Riddell wins a second Riddell District premiership in three seasons, defeating Wallan
Riddell has capped a dominant RDFNL season with a dominant grand final performance, defeating Wallan to claim a second premiership in three seasons.
Riddell
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See the Bombers fly up.
Riddell is back on top of the Riddell District, winning a second premiership in three years.
A dominant 31-point win over Wallan at Romsey Park on Sunday completing an almost perfect season, losing just one game.
The 15.12 (102) to 11.5 (71) triumph capped a big day for the club, winning three of five grand finals across football and netball.
Dean Galea bagged five goals in a vintage display, Tommy Alkemade was awarded the Doug McIntyre Medal for best-on-ground, while captain Josh Grabham starred in the ruck.
Five-goal first and fourth quarters book-ended an impressive display, the Bombers able to score with and against the wind.
Premiership coach in his first season with the club, Arron Bray said the group had come together perfectly in the second half of the year.
“It’s really good for the club, really good for the players, supporters and sponsors,” Bray said.
“Coming in to the club, a few new players, it was always going to take some time to gel and we were aware of that.
“We started to play some really good footy in the back half of the season and that’s our third highest score of the season, which is really pleasing.
“I wasn’t here for the last premiership but it’s not a bad result when you get two out of three.”
Riddell had the wind at its back in the first quarter and took immediate advantage.
Galea, the league goalkicking medal winner, kicked the first goal of the game and Dylan Tarczon made it two in a minute as he charged out of the centre bounce and bombed it home from 55m.
John Bellino answered for Wallan as the Magpies showed it could move the ball against the wind.
Tarczon made it two in the term, while Matt Darby made it five for the quarter and a 20-point lead with an impressive finish from the boundary line.
Hayden Gill had Wallan’s first of the second quarter inside 40 seconds as it looked to capitalise on the breeze.
However, Trent Stead replied immediate and it became the match’s trend – every time Wallan looked to have momentum, Riddell snatched it straight back.
Both teams kicked three goals in the quarter and the lead remained at 20 points at half-time.
Needing a big effort to stay in the game, Wallan’s defence muscled up in the third term and held the Bombers to two goals.
With the wind at its back in the last quarter, a 24-point three-quarter-time deficit was chaseable.
Gill gave the Magpies the perfect start with an early goal but again Riddell answered as Galea slotted his fourth major.
Gill’s third made it a 19-point game but Alkemade provided the reply and when Kamen Ogilvie and Darby kicked truly the margin was out to 38 points and the game over.
Bray said the ability to respond was a major factor in the win.
“It was something we spoke to the group about during the week, both sides are going to have momentum,” he said.
“It’s a matter of when they’ve got it how do we get it back and how quick can we get it back, so that was the pleasing thing today. every time they got one we’d get one or two back.”
Alkemade claimed best-on-ground honours with an all-action performance in midfield and helped seal the game in the fourth term.
Grabham took the ruck honours against a disappointing Chris Stewart, while Callum Williamson, Jesse Horton, Trent Stead and Tarczon impressed.
“Tommy is the ultimate team player,” Bray said.
“He plays a role for us, a crucial role, and playing that keeps him around the footy where he can do his best work.
“Galea was good with five, that’s a match-winning score, and Josh Grabham was good – Chris Stewart is an 11-time premiership ruckman but Josh just keeps going and does it all by himself.”
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For Wallan, midfield guns Brodie Gilchrist, Steve Boyall, Corey Viani and Sean Morris toiled hard all day, Patrick Mahoney had an impact around the ground and Gill threatened to win the game in the last quarter.
Riddell finished the day with the senior football, B-Grade and Under-19 netball premierships and finished runner-up in A-Grade and C-Grade netball.
Diggers Rest claimed a hat-trick of flags in reserve grade, while Gisborne Giants won the Under-19.5 football and D-Grade netball as it prepares to step up to senior football next season.
Woodend-Hesket made it back-to-back A-Grade netball titles with a five-goal win and Sam Coppinger awarded the grand final medal.
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