Check out all the ins and outs and key player at every Riddell District club for 2024
The RDFNL season promises to be a fascinating watch with several teams vying for premiership glory. Check out every club’s ins and outs and key player. Plus, our 2024 predictions.
Riddell
Don't miss out on the headlines from Riddell. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Here we go! Riddell District 2024.
The pack will be chasing reigning premier Diggers Rest.
Wallan, Riddell, Romsey and newcomers Kyneton will all have premiership aspirations.
Grand finalist Woodend-Hesket has lost several key players but remains a threat, while Macedon is looking to return to finals after missing out in 2023.
And don’t forget Melton Centrals and Lancefield as the pair continue to improve, showing their capabilities last season with shock wins over Riddell.
Check out every club’s ins and outs and key player ahead of the season, plus our predictions for 2024.
DIGGERS REST
Last season: minor premier, premier (17-0-1, 173.05%)
Coach: Jamie Lobb (seventh year)
Captain: Mitch Jensen
Ins: Campbell Wearne (Essendon Doutta Stars), Shaun Campbell (Parkside), Luke Delahey (North Beach)
Outs: Jayden Hickey (Melton), Lachie Hickey (Melton), Cole Laurie, Sean Egan (East Sunbury)
Key player: Thomas Schwarzenberg
The only Burra to play all 18 games last season as he made a home for himself off half-back. However, this season the young gun will be asked to step up again and could see midfield time as he builds his body and tank.
Verdict: Very much the team to beat before a ball is bounced having added the likes of Wearne, Campbell and Delahey to a premiership-winning squad. The Burras will have fingers crossed skipper Mitch Jensen is available for a full season too. Diggers has finished top-three every year since 2012, making eight grand finals in 10 seasons, so it is fair to say hunger is not an issue. There’s improvement across the league but it’s hard to see the champs not at least getting the chance to defend their title on the last day of the season. Finish: 3rd
KYNETON
Last season: 6th Bendigo FNL (9-0-9, 81.30%)
Coach: Ethan Foreman (first year)
Captain: Harrison Huntley
Ins: Dylan Holden (Trentham), Ben Saliba, Will Martin-Alcaide (Torquay), Billy Mahoney (Maryborough Rovers), Alex Mahoney (Maryborough Rovers), Sam Bartels, Dan Davie (Woodend-Hesket), Evan Davie (Woodend-Hesket)
Outs: Mason Crozier (Deer Park), James Orr (Heathcote), Jordan Iudica (Nyah Nyah West United), Lucas Iudica (Nyah Nyah West United), Bailee McGee (Rochester), Ben Cameron (Sunbury), Jake Summers
Key player: Jayden Eales
The star big man will fully fit and firing after a big pre-season. The former VFL ruck is arguably the best big man in the competition and will play a key role in Kyneton’s engineroom. In his second season at the club and already in the leadership group.
Verdict: The Tigers made a statement on Good Friday, beating grand finalist Woodend-Hesket comfortably in their RDFNL men’s debut. Kyneton finished sixth in the (arguably) stronger Bendigo league so finals is the minimum expectation. A premiership run is certainly not our of the question. Coach Ethan Foreman has plenty of experience playing in the Riddell District and is one of several players to watch, along with Eales, Caleb Fisher, James O’Sullivan and Dylan Holden. Finish: 4th
LANCEFIELD
Last season: 8th (4-0-12, 79.48%)
Coach: Tim Bannan (second year)
Captain: Tom Waters
Ins: Corey Reid (Greensborough), Adam Miles (Broadford), Ben Radford (Parkside), Brody Thrum (Kyneton), Ryan Johnson (Broadford), Isaac Smithwick (Broadford)
Outs: Ben Bryant
Key player: Riley O’Meara
The young gun made a big impression in his return to the club last year and earned Team of the Year honours, the only Tiger in the 22. Won the club best-and-fairest and players’ MVP and will be one of the key drivers as the club looks to take another step forward in 2024.
Verdict: There’s no doubting the Tigers are on the up but what can they achieve this season? They knocked off Riddell and Melton Centrals last season and were highly competitive on a weekly basis. That now has to be the baseline. There’s some good young talent at the club led by O’Meara, Lukas Fellows, the Radford brothers and – while certainly not young – Tom Waters remains one of the best players in the competition. If it can avoid the wooden spoon, the season will be a success. Finish: 9th
MACEDON
Last season: 6th (7-0-9, 100.82%)
Coach: Al Meldrum (fifth year)
Captain: Jason Cooke
Ins: Matt Dick, Tom Indian (Hurstbridge), Nathan Hynes (Gisborne Giants), Dylan McDonald, Johno Bissell (Bacchus Marsh), Jayden Cott (Bacchus Marsh)
Outs: Dylan Johnstone (Gisborne), Jordan Dyer, Declan Phyland (Maiden Gully), Zac Baggs, Matt Knox
Key player: Matt Dick
The former AFL-listed gun is back at Tony Clarke Reserve and will immediately be a key weapon as the Cats look to return to finals. The quarterback off half-back or capable of pushing into the midfield and picking up possessions at will when his team needs.
Verdict: The Cats missed finals for the first time since 2014 last season and will be desperate to return. The return to Matt Dick and arrival of Tom Indian is a huge boost but it looms as another year of building. Macedon’s under-19s and under-17A teams both won premierships, while the 17B side was runner-up. Looking ahead the future is bright but first young players must be blooded at senior level and develop into future premiership stars. Finish: 7th
MELTON CENTRALS
Last season: 7th (5-0-11, 96.66%)
Coach: Mathew Sproule (second year)
Captain: Josh Spry
Ins: Brad Layton (Darley), Josh Thomas (Point Cook), Caleb Higgins (St Albans), Beau Arnautovic (St Albans)
Outs: Jarrod Spry (Huntly), Dylan Clarke (Ballan), Jarrod Johns (North Footscray), Jared Scott (Western Rams), Jarryd Underwood (Western Rams)
Key player: Jake Armistead
Returned to Centrals after some time off and produced an outstanding season. Was a shining light in midfield for the Blues and earned a club best-and-fairest and Team of the Year honours. Expect him to take another step up this year.
Verdict: Knocked off Riddell and Romsey last season and pushed other finalists throughout the season. It’s a promising foundation for the club as it looks to jump up the ladder. The club showed that it has the defensive gameplan to limit opposition scoring last season and now needs to add the offensive side. With Dylan Jobson in attack, the Blues have one of the best forwards in the competition to build around. Finish: 8th
RIDDELL
Last season: 4th, elimination final (10-0-7, 142.74%)
Coach: Arron Bray (first year)
Captain: Josh Grabham
Ins: Dean Galea (Rupertswood), Brent Swallow (Rupertswood), Jack Hammerling (Maribyrnong Park), Luke Cannon (Rupertswood), Taylor Ford (Trentham), Dylan Podolczak (Rupertswood), Jacob Chahine (Rupertswood)
Outs: Lucas Shaw
Key player: Dylan Tarczon
Capable of winning matches off his own boot, whether playing in the midfield or up forward. Claimed the club best-and-fairest last season and finished runner-up in the Bowen Medal. Gives opposition coaches nightmares.
Verdict: After an elimination final exit, the Bombers have gone hard to rejuvenate the list. Arron Bray has been brought in to take the coaching reins from departed premiership-winner Justin Belleville. He’s brought half of Rupertswood along with him, most notably legendary goalkicker Dean Galea and Sharks skipper Brent Swallow. The return of Jack Hammerling can’t be understated either. The busy off-season will certainly bring big expectations and the club looms as one of the main contenders for Diggers Rest’s crown heading into the season. With Dylan Tarczon in the team, anything is possible. Finish: 1st
ROMSEY
Last season: 5th, semi-final (8-0-10, 128.02%)
Coach: Justin Sherman (second year)
Captain: Nathan Blair
Ins: Aaron Flavel (Parkside), Connor Bills (Gisborne), Oscar Schnoor (Gisborne Giants), Ash Millane (East Sunbury), Brandon Dimech (Maiden Gully), Ethan Beer (St Kevin’s), Maclaren Forbes (Woodend-Hesket), Justin Waldron (Sunbury)
Outs: Dean Walsh (Oak Park), Gavin Cathie (Newbridge), Ali Khalil
Key player: Darcy Lockens
If reigning league-leading goalkicker Jack Jedwab is on Essendon VFL duty, who does Romsey turn to to kick goals? The mantle could fall on the young shoulders of 2023 league Rising Gun Lockens. The young gun booted 22 majors from 18 matches last season the second most at the club behind Jedwab.
Verdict: The Redbacks have the makings of a premiership-calibre team and showed as much in the finals last season, beating Riddell in the elimination final and pushing eventual grand finalist Woodend-Hesket to the bring in the semi-finals. The likes of Nathan Blair, Nathan Rayment, Matt Burkett and Corey Pertzel are as good as any midfield in the competition. Reigning league-leading goalkicker Jack Jedwab’s outstanding 2023 saw him earn a VFL contract at Essendon and make his debut in Round 1. If he’s missing, it would leave a large hole in the Redbacks’ attack. Sounds obvious to say but how Romsey fares against fellow top-five clubs will decide its season. Finish: 5th
WALLAN
Last season: 2nd, preliminary final (13-0-6, 172.43%)
Coach: Daniel Nolan (ninth season)
Captain: Michael Mannix
Ins: Chris Stewart (East Keilor), Reuben Rode (Kyabram), Shaun Stewart (Rupertswood), Lachlan Inness (Heathcote), Ned Davis (Whittlesea)
Outs: Todd Muldoon
Key player: Steve Morris
The gun onballer is one of the premier midfielders in the competition. Can rack up possessions at will, win clearances in-and-under but, crucially, also hit the scoreboard – booting 16 goals last season.
Verdict: The Magpies went young last season and it paid dividends, to a point. The club finished second and won its first final. It then took Diggers Rest to extra-time in one of the greatest finals matches in RDFNL history. However, it took its toll and resulted in a preliminary final defeat. That experience will only benefit Wallan. Now add one of the best ruckmen in local footy in the past 10-20 years in Chris Stewart and fellow recruits in Rode, Stewart and Inness to the existing leadership of Michael Mannix, Steve Morris and Corey Viani. Steve Boyall suffered a knee injury late in the season but is expected to return to further bolster the club’s premiership push. Is this the year the drought ends? Finish: 2nd
WOODEND-HESKET
Last season: 3rd, grand final (14-0-6, 138.68%)
Coach: Alistair Rae (first year)
Captain: Alistair Rae & Tom Gawthrop
Ins: Will Wiseman (Kingston), Luke Cuffe (Strathmore), Jack Duggan (Strathmore)
Outs: Tim Martin (Banyule), Maclaren Forbes (Romsey), Dan Davie (Kyneton), Evan Davie (Kyneton), Jack Arceri (Dromana), Tom Pound (Aberfeldie), Sam Medland (Aberfeldie), Josh Pound
Key player: Daniel Toman
The reigning Bowen Medallist is the Hawks’ main man in midfield. The smooth-moving onballer will get plenty of attention but is tough enough and elusive enough to still get the job done under immense pressure.
Verdict: The Hawks threw everything at winning a premiership last season and came so close. The club broke a 14-year finals drought and 16-year grand final drought in the process. However, a number of key players have departed over the summer and new coach Alistair Rae has been charged with keeping the club in contention. With the likes of reigning Bowen Medallist Toman, Defender of the Year Marcus Stapleton, Rae, Dean Bramley and Riley Patterson the club has some elite talent, while injuries are expected to limit co-captain Tom Gawthrop availability. Woodend will remain a top-five contender but a drop is expected. Finish: 6th
Locked in: RDFNL clubs practice match schedule
As Riddell District clubs ramp up preparations for Round 1, they’ve locked in a series of practice matches. See who’s playing who, where and when.
Gender footy wars tearing town apart
A volatile break-up between a women’s footy team and their century-old club is threatening to split a country town and looks headed for a costly battle in the courts.