Romsey’s premiership aspirations face acid test in final three weeks of home-and-away season

Win or lose Romsey will learn plenty about its premiership aspirations in the final three weeks of the RDFNL home-and-away season.

Nathan Rayment and Darcy Lockens celebrate a goal for Romsey. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Finals have come early for Romsey.

In an acid test of their premiership aspirations, the Redbacks face league-leader Riddell in a top-of-the-table blockbuster at Riddell’s Creek Reserve on Saturday.

They then face third-placed Diggers Rest at home and fifth-placed Macedon away in the final fortnight of the home-and-away campaign.

Three straight wins has Romsey sitting second on the RDFNL ladder and a double chance within reach.

After surviving a scare from Woodend-Hesket at Romsey Park on Saturday, turning an eight-point half-time deficit into a 25-point win, coach Justin Sherman believes the team is ready to embrace the challenge.

Romsey coach Justin Sherman. Photo: Hamish Blair

“We were challenged pretty heavily in the first half but the growth of the group has been fantastic,” Sherman said.

“When we face adversity now we find our way through it, that’s finals footy, when things aren’t going your way you’ve got to make things happen and try to get the ascendancy back.

“You’ve got to give Woodend credit, they came with intent and a genuine appetite to compete.

“The way the boys came out in the third quarter and sustained it in the last was really pleasing, it’s definitely a growth area.”

Romsey was held to one behind in the first quarter and had just one goal to half-time.

However, the Redbacks turned the game on its head in the third term, booting four goals to nil to take a 16-point lead into three-quarter-time.

The hosts kicked away again in the last, holding Woodend to one goal, to win 7.10 (52) to 4.3 (27).

Skipper Nathan Blair was named best-on-ground, while Justin Waldron, Sam Wilson and Corey Pertzel impressed.

Corey Pertzel in action for Romsey. Picture: Josh Chadwick

“Blairy was sensational, his whole year to be honest,” Sherman said.

“As a leader and what he’s doing for us has been tremendous.

“Justin Waldron’s game in the ruck, he’s had 19-20 touches and his ability to get around the ground like another midfielder.

“We’ve had so many contributions from players this year … if we’re to win big games of footy we need 22 contributions every week and that’s something we pride ourselves on.”

Riddell claimed a 50-point win in the Round 5 meeting in May.

The Redbacks upset Diggers Rest by 32 points in Round 9 and claimed a 20-point win over Macedon the week before.

The run home could see the club earn a valuable double chance or slip down into an elimination final.

Sherman believes it is the perfect preparation for finals.

“What better way than to play the best teams, you want to be challenging and work out where you can improve,” he said.

“We’re under no illusion, every game is like a final at the moment.

“We’ve got one of the harder runs home but in saying that, we want to embrace it and we look forward to the challenge.

“That’s what you want going into finals, you want to know where you’re at.

“We’re pretty settled, we’ve had a few out with injury and illness but otherwise we’ve got a full bill of health.

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“Hopefully we get a few back over the next week or two and we’ll be primed going into finals.”

Riddell is three games clear on top of the ladder, a win securing the Bombers the minor premiership.

Romsey and Diggers Rest are locked on 10 wins with Wallan a game behind.

The Magpies could be second by Saturday night with the Burras being on the bye this weekend.