We preview the top-of-the-table blockbuster between Riddell and Diggers Rest
One of the biggest names in the RDFL will be missing from Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash between Riddell and Diggers Rest. We preview the clash.
Riddell
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Injury will see one of the biggest names in the Riddell District miss Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash.
Bombers gun Dylan Tarczon suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s win over Romsey and will miss the blockbuster against ladder-leader Diggers Rest.
The Burras will also be missing several key players, most notably Bowen Medallist Jaidyn Caruana and star big man Sean Egan.
However, the clash should still draw a big crowd to Riddells Creek Reserve with top spot and potentially the minor premiership on the line.
Both teams have suffered just one loss this season and Diggers sits on top on percentage and with a game in hand having served its second bye.
The Bombers claimed a heart-stopping three-point win earlier in the season and will be confident of repeating the dose on their home deck.
Could this be a grand final preview?
We’re sure Wallan will have something to say about that come September but both the Burras and Bombers have had strong wins over the Magpies in the past month.
KEY MATCH-UPS
STEVE TREWEEK v MITCH DAY
Diggers gun Day missed the Round 4 clash earlier this season and looms as arguably the toughest match-up for Riddell coach Justin Belleville. The Bombers will likely turn to trusty general Treweek to keep him quiet. Day sits second on the goalkicking charts with 43 goals in nine appearances and has been red-hot against premiership rivals, kicking five goals against Wallan and Macedon.
JOSH GRABHAM v MATT KRUL
The ruck battle will be critical and Riddell hopes a major advantage with skipper Grabham. Diggers will be without star big man Sean Egan and have been using veteran Matt Krul to fill the void. Grabham was best-on-ground in the Round 4 meeting and will again look to give his midfielders first use at the centre bounces and do damage around the ground with his athleticism. Krul will definitely need some help from his teammates to quell Grabham’s influence.
TIM WALSH v MITCH BROCKWELL
After keeping Macedon weapon Jason Cooke goalless last week, Burras backman Brockwell has another difficult job on Saturday against Walsh. The Riddell defender-turned-spearhead has booted 35 goals in just seven games and holds the highest goals-per-game average in the competition with five per match. Coming off a bag of seven against Romsey his confidence will be high but Brockwell is one of the best in the business.
CALLUM WILLIAMSON v MITCH JENSEN
Hard to say who takes who in the midfield battle but you can bet Williamson and Jensen will cross paths at some stage on Saturday and we should see fireworks. Both are damaging playmakers who can break lines and hit targets or push forward and hit the scoreboard. Jensen has been a revelation in his first since at Diggers while Williamson is one of the competition’s most proven performers.
TOM ALKEMADE v LUKE DELAHEY
Perhaps not direct opponents but both deliver critical outside run-and-carry for their clubs that will be crucial to their hopes of victory. Alkemade and Delahey are capable of turning defence into attack in a heartbeat and are sure to have a big say in Saturday’s result. Alkemade is a key avenue to goal for Riddell while Delahey plays more of a defensive role for Diggers but can sneak forward and do damage.
EXPECTED LINE-UPS
After tough wins over Romsey and Woodend-Hesket respectively, Riddell coach Justin Belleville and Diggers counterpart Jamie Lobb will have some tough decisions to make on Thursday night. The Burras’ ex-AFL player Cale Morton is facing a fitness test, while Stuart Clarke put his hand up for a senior return after getting through a game in the reserves last week. A five-goal performance earnt Zach Fisher best-on-ground honours in Diggers’ reserves win last week and could be rewarded. Meanwhile, pacy winger Riley Patterson and Lucas Shore are likely inclusions for Riddell who will be without Dylan Tarczon due to a hamstring injury. Tarczon isn’t expected to miss for long but will be put in cotton wool with the Bombers eyeing a deep September run. In just his second game of the year, Nick Bovezza was Riddell’s best in the reserves last week.
WHO WINS
Riddell coach, Justin Belleville
“It just comes down to who’s better on the day for longer. It’s a big game for both clubs and whoever can handle it will probably put themselves in the box seat.”
Diggers Rest coach, Jamie Lobb
“The middle is where it will be won. They’re very good in there and whoever can control that will probably have more control of the match.”
VERDICT
If recent history is anything to go by then Diggers Rest wins. The teams shared the points in 2019 and again in 2021 and Riddell claimed the first leg this season at Bloomdale Oval. The margins have certainly been fine, the Bombers winning by just three points earlier this season, while it was eight points to the Burras in the previous meeting. Given predicted weather conditions, expect another tight, tense battle at Riddells Creek Reserve on Saturday. Both teams are missing key personnel but given Josh Grabham’s dominance in the ruck for Riddell, Sean Egan’s absence will perhaps be hardest felt for Diggers and that could be the key to the game.
Riddell by six points.
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