Diggers Rest too good for Woodend-Hesket in first game of RDFNL season

While it was Woodend-Hesket’s second game of the RDFNL season, Diggers Rest looked the better tuned team with a new tactic spreading the load.

Mitch Jensen in action for Diggers Rest. Picture: Aaron Cook

A dominant second half propelled Diggers Rest to a season-opening win over Woodend-Hesket on Saturday.

While it was the Hawks’ second game of the RDFNL season, the Burras looked the more tuned team in the 40-point victory at Bloomdale Oval.

Diggers led by nine points at half-time before piling on nine goals to four in a convincing 14.12 (96) to 8.8 (56) victory.

Burras coach Jamie Lobb said a new tactic, designed to better share the load, helped his team run out the game strongly.

“The first half, we had five new guys and a couple of kids, so it took us a little bit to get used to each other but once we figured that out we finished all over them in the second half,” he said.

Matthew Krul in action for Diggers Rest. Picture: Hamish Blair

“We used our rotations fairly heavily, we did it in the last practice match to trial it, and guys are running out games better and having a bigger impact when they’re on.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that can play in a lot of positions this year, we’re fairly flexible.

“If everyone knows they’re going to get a run through the midfield or in the forward line, it makes it more manageable during the game.

“They’ll get a spell too, so hopefully it helps with our injuries – late last year we copped a fair few – so hopefully it can prevent that.”

Diggers unveiled summer signings Tom and Mark Orr (PEGS, Melton), Lachlan and Jaycob Hickey (Melton) and Jake Brown (Essendon Doutta Stars).

Jaycob was one of the Burras’ best, while Lachlan and Mark Orr both hit the scoreboard.

Ryan Mullen was named best-on-ground after a superb performance in midfield.

“He had 14 tackles, young Ryan, which was huge,” Lobb said.

“We aim for 60 a game for the team, so to him to have 14, he did some really good things on the inside but also a lot of work on the outside.”

Josh Wallace, Mitch Jensen and Mitch Day all kicked three goals.

After a rusty first half, Lobb was pleased his team was able to break the shackles against a Woodend-Hesket team that had kept premier Riddell to just two goals the week before.

“We expected them to come out firing, obviously beating Riddell last week and all the talk about their recruits,” Lobb said.

“We were a bit reactive in the first half, a bit slow, we had a lot more of the play but just didn’t hit the scoreboard.

“I think we had nearly double their inside 50s in the first half but we had better quality entries in the second half and put ourselves in better positions to score.”

Kyle Baker was the Hawks’ best in defeat, while Taylor Kelly and Ethan Minns also impressed. Ben Toman and Tayte Pears kicked two goals each.

Diggers Rest will now look ahead to an Anzac Day blockbuster against Macedon at Tony Clarke Reserve on Tuesday.

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While the likes of Taylor Hine, Devin Costigan and Stuart Clarke are still several weeks away, the likes of Mitch Brockwell and Harry Wilson should be available.

“Selection is going to be tough in the next few weeks but I guess that’s a good thing for the club,” he said.

Woodend-Hesket returns to Gilbert Gordon Oval to face Lancefield in Round 2.

Elsewhere, Riddell bounced back from its Good Friday defeat to Woodend-Hesket with a 46-point triumph over Macedon at Riddells Creek and Wallan defeated Romsey by 13 points at Romsey Park.