We analyse every Riddell District club’s run home and make our finals predictions

There’s just six weeks left in the Riddell District season and the battle for a double chance and the top-five is getting fierce. We make our predictions.

The Riddell District run home.

We’re into the home straight of the Riddell District season.

With six rounds to go, the battle for the double chance and top-five is getting fierce.

Woodend-Hesket, Wallan and reigning premier Riddell are all gunning for a top-three finish.

Romsey, Macedon and Melton Centrals are fighting it out for the top-five.

Plus, we’ve gazed into our crystal ball to try and predict how the finals series will play out.

Find out who makes the cut and who we’re tipping for the flag below.

Diggers Rest captain Mitchell Jensen. Picture: Hamish Blair

DIGGERS REST (10-0-0, 190.26%)

Run home: Macedon (H), Wallan (H), Riddell (H), Western Rams (A), Romsey (H), Melton Centrals (A)

Prediction: Win, Win, Win, Win, Win, Win

Finish: 16-0-0, First

Hard to see where the Burras drop one in the final six weeks. Wallan and Riddell will be big challenges but Diggers has home ground advantage in both. Expect the club to go hard for the rest of the season knowing it will earn a bye in the first week of finals and an all-important week off. It would have learnt a lot after last season when they let top spot slip in the final week of the campaign and a fresher Riddell steamrolled them in the grand final.

WALLAN (8-0-3, 204.44%)

Run home: Melton Centrals (H), Diggers Rest (A), Bye, Lancefield (A), Woodend-Hesket (H), Riddell (A)

Prediction: Win, Loss, Bye, Win, Win, Loss

Finish: 11-0-5, Third

Magpies coach Daniel Nolan made a bold statement at the start of the year, declaring his club had the best young talent in the league. At Round 12, he’s on the mark with his renovated squad sitting second with a competition-best percentage. The next six week will tell us plenty about what Wallan can achieve in finals with matches against Diggers and Riddell away and Woodend at Greenhill. We’ve got it winning one of those games.

Josh Pound talks to his Woodend-Hesket players at a quarter break. Picture: Hamish Blair

WOODEND-HESKET (8-0-3, 124.29%)

Run home: Western Rams (H), Melton Centrals (A), Romsey (H), Bye, Wallan (A), Macedon (H)

Prediction: Win, Win, Win, Bye, Loss, Win

Finish: 12-0-4, Second

The Hawks have lived up to the hype through the opening 12 rounds. A drought-breaking finals appearance is already assured, ending a wait that dated back to 2009. Now the question is what can Woodend-Hesket achieve come finals. Injuries are starting to bite Josh Pound’s men but a favourable run home should allow them to get fit and keep the wins ticking over. Wallan at Greenhill will be a good test after a 17-point win in Round 8. That clash will likely decide who finishes second.

RIDDELL (7-0-4, 149.66%)

Run home: Romsey (H), Bye, Diggers Rest (A), Melton Centrals (H), Lancefield (A), Wallan (H)

Prediction: Win, Bye, Loss, Win, Win, Win

Finish: 11-0-5, Fourth

The reigning premier has been hit by injury this season but is getting healthy at the right time. Riddell has won five games on the bounce and secured it finals spot, highlighting the club’s depth. There’s a couple of blockbusters on the run home – a grand final rematch against Diggers at Bloomdale and Wallan at Riddells Creek – that will decide whether Justin Belleville’s men are running out for an elimination final or qualifying final.

ROMSEY (4-0-6, 117.28%)

Run home: Riddell (A), Western Rams (H), Woodend-Hesket (A), Macedon (H), Diggers Rest (A), Lancefield (H)

Prediction: Loss, Win, Loss, Win, Loss, Win

Finish: 7-0-9, Fifth

The Redbacks shock loss to Melton Centrals was their fourth defeat in a row and fifth in the last six games. It’s left the door open in the battle for fifth. Fortuitously for Justin Sherman’s men the run home is kinder to them than their rivals. A superior percentage is also in their favour. We’ve got Romsey winning three of its last six games but its finals likely hinge on the clash against Macedon at Romsey Park.

Melton Centrals and Romsey are battling for fifth spot. Picture: Hamish Blair

MELTON CENTRALS (5-0-6, 112.74%)

Run home: Wallan (A), Woodend-Hesket (H), Macedon (A), Riddell (A), Bye, Diggers Rest (H)

Prediction: Loss, Loss, Loss, Loss, Bye, Loss

Finish: 5-0-12, Seventh

Saturday’s drought-breaking win over Romsey has Centrals within reach of a first finals appearance since 2012. It would be a remarkable achievement but a horror run home is likely to see the drought continue. The Blues face premiership contenders Diggers, Wallan, Woodend and Riddell as well as Macedon away in the final six weeks. Matt Sproule has done an outstanding job in his return but, respectfully, we don’t see Centrals singing the song again in 2023.

MACEDON (4-0-6, 89.41)

Run home: Diggers Rest (A), Lancefield (H), Melton Centrals (H), Romsey (A), Western Rams (H), Woodend-Hesket (A)

Prediction: Loss, Win, Win, Loss, Win, Loss

Finish: 7-0-9, Sixth

Injuries have smashed Al Meldrum’s men this season but a four-point loss to reigning premier Riddell is a positive sign for the Cats. Diggers Rest at Bloomdale is the toughest assignment in the RDFNL but it gets easier from there with Lancefield, Centrals and Western Rams all at Tony Clarke Reserve. A poor percentage is probably the biggest hurdle to breaking into the top-five but knock off Romsey in Romsey and it’s probably irrelevant.

LANCEFIELD (2-0-9, 68.14%)

Run home: Bye, Macedon (A), Western Rams (A), Wallan (H), Riddell (H), Romsey (A)

Prediction: Bye, Loss, Loss, Loss, Loss, Loss

Finish: 2-0-14, Eighth

There’s been plenty of positive in Tim Bannan’s first season in charge. Lancefield has doubled its percentage from last season and the points against is vastly improved. The Tigers will be confident of adding to their two wins as well. They’ll fancy their chances against Macedon and Romsey but both are away. The obvious opportunity is Western Rams at Ian Cowie Reserve.

REPORT: CENTRALS ENDS 10-YEAR DROUGHT, EYES FINALS

LEADER: GET YOUR RIDDELL DISTRICT FOOTY NEWS HERE

EDFL: ESSENDON DISTRICT ROCKED BY COACHING BOMBSHELL

WESTERN RAMS (0-0-11, 13.63%)

Run home: Woodend-Hesket (A), Romsey (A), Lancefield (H), Diggers Rest (H), Macedon (A) Bye

Prediction: Loss, Loss, Win, Loss, Loss, Bye

Finish: 1-0-15, Ninth

The Rams’ losing streak now sits at 64 games, the longest drought in Victoria. Can Leigh Sporle’s men put an end to it before the season is out? We tipped the Rams to win a game in our pre-season guide and we’re not shying away from it now. The biggest chance is Lancefield at Ian Cowie Reserve in Round 15.