Who are the premiership contenders in the Riddell District league
SEASON PREVIEW: Thrown a blanket over a host of clubs, the RDFNL premiership is well and truly up for grabs in an expanded finals series.
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Throw a blanket over them.
This Riddell District football season looms as one of the best in the league’s long history.
Melton South is back after almost 30 years in the Ballarat league, while Gisborne Giants takes its first steps as a fledgling senior club.
The premiership is truly up for grabs this season with a number of clubs ready to prove themselves worthy.
Reigning premier Riddell and grand finalist Wallan are obvious front-runners but Macedon, Diggers Rest, Romsey and Kyneton will all fancy their chances.
Don’t count out the likes of Woodend-Hesket, Melton Centrals and the returning Panthers making a run for the top-six either.
Riddell is looking to run it back and everyone is back on board.
The Bombers have added young gun Lachy Hay from rival Macedon, while experienced midfielder Ben Borg teams back up with old Rupertswood coach Arron Bray.
Dean Galea won the RDFNL goalkicking award, his ninth league title, to spearhead the competition’s second best offence but perhaps more importantly the premier had the best defence, conceding just 36 points a game.
After back-to-back preliminary finals, Wallan was back in the big dance last season but again fell short with the club’s premiership drought extending to 33 years.
After securing the likes of Chris Stewart, who would win the Bowen Medal in his debut season, Reuben Rode and Jake Carlisle last season, the Magpies have again gone shopping.
The likes of Victor Micallef, Jeremy Hayes, Alex Crawford and Cameron Cloke arrived during the summer and expectations are high at Greenhill Reserve.
While Wallan made a big splash, perhaps the most intrigue surrounds Melton South.
The Panthers haven’t won a game since 2022 and are currently riding a 39-game losing streak but step back to the RDFNL looking to make an immediate impact.
The signing of Richmond premiership star Marlion Pickett and fellow ex-AFL talent Sam Darley speaks to their ambition.
However, given the club’s recent struggles, just getting a win will be the first goal.
Kyneton, which made its RDFNL debut last year after crossing from the Bendigo league, found out first-hand how competitive the Riddell District can be.
Coach Ethan Foreman is back in yellow and black after missing the second half of the season, while ruckman Hadyn Smith is on board to bolster the midfield.
Further strengthening the Tigers, Doncaster duo Louis Thompson and Isaac Barassi have signed on and Danny Grmusa has played in two Western Division 1 grand finals.
The team that pipped them to fifth, Macedon.
Highlighting the evenness of the competition, the Cats then charged all the way to the preliminary final.
Wins over Romsey and Diggers Rest showed what the club is capable of on offence and coach Al Meldrum wants to see more of it in 2025.
Captain Jason Cooke kicked 40 goals in 13 matches, including a stunning bag of seven in the semi-final triumph over the Burras and will once again spearhead his club’s attack.
The battle between Cooke, reigning titleholder Galea, evergreen Wallan spearhead Matt Perri and Romsey’s 2023 league-leading goalkicker Jack Jedwab should be fascinating.
Jedwab returns to Romsey full-time in 2025 after spending last year on Essendon’s VFL list.
The Redbacks will be led by club great – and first-time coach – Nathan Blair as they look to break a frustrating run of early finals exits.
So too will Diggers Rest be looking to improve under new management as Shaun Campbell takes the coaching reins at Bloomdale Oval.
The 2023 premiers’ defence ended in straight sets last year but it has added some quality recruits, most notably Mark and Jamie Anderson from Ovens and Murray power Wangaratta and Yarraville-Seddon WFNL premiership players Jesse Varsamakis and Brandon Lester.
It will come as no surprise that newcomer Gisborne Giants has been the busiest this off-season, adding a host of new faces as it embarks on its maiden senior season.
Former AFL-listed forward Brad Mangan will skipper the club on its voyage.
However, Lancefield can also lay claim to bringing in the most new recruits.
Under new coach, Ryan O’Meara, the Tigers are looking to avoid a repeat of last year’s winless wooden spoon-winning campaign and have secured more than 15 new players.
Expect the pair to surprise a few sides.
Despite winning just three games Melton Centrals produced a few surprises themselves last year, knocking off Diggers Rest to end a 20-year drought.
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Melton Centrals is another club with a new coach, with Damien Zanic taking charge, and will be hoping to sing the song more often in 2025.
Finally, Woodend-Hesket after falling down the ladder is eyeing a quick bounce back.
The Hawks have strengthened their ties with Essendon District power Strathmore, bringing in Premier Division premiership-winning captain Sam O’Loughlin as well as fellow Mores Matt Doody, Brendan Butler and Luke Butcher.
Buckle up, people.
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Ultimate Riddell District club-by-club season preview
As many as nine clubs have eyes on six finals spots, making for Riddell District’s biggest and best season yet. Check out all the ins and outs and key players for every club.