Diggers Rest, Woodend-Hesket battle for the Riddell District premiership

Will it be a Diggers Rest redemption or Woodend-Hesket drought-breaker? Get all the key match-ups, players to watch and analysis of the RDFNL grand final.

Riddell District grand final preview.

The Riddell District grand final is here.

Will it be Diggers Rest redemption or a Woodend-Hesket drought-breaker?

Both are compelling stories.

The Burras, the top side for so much of last year, limped to the line and were outclassed by Riddell on the big day.

They return 12 months later in far better shape, rested after two byes, and looking to return to the top for the first time since 2018.

The wait has been far longer for the Hawks.

But that’s what their season has been built on – ending droughts, hoodoos, streaks and curses.

They can end two more on Sunday, a first win over Diggers Rest since 2018 and, more importantly, a first premiership since 2007.

Woodend-Hesket will also be looking to win the football-netball double as its A-Grade women battle Riddell on the Romsey Park courts.

It looms as a spectacular day of footy.

Woodend-Hesket coach Josh Pound. Picture: Hamish Blair

Diggers Rest coach Jamie Lobb.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Mitch Day v Tayte Pears

So much of Diggers attack has rested on Day’s shoulders this season. His 47 goals is head-and-shoulders above any of his teammates, the second leading goalkicker is midfielder Jaycob Hickey with 15. While the return of Mitch Jensen lightens the load, if Day has a big day then the Burras are short odds to be holding the cup. Looking to keep him quiet will likely be Tatye Pears, who switched roles with Alastair Rae last week and had some success against Romsey’s Jack Jedwab. The ex-AFL man has a big job on his hands.

Mitch Jensen v Cody Bowen

Diggers Rest were counting their blessings Jensen returned from injury in the semi-final against Wallan. After four months on the sidelines, the Burras skipper kicked six goals as his side survived an extra-time thriller. Do they win it without him? If he gets off the chain again he’ll be lifting the cup with coach Jamie Lobb. Hawks defender Cody Bowen will get the job to shutdown the Diggers talisman. As reliable as the day is long, Bowen gets the most dangerous forward week-in, week-out and has plenty of experience.

Jaidyn Caruana v Daniel Toman

Watching the two midfielder bulls go head-to-head will be worth the price of admission alone. The pair have been outstanding all season and will be looking to finish strongly. Caruana is more the explosive, contested ball-winning type, while Toman runs all day and racks up possessions at will. The midfield battle will be critical to Sunday’s outcome and these two will have a big say.

Matt Krul v Daniel Davie

Sounds obvious to say but if Woodend-Hesket is to win the premiership it will need to kick a score. The Hawks have been limited to eight and seven goals in the two games against Diggers this season. Davie returned last week and gives Woodend-Hesket a marking target deep forward, allowing the likes of Josh Pound, Jack Arceri and Ollie Watt to cause chaos at ground level. Having the competition’s best defence all season, Matt Krul will be confident he and his fellow backs can nullify any threat.

Mark Orr v Tim Martin

Orr and Martin will get the first chance to touch the ball at 2pm on Sunday. The two dominant ruckmen of the season will have a big say on the outcome. Martin has been in superb form and remarkably will be looking to win back-to-back premierships and best-on-ground medals in different competitions after saluting with Banyule in the Northern league last year. Orr has had a bit more of an interrupted season but has strung several games together now and has featured in Diggers best in their past two matches.

Ollie Watt in action for Woodend-Hesket. Picture: Hamish Blair

Diggers Rest captain Mitchell Jensen. Picture: Hamish Blair

X-FACTOR

Marcus Calvaresi

The spark in Diggers’ line-up. Calvaresi can kick miraculous goals, as seen in the semi-final with a beauty from the pocket. He also helps create plenty for his teammates. He finished with three majors in the extra-time semi-final win and has 12 for the season. A repeat performance and he’s in line for not only a premiership medal but potentially the McIntyre Medal.

Ollie Watts

Won the RDFNL Under-15A league best-and-fairest last season and now the 16-year-old is set to play in a senior grand final to cap a whirlwind season. The talented youngster was involved in Vic Country Under-16 trials this season, made his senior debut in Round 12 and now played all three senior finals. If he can make an impact on the biggest stage it will do him and Woodend-Hesket the world of good

EXPECTED LINE-UPS

Both teams are expected to make a couple of changes with some boys unfortunately to be left disappointed. Diggers Rest has had the chance to rest up so injury isn’t expected to force any changes. However, Jamie Lobb has forecast potential changes in a horses-for-course selection decision as he attempts to combat Woodend-Hesket’s run. Despite playing 13 games this season, including the semi-final win, Mitch Brockwell could be squeezed out.

The Hawks, meanwhile, will have decisions to make a pair of key players returning from injury. Co-captain Tom Gawthrop has been dealing with a hip injury all season and didn’t play the preliminary final in the hope of being fit enough to play the grand final. Meanwhile, Sam Medland will be put through a fitness test as he looks to return from a hamstring injury. The midfield-forward hasn’t played since July 22 against Melton Centrals but would be a significant inclusion if fit.

COACHES’ SAY

Jamie Lobb (Diggers Rest): The game will be decided through the middle, it’s a pretty basic answer, but that’s the game. We’ve both got pretty potent forwardlines so whoever gets access and clean looks will be hard to stop. We’ve got to be accountable, they look to chip it around, so it’s important we don’t get lost in transition and give them easy options.

Josh Pound (Woodend-Hesket): We’re both strong defensively but they’ve shown their dangerous from an attacking perspective. The (semi-final) against Wallan was a bit of a shootout. We’ll need to control the midfield, they’ve got a lot of talent and a great ruckman in Mark Orr, so it will come down to which team can generate enough forward entries and make the most of their opportunities.

VERDICT

It would be too easy to say Diggers by how much.

Disrespectful to the outstanding season Woodend-Hesket has put together, to break a 14-year finals drought and reach its first grand final in 16 years.

If Australian sporting history has taught us anything it’s to never write off the underdog.

And if local footy history has taught us anything it’s the preliminary final winner is always a chance against a team coming off the bye.

The Hawks have the weapons; Tim Martin, Daniel Toman, Kyle Baker and Dean Bramley through midfield with the likes of Tayte Pears, Marcus Stapleton, Alastair Rae, Daniel Davie and Josh Pound at either end.

All that said … Woodend-Hesket has only come within 40 and 34 points of Diggers Rest this season.

It would take a monumental turnaround to snatch the premiership.

The Burras are stronger now too with captain Mitch Jensen back from long-term injury and tuned up after a six-goal semi-final performance.

Diggers lost just one game all season and unlike last year are rested and fully fit heading into the decider.

It’s hard to see it suffering grand final heartbreak again … DIGGERS REST BY 25 POINTS