Diggers Rest defeats Riddell to retake top spot on Riddell District ladder

If it wasn’t already, Diggers Rest is officially the Riddell District premiership favourite after a strong win over Riddell in a top-of-the-table epic.

Brandon Lester in action for Diggers Rest. Picture: Andrew Batsch

If it wasn’t already, Diggers Rest is officially the Riddell District premiership favourite.

The Burras claimed a 22-point victory over Riddell in a top-of-the-table blockbuster at Riddells Creek Reserve on Saturday.

The 15.9 (99) to 11.11 (77) win is their second win over the reigning premiers this season and, barring disaster, all but guarantees the minor premiership.

However, it wasn’t without late drama.

After trailing by 36 points at three-quarter-time, the Bombers belatedly produced their best football of the day to get within 11 points in the final quarter.

Mark Anderson in action for Diggers Rest. Picture: Andrew Batsch

It was too little, too late as Diggers kicked the final two goals of the game.

Burras coach Shaun Campbell was particularly pleased with the result with the two teams sure to meet again come finals.

“Especially against a quality opposition against them, to do it again was really pleasing,” Campbell said.

“When we were shaking hands at the end of the game, everyone was saying to each other ‘see you in a couple of weeks’.

“I dare say if we keep going the way we’re going we’ll be playing each other in the first final but there’s still four weeks to go and I’m well aware you can lose momentum quickly.”

After having the bye last week and dropping to second, the win puts Diggers Rest back on top and with a game in hand on Riddell.

The visitors burst out of the blocks with a five-goal opening term to take a 28-point lead at quarter-time.

The margin was 12 points late in the second term before Ryan Mullen and Josh Wallace kicked truly late to push it back out to 24 points at the half.

Diggers Rest players huddle up. Picture: Andrew Batsch

A late burst in the third saw the Burras piled on three unanswered goals to make it a six-goal game at the final change and it looked a fait accompli.

However, Riddell showed they are a threat from anywhere as they kicked the first three of the fourth term to get within 17 points and when Matt Darby and Tommy Alkemade goalled it was back to 11.

However, Matt Krul – in his third game of the year – steadied the ship and Kai Anderson sealed the four points.

“We got off to a really good start, we managed to bang a few through with the wind – we really took advantage of that,” Campbell said.

“Being fresh off the bye obviously helps and given the result of our last game, the boys were definitely up for it.

“We treated it like a mini-final.

“We didn’t take the foot off (in the finish), they just upped the ante.

“They came out with intent, cracking in and smashing the ball forward and lifted as a group.

“They were coming, they got within two goals, but I don’t think we reduced our intensity.”

Campbell said he could have “thrown a blanket over 10 or 15 contributors across the ground” after the win.

Campbell Wearne, Tye Browning, Hayden Davis, Brad Sluggett, Marcus Calvaresi and Ryan Mullen were the six named in the best.

Coach Campbell and captain Jaidyn Caruana led the way with three goals apiece.

“We all try to get a few rotations through the forward line and we both managed to sneak a few goals while we were down there, which was nice,” Campbell said.

For Riddell, Ben Taylor, Zakkaria Saad, Dylan Tarczon and Alkemade stood tall.

Missing league-leading goalkicker Dean Galea, Alkemade and Darby each slotted three goals.

Diggers Rest faces Woodend-Hesket, Melton Centrals, Wallan and Lancefield in the run home.

The club is chasing its first minor premiership since 2024 when it won the flag.

Campbell said the club would not be taking it easy.

“We’ve got two points on Riddell and then 10 on Wallan,” he said.

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“No, we just need to keep the momentum going, it’s not a matter of resting people and thinking finals, four games is still a fair period for stuff to go wrong.

“We need to maintain the momentum and build into finals.”

Elsewhere, Romsey tightened the top-six battle with a 14-point win over Melton South, which together with Macedon’s 15-point win over Kyneton, creates a three-way tie for fifth, sixth and seventh.

Woodend-Hesket saw off Gisborne Giants by 22 points and Wallan smashed Lancefield by 94 points.