Kyneton snares arguably its biggest win since joining the Riddell District league

Kyneton snared arguably its biggest Riddell District scalp, upsetting reigning premier Diggers Rest, to keep the heat on the top-five race.

Ryan Pretty celebrates a goal for Kyneton Picture: George Sal

Kyneton secured arguably its best Riddell District win on Saturday to keep the heat on in the finals race.

The Tigers stunned reigning premier Diggers Rest by 19 points at Bloomdale Oval, their first win over the Burras since coming across from the Bendigo league in the off-season.

It’s only the first-year club’s second win over a top-five team this season and Diggers’ second straight defeat.

The 8.5 (53) to 4.10 (34) triumph keeps Kyneton level with fifth-placed Macedon but trailing by nine percentage points with three matches remaining in the home-and-away campaign.

Tigers coach Ethan Foreman said he was confident coming in that his team could pull off the upset.

Josh Smith marks for Kyneton. Picture: George Sal

“I feel like they’re in a similar position to us, a lot of injuries and stuff going on in the background,” Foreman said.

“I definitely thought we were a chance, last time we played them we were up all game and they kicked a couple late to pip us at the line.

“We jumped them early and held on for the rest of the day.

“The conditions suited us a bit better, just scrap the ball forward at all costs, it was hard fought.”

After being held goalless last week, Diggers Rest made it five straight quarters without registering a major on Saturday, kicking 0.3 in the first term.

Kyneton jumped out to a 16-point lead at the first change.

The Burras found their range in the second, closing the gap to a single point before the Tigers responded with two goals to take an 11-point advantage into half-time.

The visitors took control after the break, extending the margin to 14 points at three-quarter-time, holding Diggers to a single goal in the third and fourth terms.

Josh Willmott in action for Kyneton. Picture: George Sal

With matches against Lancefield, Woodend-Hesket and Wallan to come, Foreman said the victory had the potential to be season-defining as the club fights for a finals spot.

“We spoke after the Macedon loss about doing it the tough way, we’d need to knock off one or two of the top teams,” he said.

“A win like this proves we can do it against the better sides and we close out the season against Wallan at home and I’d like to think we’re a big sniff to knock them off.

“If it comes down to percentage we’ll have to go all guns blazing for four quarters to get a decent win.

“I don’t want to write anyone off in this league, it’s really up and down, Lancefield only lost to Macedon by 17 points and we lost to Macedon.

“I believe we’re a top-five side even with the injuries we’ve got.

“We’ve lost some tight ones, that’s what’s put us in this position fighting for finals.”

In difficult conditions key forward Ryan Pretty was named best-on-ground, while James Gaff, Jack Pilbeam and Calan Bowman also impressed.

Pretty was the match’s only multiple goalkicker and took a number of contested marks around the ground.

“Ryan didn’t have a big game in front of goals but he was huge aerially,” Foreman said.

“All day, he was always down the line, it was obviously a scrappy, wet game so there was a lot of kicks down the line.

“He was bashed all day but he was always an option, we’re missing a few forwards so we’re asking him to get up the ground a lot more and be a target.

“James has made the move into the midfield this year, he used to sit out on a wing, and he’s come into his own and would definitely be right up there in our B&F.

“He’s the most coachable bloke on our list, you tell him to do something and he’ll do it – you know what you’ll get out of him every week.

“Cody Young too, our young ruckman, we’ve lost two ruckmen through the year and he’s a 19-year-old kid.

“He’s having an unbelievable season for a 19-year-old, he’s really taken the next step.”

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For Diggers Rest, Hayden Davis was best afield and Jarrod Rowan, Jordan Theodore and Justin Tenaglia stood tall.

The Burras drop to third on percentage behind Romsey and are hanging onto the double chance by a thread, a game ahead of Wallan.

The club’s second bye comes at an opportune time to refresh and recover before matches against Romsey and Melton Centrals round out the regular season.

Elsewhere, Macedon edged Lancefield by 17 points, Riddell eased past Melton Centrals by 69 points and Romsey was too strong for Woodend-Hesket by 25 points.