurt himself in the first quarter but had to come back on the ground and Corey Viani later in the game, so they were wounded and the game in extra-time would have taken a toll.”

Woodend-Hesket started strongly, taking a 13-point lead into quarter-time, but were held scoreless in the second term as Wallan took control.

The script flipped in the third term as the Magpies were held to just two behinds as the Hawks regained a 14-point advantage.

There would be no repeat of the second quarter as another three goals to two sealed victory.

Jack Arceri booted three goals in a best-on-ground display, while Tim Martin excelled in the ruck and young gun Tobi Duff-Tytler and Dean Bramley continued their strong finals form.

“Arch sacrificed his midfield position at the start of the year and he put his hand up to play purely as a forward,” Pound said.

“It was quite selfless of him to do that but he’s still having a significant impact, to see him get his rewards is fantastic.

“Tim was basically two-on-one all day, they threw everything at him, Hayden Gill and Jordan Roberts are completely different ruckmen.

“His ability to adapt and still give us territory, to grab the ball out of the ruck and get it going forward, is such a valuable asset.”

For Wallan, Brenton Cox was best afield, while Gill, Corey Viani, Sean Morris and Brodie Gilchrist were strong contributors.

While disappointing to fall at the preliminary final hurdle for a second-straight season, it’s been a positive season of rejuvenation at Wallan, with a strong mix of experience and youth.

Woodend-Hesket will face Diggers Rest in the decider.

The Burras claimed a 40-point win in Round 1 at Bloomdale Oval and triumphed by 34 points at Gilbert Gordon Oval in Round 10.

Pound paid tribute to the club, which will compete for both senior netball and football premierships, but said he had some tough decisions to make.

“Woodend hasn’t had the greatest results since 2007 and to have both the A-Grade netball and senior football fighting off in grand finals is a credit to the committee,” he said.

“The club has been working really hard to get the club back to where it needs to be.

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“We’ve got Tom Gawthrop, he missed this week in order to try and get his body to a point where he can contribute in a grand final, so no doubt he’ll be putting his hand up.

“We’ve also got a few others in a similar position, Sam Medland is coming back from a hamstring.

“He could have played in the prelim but we chose to give him one more week to see where that landed, so there’s quality players putting their hand up.”

The Riddell District football and netball grand finals will be held on Sunday, September 17 at Romsey Park.