SFNL: Dingley has ‘no regrets’ from its two-point grand final heartbreak

One more shot on goal was all that separated Dingley from a Southern league premiership. Coach Zach Horsley unpacks the emotional finish, selection and a star’s coming-of-age performance.

Devastated Dingley player Caleb Lewis on the siren. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Dingley coach Zach Horsley says there is no particular moment his side wants back – his only wish is they had one more opportunity.

The Dingoes led Cheltenham nine minutes into the last quarter of Sunday’s thrilling Southern league decider but ultimately fell two points short.

While it might seem like a premiership that got away, Horsley felt his side ticked every box it could.

“I don’t sit here and think about a moment in the game, an act or a decision that impacted it, we just didn’t get another opportunity to put another score on the board,” he said.

“I have been thinking about it: Do you want to lose by two points, 10 points, five goals or 10 goals? I think you’d rather be in the game the whole time.

“We were proud and I let the guys know that, to be that close to a premiership against a side who has only lost twice in two years is a phenomenal effort.

“I can’t sit here and say ‘jeez I wish we had this chance again’ or anything, there’s no regrets on the gameplay — we just didn’t get one more opportunity.”

Siren: Heaven for Cheltenham, heartbreak for Dingley. Picture: Andrew Batsch

It was spearhead Caleb Lewis who gave the Dingoes a chance with a breathtaking mark and composed finish 23 minutes into the last quarter.

He finished with four of Dingley’s eight goals, including two in the fourth quarter.

Horsley lauded the character of Lewis after he almost dragged his side over the line.

“11 goals in finals, I don’t think anyone kicked any more than six or seven,” he said.

“He’s done it all year and in our big games he’s stood up, he kicked five, two, four and four against Cheltenham this year.

“When you compare him against the best in our comp, he’s ticking the boxes every week which is phenomenal by a young key forward.

“He wears his heart on his sleeve, he wants to do the best for the team and being the big key forward, he just wanted to deliver bigger and better.

“If he kicked seven or eight and we still lost, he would’ve felt he could’ve done more, that’s just the person he is.”

Lewis was a force in the air all day. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Lewis kicks his fourth. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Nick Lloyd (L) and Lucas Walmsley console each other. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Dingley captain Jackson Peet didn’t finish the game after re-injuring the groin which sidelined him in the back end of the preliminary final.

Horsley said he would “never have a regret” about taking Peet into the decider.

“We were really comfortable with the selections we made, unfortunately Peety popped his groin again in the third quarter,” he said.

“But we got almost three quarters of Jackson Peet leadership which is such an important factor in the way we play, who we are and our identity as a club.

“We backed him to get out there and perform a role, which he was doing, unfortunately it just popped at the wrong moment.

“I’ll never have a regret about that decision. No way.”

Horsley praised the efforts of Michael Barnes, Kai Stretton, Lochie Benton, Tom Morecroft and Jordy Letts.

“Some of those guys are 19, 20 or 21 but they played like senior heads for us,” he said.

“I think we had a lot of winners on the day, everyone had contributions which is all you can ask for.”