Check out all the ins and outs and key players for every Riddell District club

As many as nine clubs have eyes on six finals spots, making for Riddell District’s biggest and best season yet. Check out all the ins and outs and key players for every club.

Ultimate Riddell District club-by-club season preview.

It’s a bigger, better Riddell District league competition in 2025.

There’s two new teams and an increasing level of talent within the competition.

The battle for finals looks fierce, even with the return to a top-six series.

Riddell and Wallan look the standouts but Diggers Rest, Romsey, Macedon, Woodend-Hesket and Kyneton will all fancy their chances of reaching the big dance but one will miss out on finals altogether.

Melton Centrals and, back in the RDFNL after almost 30 years, Melton South can’t be discounted.

Check out all the ins and outs and key players for every team, plus our season predictions.

Diggers Rest and Wallan players get to know each other. Picture: Josh Chadwick

DIGGERS REST

Last season: 3rd, semi-final (11-0-7, 128.75%)

Coach: Shaun Campbell (new)

Captain: Shaun Campbell and Jaidyn Caruana

Ins: Mitch Shields (East Sunbury, EDFL), Daniel Paulete (East Sunbury, EDFL), Lochie Jones (East Sunbury, EDFL), Mark Anderson (Wangaratta, O&M), Jamie Anderson (Wangaratta, O&M), Jesse Varsamakis (Yarraville-Seddon, WFNL), Brandon Lester (Yarraville-Seddon, WFNL), Nathan Aidonis (Caroline Springs, WFNL), James Waters (time off)

Outs: Mitch Jensen (Wedderburn, NCFNL), Tom Schwarzenberg (Sunshine, WFNL)

Key player: Campbell Wearne

Enjoyed a terrific debut season at the Burras, winning a stack of the footy and earning Team of the Year honours. Will look to step it up again in 2025.

Verdict: Last year was the first time the club hasn’t reached a preliminary final or grand final since 2011, which is an incredible record. There’s been a bit of a renovation of the Burras list with captain Mitch Jensen leaving, along with Tom Schwarzenberg, while Shaun Campbell has taken on the coaching reins. Diggers will always be thereabouts, it just depends on how the club is tracking come the business end of the season. Finish: 4th

GISBORNE GIANTS

Last season: New

Coach: Andrew Hall

Captain: Brad Mangan

Ins: Brad Mangan (Kyabram, GVFL) Josh Lee (Sunbury, BFNL), Sam van Taarling (Sunbury Kangaroos, EDFL), William Gray (Macedon), Cooper Moore (Sunbury, BFNL), Spencer Jones (Aberfeldie, EDFL), Matt Wallace (North Brunswick, VAFA), Blake Tirchett (Sunbury Kangaroos, EDFL), Dylan Cunningham (Sunbury Kangaroos, EDFL), Jiaya Mitchell (Sunbury, BFNL), Zac Ploog (Sunbury Kangaroos, EDFL), Blake Lawson (Sunbury Kangaroos, EDFL), James O’Connor (Sunbury Kangaroos, EDFL), Oscar Schnoor (Romsey), Matt Quigley (Nullawil, NCFNL)

Outs: Nil

Key player: Matt Quigley

Will be the midfield captain, bringing extensive experience to the fledgling Giants. Won a North Central league premiership at Nullawil and has spent time on VFL lists at Werribee and Southport.

Verdict: Saturday’s game against Kyneton will be Gisborne’s maiden senior football match. Having built from juniors to an under-19s premiership last year and now senior football, there are no expectations for 2025. Just earning a win, in a deep Riddell District competition, this year would be an amazing achievement. The season is more about building the foundations for the future. Finish: 11th

Harrison Huntley in action for Kyneton. Picture: Josh Chadwick

KYNETON

Last season: 6th (7-0-9, 95.58%)

Coach: Ethan Foreman

Captain: Harrison Huntley

Ins: Ben Cass (Avondale Heights, EDFL), Danny Grmusa (Werribee Districts, WFNL), Isaac Barassi (Doncaster, EFNL), Louis Thompson (Doncaster, EFNL), Hadyn Smith (Lauderdale, TSL), Charlie Thompson (Uni Blues, VAFA), Kristian Adorno (Point Cook, WFNL), Ryan Jerera (Point Cook, WFNL)

Outs: Jayden Eales (Sunbury Kangaroos, EDFL), Angus Strawhorn

Key player: Harrison Huntley

The skipper and key defender was limited to 10 games last season, not playing after Round 15. He’s a welcome addition to a club that is looking to make an impact in its second season in the RDFNL.

Verdict: Did the Tigers under-estimate the challenge of entering the Riddell District league last year? Whatever the answer, they won’t this season. Kyneton has retained it’s list and added several impressive additions, including Isaac Barassi, son-of-a-gun Louis Thompson, Hadyn Smith and Danny Grmusa. Add in the return to the field of coach Ethan Foreman and it’s a dangerous looking line-up. Finish: 3rd

LANCEFIELD

Last season: 9th (0-0-16, 41.63%)

Coach: Ryan O’Meara

Captain: Riley O’Meara

Ins: Rhys Carman (Avenel, KDFNL), Tom Filipovic (Tullamarine, EDFL), Jerome Ristevski (Macedon), Zach O’Halloran (Werribee Centrals, GDFNL), Ben Bryant (time off), Ollie Bryant (time off), Noah Smallacombe (Essendon Doutta Stars, EDFL), Jack Thomson (Tullamarine, EDFL), Tom Jackson (Tullamarine, EDFL), Hamish Thomas (time off), Ashley-James Graham (Bacchus Marsh, BFNL), Will O’Connell (St Bernard’s, VAFA), Jobe Dowling (Trentham, CHFNL), Max Taylor (Strathmore, EDFL)

Outs: Lukas Fellows (Warrandyte, EFNL), Lachlan Giles (Seymour, GVFL), Darcy Giles (Seymour, GVFL), Cam Osmond (Seymour, GVFL), Michael Conlan (Craigieburn, EDFL), Brody Thrum (Melton Centrals)

Key player: Zach O’Halloran

Brings plenty of experience, including a VAFA Premier B premiership, but still has to fill the mighty boots of Tom Waters. Will look to keep giving the Tigers midfielders the best chance of winning the footy first.

Verdict: An extraordinary turnover of the playing list this off-season after a winless 2024. Several key players have left but as many as 15 new faces have arrived and are in the running for a Round 1 start. It might take a while for the team to gel but Lancefield will be better this season. The first goal will be getting that first win and then build the confidence from there. Finish: 10th

Jason Cooke in action for Macedon. Picture: Josh Chadwick

MACEDON

Last season: 5th, preliminary final (10-0-9, 116.51%)

Coach: Al Meldrum

Captain: Jason Cooke

Ins: Charlie Rossetti (Montrose, EFNL), Tim Walsh (time off), Blake Watson (Sunbury, BFNL)

Outs: Lachy Hay (Riddell)

Key player: Jason Cooke

The Cats’ spearhead was limited to 13 appearances last season but still booted 40 goals, seven of which came in a semi-final masterclass against Diggers Rest. If the skipper can stay on the park for the entire season, he will firstly challenge for the league goalkicking award and as a result, the Cats will be well placed to go at least one step further than last year.

Verdict: Macedon scrapped into finals and then went on a memorable run to the preliminary final, knocking off Romsey and Diggers Rest. Now the challenge is to better than effort. What last season would have done is give the club’s young talent the belief that it is capable of matching it with the big boys and with a few solid recruits, they’re well positioned to make another deep run. Finish: 5th

MELTON CENTRALS

Last season: 8th (3-0-13, 48.20%)

Coach: Damian Zanic (new)

Captain: James Roberts

Ins: Fabian Brancatisano (Sunshine, WFNL), Hisham Kerbatieh (Sunshine, WFNL), Anthony Piva (time off), Ajdin Elkasovic (time off), Taygen Dennison (Sunshine, WFNL), Kahlan Williams (Sunshine, WFNL), Brody Thrum (Lancefield, WFNL), Karl Ullrich (Yarraville-Seddon, WFNL), Josh Ullrich (Yarraville-Seddon, WFNL)

Outs: Jacob Thornton-Gielen (Melton South), Will Thornton-Gielen (Melton South), Kyle Rogers (North Footscray, WFNL), Dylan Jobson

Key player: Evan Donoghue

Moving from the ruck to centre half-back was a masterstroke and the Blues star would have been on track for Team of the Year honours until an untimely injury struck late in the season, limiting him to 12 games.

Verdict: It’s a clean slate for the Blues with new coach Damian Zanic coming in and a couple of key players departing. The arrival of Fabian Brancatisano and Hisham Kerbatieh is an injection of talent the club hasn’t really had access to, while Taygen Dennison, Kahlen Williams and the Ullrich brothers also bring premiership-winning experience. Centrals will be a better team in 2025 but the entire competition is better, plus the arrival of cross-town rival Melton South, so it’s hard to see the club making major inroads in terms of ladder position. Finish: 9th

Evan Donoghue fires out a handball for Melton Centrals. Picture: Hamish Blair

MELTON SOUTH

Last season: 11th in Ballarat league (0-0-16, 21.25%)

Coach: Travis Hodgson

Captain: Broden Collins

Ins: Sam Darley (Wodonga Raiders, O&M), Marlion Pickett (Richmond, AFL), Alec Goodson (Sunbury, BFNL), Bryce Kerney (Bacchus Marsh, BFNL), Will Thornton-Gielen (Melton Centrals), Jacob Thornton-Gielen (Melton Centrals), Joel Hodgson (Sunbury, BFNL), Daniel Schwarzenberg (Diggers Rest), Jake Charge (Melton Centrals), Kevin Klix (Laverton, WFNL)

Outs: Darby Schilder (St Arnaud, NCFNL), Stuart Hobijn-Allen, Daniel Johncock, Daniel Zajac (Doveton, SFNL)

Key player: Marlion Pickett

He’s going to miss the opening three matches due to a suspension in the Northern Territory but will return just in time for the Round 5 home match against Romsey. Won Tiwi Bombers’ best-and-fairest, helping the club reach a NTFL Premier Division preliminary final and, let’s not forget, won two AFL premierships at Richmond. If he can avoid any tribunal issues in the RDFNL, he’ll dominate and take the Panthers along for the ride.

Verdict: First things first, the Panthers just want a win. The club hasn’t won in 39 matches, dating back to 2022. A Round 2 derby against Centrals or a Round 3 clash with Gisborne Giants should take care of that. How far can the club go then? Like Kyneton last season, it’s going to take some time to adjust to the new competition. Given where the club is coming from, finals probably aren’t a realistic goal. However, the addition of Pickett and Sam Darley as well as the Thornton-Gielen brothers, Alec Goodson and Kevin Klix might work wonders, who knows. Finish: 8th

RIDDELL

Last season: 1st, premier (17-0-1, 215.81%)

Coach: Arron Bray

Captain: Josh Grabham

Ins: Ben Borg (Rupertswood, EDFL), Lachy Hay (Macedon)

Outs: Jesse Horton (Strathmore, EDFL), Trent Stead

Key player: Ben Sonogan

The evergreen defender was again a Team of the Year selection last season, anchoring a defence that conceded just 582 points in 16 matches – clearly No.1 in the comp.

Verdict: Can the Bombers go back-to-back? No one’s been able to do it since Romsey in 2014-15. The club would have learnt a lot from its 2023 premiership defence and has a stable, settled line-up with a strong core of stars. Young gun Jesse Horton is a loss but Ben Borg is a proven performer and Lachy Hay is one of the best young talents in the comp. Providing everyone stays fit it’s hard to not see Riddell back at Romsey Park on the final day of the year. Finish: 1st

ROMSEY

Last season: 4th, elimination final (11-0-5, 108.44%)

Coach: Nathan Blair (new)

Captain: Jack Jedwab

Ins: Joe Stapleton (Lavington, O&M)

Outs: Oscar Schnoor (Gisborne Giants), Nathan Perrone (East Keilor, EDFL)

Key player: Nathan Blair

A top-end midfielder for a number of years but breaks new ground in 2025 as he takes on the coaching duties as well. Will need to balance playing his role, important as it is to the team, while also keeping an eye on how the team is travelling around him.

Verdict: The Redbacks have been around the mark for several seasons without taking that step to seriously challenge for a premiership. New coach Nathan Blair says its time for the club’s young talent to take that step and lift the club in doing so. The full-time return of Jack Jedwab will certainly boost the aim of making a deep finals run, the star forward won the league goalkicking in 2023 but was limited to eight appearances and 12 majors by VFL commitments last year. If it all clicks, watch out. Finish: 6th

WALLAN

Last season: 2nd, grand final (14-0-6, 176.71%)

Coach: Daniel Nolan

Captain: TBC

Ins: Victor Micallef (St Albans, EDFL), Harley Short (Roxburgh Park, EDFL), Cam Cloke (Templestowe, EFNL), Jeremy Hayes (Hillside, EDFL), Alex Crawford (Avenel, KDFNL), Jesse Nelson (Avenel, KDFNL)

Outs: Hayden Gill (Deer Park, EDFL), Reuben Rode (Greenvale, EDFL)

Key player: Chris Stewart

The ageless ruckman continues to dominate and claimed the Bowen Medal last season. A disappointing grand final performance will rancour and drive him to an even bigger season in 2025.

Verdict: Grand final, preliminary final, grand final. The past three seasons have been successful without delivering the ultimate success the Magpies desperately crave. They’ve strengthened the list once more, bringing in proven performers such as Victor Micallef, Harley Short (clearance pending) and younger talents like Alex Crawford and Jesse Nelson. Add in a fully fit Steve Boyall and a full season of Jake Carlisle and John Bellino and it’s hard not to think Wallan will be back on the big stage again in September. Finish: 2nd

Michael Mannix gathers in front of Alistair Rae. Picture: Rob Leeson

WOODEND-HESKET

Last season: 7th (5-0-11, 80.24%)

Coach: Alistair Rae

Captain: Jack Duggan and Daniel Toman

Ins: Sam O’Loughlin (Strathmore, EDFL), Matt Doody (Strathmore, EDFL), Brendan Butler (Strathmore, EDFL), James Schmidt (Brunswick, VAFA), Luke Butcher (Strathmore, EDFL)

Outs: Tyson Chapman (Nagambie, KDFNL), Kyle Baker (Maribyrnong Park, EDFL)

Key player: Brendan Butler

Got two big thumbs up from coach Al Rae after an exemplary pre-season after coming across from Strathmore. Will help relieve some of the pressure on Daniel Toman in the midfield.

Verdict: Coach Al Rae was bullish about the Hawks’ chances of making a swift return to finals after falling back to seventh last season from a grand final appearance in 2023. He labelled his current squad as strong as the team that went down to Diggers Rest a couple of years ago. A couple more old mates from Strathmore have joined Rae at Gilbert Gordon Oval, with O’Loughlin and Butler particularly impressive. There’s a logjam of clubs fighting for spots three through six, even seventh and eight potentially and Woodend is very much in the mix. Finish: 7th