Lancefield stuns reigning RDFNL premier Riddell in a thrilling one-point win

Lancefield has claimed one of the upsets of the local footy season, stunning reigning RDFNL premier Riddell in a one-point thriller. Here’s how they did it.

Zac Webb in action for Lancefield. Picture: Hamish Blair

Lancefield has produced one of the upsets of the year, not just in the Riddell District but arguably the entire local footy season.

The Tigers stunned reigning premier Riddell by a point on Saturday in one of the biggest wins in the club’s recent history.

It’s their first win over the Bombers in 13 years.

James Falcone hit the post with less than a minute remaining to snatch a remarkable 11.10 (76) to 11.9 (75) victory at Lancefield Park.

Riddell pushed forward but, as he’d done all day, Luke Fellows took an intercept mark to stop the Bombers charge.

Lukas Fellows marks for Lancefield. Picture: Hamish Blair

Lancefield coach Tim Bannan said it was a memorable day and night.

“It’s amazing for the club, Matt Bawden has played 250-odd games and that was the first time beating Riddell,” he said.

“The old ticker got a bit funny there for a minute … but let’s just say it was a decent night at the local pub.

“Thanks to the supporters as well, the rooms were chockers at the end of the game, I didn’t see much because I was tearing up, I knew how much it meant to the boys.

“We finally put four quarters of solid footy together rather than a few minutes here and there, we knew we could do it but it’s an incredible scalp because they’re an incredible side.

“It creates belief that we can start winning, we’d forgotten how to win because we’d been in games and folded, but this time we went for all four quarters.”

Youngster Will Carline made his debut in the match and together with fellow under-17s Harry Behan and Cam Osmont played a key role.

Osmond kicked two goals, including a critical major on the three-quarter-time siren to get Lancefield back within a point at the final change.

Benjamin Sankey in action for Lancefield. Picture: Hamish Blair

Jack Radford then kicked truly in the opening minute of the fourth term to give the home side a lead they would never relinquish.

The teams traded goals, through Trent Stead, Falcone and Haydn Ross, before Ben Said levelled the scores with a behind.

With time running out, Falcone launched a long bomb that bounced into the post and it proved decisive.

Fellows was a standout best-on-ground for Lancefield with his work in defence and Bannan said every player deserved a mention in the best.

“Luke is the general down back and just marks everything that comes his way,” he said.

“He’s such a vital part of this club, he was really good, and Michael Conlan kicked the first two goals of the game and was brilliant.

“Zac Webb in the midfield and Lachie Giles was unbelievable off a half-back flank.

“Cam (Osmond) is one of the young fellas out of the under-17s, he would have had three or four different guys on him, and was outstanding in the role up forward and Jack Radford played his best game for the club.”

For Riddell, Dylan Tarczon was outstanding with four goals and a stack of disposals, while Tommy Alkemade, Stead, Ross and Jesse Horton were also important contributors.

The result puts a major dent in the Bombers’ double chance hopes, leaving them needing to beat Wallan and hope Macedon can upset Woodend-Hesket in the final round of the season.

WRAP: COUNTRY KID’S 42 GOALS, EX-AFL STAR INSPIRES TEAM

LEADER: GET YOUR RIDDELL DISTRICT FOOTY NEWS HERE

WOMEN’S: KYNETON CLAIMS INAUGURAL RDFNL PREMIERSHIP

Lancefield will look to shape the top-five again when it travels to traditional rival Romsey, hoping to end the Redbacks finals hopes.

“It would be nice to knock off our arch-rivals down the round,” Bannan said.

“We’ve given ourselves every opportunity to play some good footy to finish off the season, sneak a win and we get the five wins we wanted at the start of the season.”

Elsewhere, Diggers Rest proved too strong for Romsey in a 22-point win, Wallan pipped Woodend-Hesket by two points in a battle for second and Macedon smashed Western Rams by 133 points.