We analyse the run home to predict how the Riddell District season will finish
The Riddell District Football League season is entering the home stretch and we’ve analysed the run home to see where every club will finish.
Riddell
Don't miss out on the headlines from Riddell. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The 2022 Riddell District Football League season finish line is in sight.
With three games to go in the home-and-away season we’ve analysed the run home to try and predict where each club will finish.
The battle for top spot and a finals week off is still up for grabs, while the top-five is far from certain.
No doubt this will serve as plenty of message board motivation for players and punters out there to prove us wrong.
DIGGERS REST (12-0-1, 192.30%)
Last Five: Western Rams (A), Lancefield (H), Wallan (A)
Coaches love the cliche one week at a time but Diggers Rest could sleep through the next fortnight. With respect to Rams and Lancefield all eyes will be on Greenhill Reserve for the Round 18 match against Wallan. It will be a good test of both clubs’ premiership aspirations and the finals bye will help the Burras refresh before a major semi-final against either Riddell or Wallan.
Prediction: WWL – 1st
RIDDELL (12-0-2, 168.07%)
Last Five: Bye, Western Rams (H), Lancefield (A)
The Bombers humbled Macedon on Saturday to head into their bye week with plenty of confidence. Strugglers Western Rams and Lancefield await after the break and if we’re being over analytical, it might not be the best preparation for a likely qualifying final against Wallan.
Prediction: -WW – 2nd
WALLAN (10-1-2, 272.91%)
Last Five: Macedon (A), Woodend-Hesket (H), Diggers Rest (H)
The Magpies face a big final month of the home-and-away season, which should be an ideal warm-up for finals. Macedon and Woodend should be comfortable wins before the highly-anticipated clash against Diggers Rest at Greenhill Reserve. We’re tipping Wallan to end Diggers’ winning run too. Dan Nolan will be hoping for a repeat of 2019 when the club came from fifth to march into a grand final.
Prediction: WWW – 3rd
ROMSEY (7-0-6, 107.84%)
Last Five: Lancefield (A), Melton Centrals (H), Woodend-Hesket (A)
The Redbacks are all but locked in for an elimination final – most likely against Macedon. A good win over the Cats was erased by a tough loss to Diggers Rest on Saturday so a couple of easier games should have Romsey confident before Woodend in the final round and then finals.
Prediction: WWL – 5th
MACEDON (7-0-7, 107.36%)
Last Five: Wallan (H), Bye, Western Rams (A)
The Cats have now fallen behind Romsey after consecutive losses to the Redbacks and Riddell. A 57-point loss to the Bombers was a major surprise and perhaps a sign that Macedon’s premiership shots for this season are over as injuries have taken a major toll. It doesn’t get any easier with Wallan visiting Tony Clarke Reserve this week. The Round 17 bye and Round 18 clash against Western Rams might help freshen the club up before an elimination final rematch against Romsey
Prediction: L-W – 5th
WOODEND-HESKET (5-1-7, 135.67%)
Last Five: Melton Centrals (A), Wallan (A), Romsey (H)
The Hawks are just two points behind arch-rival Macedon in the race for fifth place but will need a favour from Western Rams or finish the job against Wallan after drawing earlier in the season. They’ll then need to beat Romsey in Round 18 at home. There is still hope but everything will need to go right from here to break a 13-year drought.
Prediction: WLW – 6th
MELTON CENTRALS (4-0-10, 71.36%)
Last Five: Woodend-Hesket (H), Romsey (A), Bye
There’s been some positive growth under new coach Mark Pedersen this season at Centrals but the final two games look difficult. Knock over the Hawks and a five-win season is a major step in the right direction before the dreaded Round 18 bye.
Prediction: LL- – 7th
LANCEFIELD (2-0-11, 42.56%)
Last Five: Romsey (H), Diggers Rest (A), Riddell (H)
The Tigers secured their second win of the season with a victory over fellow struggler Western Rams. However, a daunting final month started with a 144-point loss to Wallan and it doesn’t get much easier from here with Romsey, Diggers Rest and Riddell to finish.
Prediction: LLL – 8th
RUN HOME: EVERY NORTHERN CLUB’S FINISH PREDICTED
LEADER: GET YOUR RIDDELL DISTRICT FOOTY NEWS HERE
RECORDS: LONGEST WINNING, LOSING STREAKS IN LOCAL FOOTY
WESTERN RAMS (0-0-13, 15.78%)
Last Five: Diggers Rest (H), Riddell (A), Macedon (H)
The Rams came within 27 points of Lancefield in a promising display and will continue to build over the off-season as they search for a first win since 2018.
Prediction: LLL – 9th
‘What we play for’: Wallan ready for grand final challenge
Wallan returns to the RDFNL grand final stage, defeating Macedon in the preliminary final, and is looking to cause a boilover on the big stage.
Grand final wins and a shock or two
Finals accelerated in local footy with plenty of grand final winners as elsewhere there were stunning results as teams looked to qualify for the decider. Here are the talking points from Saturday’s football.