Diggers Rest coach Jamie Lobb reflects on RDFL grand final defeat
Injuries cruelled Diggers Rest premiership hopes and coach Jamie Lobb has forecast a summer of regeneration for the Burras.
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Diggers Rest could have a very different look in 2023 with coach Jamie Lobb forecasting a youth movement.
Next Riddell District season will be about chasing redemption for the Burras after a 29-point grand final defeat to Riddell on Sunday.
Blighted by injury in the lead-up and during the game, Diggers ran out of steam in the final game of the season.
Star ex-AFL players Taylor Hine and Cale Morton were both ruled out before the match due to injury, while key defender Andrew Tyquin was carried off with a knee injury in the first quarter.
Hine will have surgery on his knee after going down in the preliminary final win over Wallan, while Morton couldn’t recover in time after straining a hamstring in the qualifying final.
Speaking after the game, Lobb said the club could look to regenerate its list next season to remain among the premiership contenders.
“Unfortunately, it’s been a common theme for us this year, but it is what it is, you’re always going to get injuries in a contact sport,” he said.
“It’s been long, tough and cold season for our club with no facilities, we’ve been getting changed in portables.
“We used to have the hall to train in but we haven’t had that this year either so we’ve really felt it.
“Hats off to the guys on the committee and volunteers they were there at 8am every morning, putting up marquees and stuff to give the guys extra room.
“A few of us might need to get out of the team and make way for some of the younger guys coming through.
“I’m sure it will be a nice long summer and a lot of beers to talk about that.”
Diggers made a strong start to the game, booting 4.5 with the breeze at their back in the first quarter.
Riddell piled on six goals to nil in the second term to turn the tables and the Bombers’ defence cranked up the pressure in a match-winning third quarter performance.
The Burras could only add two goals in a match-turning term, taking a two-point lead into the final change.
It wasn’t enough as Riddell poured in eight unanswered goals before Diggers kicked the first goal of the match at the southern end and the final three majors of the game to add some respectability to the scoreboard.
“We just got beaten by a better team,” Lobb said.
“We had enough of the ball, we just didn’t hit the scoreboard, that’s the way it goes unfortunately.”
Chris Lawton, Mitch Jensen, Luke Delahey and Matt Freeth impressed in defeat, while Mitch Day and Luke Ronaldson booted three goals each for the match.
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While the senior team wasn’t able to finish the season with a win, it was still a very successful season for Diggers Rest.
The club won the reserve grade football premiership as well as the A- and B-Grade netball flags to walk away with three of six titles on the day.
The Burras’ reserves defeated Wallan by 22 points, 5.8 (38) to 2.4 (16) with Dylan Hannan taking home the Tom Sankey Medal as best-on-ground.
“We’ll reflect on our loss but overall for the club, to have A and B-Grade netball and reserves win, we’ll celebrate it as a club,” Lobb said.
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