We rank the most dominant Riddell District teams of the decade
Six clubs have won a Riddell District premiership in the past 10 years but which team was the most dominant of the era? We’ve ranked the best teams of the decade. Did we get it right?
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While some might argue the Riddell District is a lop-sided competition it has been surprisingly competitive in the last decade.
Six different clubs have won premierships, seven have played off in a grand final and 11 have played finals at least once.
As such it’s been difficult to rank the most dominant seasons from the last 10 years.
Check out our list below and have your say.
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Honourable mention: Diggers Rest, 2013
Arguably the best season that wasn’t rewarded with a premiership. The Burra finished the regular season in second (14-2) before knocking off minor premier Riddell in the qualifying final but couldn’t repeat the effort in the decider as the Bombers took the title.
10. DIGGERS REST, 2018
H&A record: Third (12-4, 231.7%)
Finals run: EF def Romsey by 81 points, SF lost to Riddell by 22 points, PF def Macedon by 2 points, GF def Riddell by 21 points
The 2018 finals series was harder to pick than a broken nose and so it proved as minor premier Rupertswood crashed out in straight sets. Diggers almost suffered a similar fate in the preliminary final but survived by two points as reigning premier Macedon kicked 3.4 in a final-quarter charge to fall agonisingly short. However, buoyed by their lucky escape, the Burra held Riddell to just three goals at three-quarter-time and seal a second title in three seasons.
9. ROMSEY, 2015
H&A record: Fourth (13-3, 176.42%)
Finals run: EF def Macedon by 18, SF lost to Diggers Rest by 21, PF def Broadford by 59, GF def Diggers Rest by 10
The only team to win a premiership from as low as fourth this decade. Romsey couldn’t replicate its dominance of the previous year but found another level come finals. The Redbacks overcame a major semi-final hiccup before bouncing back in spectacular style against Broadford in the preliminary final. Romsey turned the tables on Diggers Rest in the decider to claim a third flag in five seasons.
8. RUPERTSWOOD, 2019
H&A record: Third, (12-4, 260.14%)
Finals run: EF def Macedon by 50, SF def Diggers Rest by 26, GF def Wallan by 85
After the disappointment of the previous year, the Sharks took their game to a new level in the 2019 finals series to claim a maiden Riddell District premiership. Rupo gained revenge on 2018 conqueror Macedon in week one before toppling the reigning premier Diggers Rest in the major semi-final. Grand final day couldn’t not have gone better as the Sharks ran rampant over Wallan, claiming one of the biggest grand final wins in league history thanks to Nick Grigg’s seven majors.
7. SUNBURY KANGAROOS, 2012
H&A record: Second (15-3, 241.08%)
Finals run: QF def Diggers Rest by 14, SF def Romsey by 27, GF def Romsey by 3
The year started with 120 and 94-point wins before one of the biggest wins in league history in Round 4, a 226-point thrashing of Lancefield; 38.22 (250) to 4.0 (24). The grand final was a rematch of the 2011 decider by this time the Kangaroos would not be denied. Romsey kicked 5.2 to storm home in the final term but Sunbury’s 0.4 saw them scrape home.
6. MACEDON, 2017
H&A record: First (14-2, 285.9%)
Finals run: QF def Rupertswood by 15, SF def Diggers Rest by 12, GF def Rupertswood by 13
On the back of star forward and 2017 Bowen Medal winner Jason Cooke’s 80 goals the Cats cruised through the regular season, winning five games by more than 100 points and a few more by 90-plus. Only horrible inaccuracy stopped them from smashing rivals in the finals with scores of 10.15, 9.14 and 11.14 luckily not coming back to bite them.
5. RIDDELL, 2013
H&A record: First (15-1, 196.37%)
Finals run: QF lost to Diggers Rest by 26, SF def Romsey by 95, PF def Sunbury Kangaroos by 66, GF def Diggers Rest by 7.
Riddell’s defence was a brick wall in 2013 as the Bombers held opposition teams to 52 points or less in 13 of 19 games and only two scored more than 90 points. Diggers Rest pulled off an upset win in the qualifying final but that only seemed to shock Riddell into action as they responded with 95-point and 66-point wins and claiming revenge and the premiership over the Burra in the decider.
4. ROMSEY, 2011
H&A record: First (17-1, 222.28%)
Finals run: QF lost to Riddell by 18, SF def Macedon by 12, PF def Riddell by 62, GF def Sunbury Kangaroos by 2.
Romsey was utterly dominant in the regular season, winning four games by more than 100 points, but nearly threw it all away when it was upset by Riddell in the first week of finals. The Redbacks recovered and gained revenge with a savage display in the preliminary final with the 80-point turnaround the biggest finals reversal of the decade. A seven-goal third term set up the grand final win as they held on in a thriller against Sunbury Kangaroos.
3. RIDDELL, 2010
H&A record: First (17-1)
Finals run: QF def Lancefield by 12 points, SF def Sunbury Kangaroos by 61, GF def Diggers Rest by 17
The Bombers claimed the first title of the new decade, losing just one game all season. Riddell knocked off reigning premier Lancefield in the qualifying final before sweeping away the Kangaroos and Burra to win it all. Mick Allen and Gerard Liddell were dominant in the forwardline while a youngster by the name of Haydn Ross was making a name for himself, securing a spot in the Team of the Year.
2. DIGGERS REST, 2016
H&A record: First (15-1, 206.29%)
Finals run: QF def Macedon by 73, SF def Broadford by 69, GF def Riddell by 6
After three straight grand final defeats, the Burra were determined to right the wrongs in 2016 but had to survive a grand final epic first. Riddell had one hand on the cup before Diggers staged a comeback to claim what they thought was a one-point victory. However, the celebrations were short-lived as a scoreboard error was discovered. The game was a draw and went to extra-time where the Burra officially sealed the deal.
1. ROMSEY, 2014
H&A record: First (16-0, 324.65%)
Finals run: QF def Rupertswood by 22, SF def Riddell by 59, GF def Diggers Rest by 18
The only undefeated team of the decade, the Redbacks were red-hot in 2014 in what would be the first year of back-to-back titles. Romsey’s season was highlighted by a 156-point win over Macedon and a 197-point win over Kilmore in the regular season. Diggers Rest were a tougher match in the decider but couldn’t stop the Redbacks from completing a perfect season.
