Riddell overhauls squad with as many as 12 new faces for 2021 season

Riddell has had to almost completely overhaul its squad ahead of the RDFL season after a number of players departed. How will the Bombers look in 2021?

Riddell will have an almost completely new look in 2021.

The club’s list has seen a seismic shift since the 2019 RDFL season with a number of big names departing and as many as 12 new faces set to debut in Round 1.

Dylan Tarczon is the latest star player to leave Riddells Creek Reserve after submitting a clearance to Wimmera league club Dimboola earlier this month.

The Bombers forward line has been gutted with Tarczon – 69 goals in 2019, second most in the RDFL – and Ethan Foreman (43 goals, Gisborne) leaving.

Key midfielders Hadyn Ross (Sunbury) and Paul Sahlberg (Keilor) have also exited.

Riddell’s 2019 leading goalkicker Dylan Tarczon. Picture: Aaron Cook

Ethan Foreman in action for Riddell. Picture: Rob Leeson

In their place ruckman Josh Grabham, Jarryd Vernon and Callum Williamson all arrived from Bendigo league club Gisborne ahead of the cancelled 2020 season.

Liam Berry, Trent Stead and Nathan Bridgland have all joined from Ballarat league outfit Sunbury.

Reigning RDFL Rising Star Riley Patterson and exciting youngster Connor Flynn will see bigger roles in 2021.

Bombers coach Justin Belleville was pleased with how his squad was shaping up.

“It’s a whole new team this year, we’ve had 12 new players come in because we lost so many players to other leagues,” he said.

“It’s a total rebuild at the footy club, which is good, I think we needed that anyway.

Josh Grabham in action for Gisborne. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Trent Stead in action for Sunbury. Picture: Josie Hayden

“Dylan’s gone, Foreman to Gisborne, Ross to Sunbury, Sahlberg to Keilor, so we’ve lost a lot of A-Grade players but it what it is.”

Riddell played its first practice match of the pre-season against Dunnstown of the Central Highlands league on Saturday.

In a six-quarter hit out the Bombers fielded their strongest line-up in the first half of the match.

A hit out against EDFL club Sunbury Kangaroos this weekend and another intra-club match will wrap up preparations before a Round 1 clash at home against Macedon on April 17.

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Belleville said getting as much match practice together for his new-look squad was critical.

“It was a good hit out for (the first time) in a year and a half,” he said.

“It’s been a good pre-season so far but we need to play a lot of footy together before we hit our straps.

“The weekend was a good hit out and we’ve got another this weekend against Sunbury Kangaroos, we’ll be putting our best team out against them to try and get as much time before Round 1.

“Everyone’s just keen to get the season underway, it’s been a long pre-season and we’re still three weeks away now.”