Romsey coach Dean Helmers devises winning strategy to hammer Riddell in top-of-the-table RDFL clash

OPPOSITION coaches have been trying all sorts of new strategies to end Romsey’s unbeaten run in the RDFL. On Saturday, Redbacks coach Dean Helmers thought he would try one of his own. And it worked.

Romsey’s Ben Way bends down to pick up the ball while under pressure from Riddell’s Ethan Foreman on Saturday. Photo: Angie Basdekis

EACH week opposition coaches are trying to come up with an inventive new strategy to knock off runaway Riddell District Football League favourites Romsey.

So for Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash with Riddell, Redbacks coach Dean Helmers thought he would play some games and try out a new strategy of his own.

Helmers’ starting ruckman for the match, Redbacks captain Stephen Burlak, had never played ruck in his life and three of the visitors’ best midfielders started on the pine at Riddells Creek Reserve.

Expecting some heat from Riddell early, Romsey weathered the storm to the 10-minute-mark of the first quarter, to which point both sides had one goal to their name on the scoreboard.

Then Helmers released regular ruckman Anthony Trigg onto the ground along with some fresh midfield legs and from that point on the Bombers kicked just one goal for the rest of the match as Romsey ran away 78-point winners, 13.14 (92) to 2.2 (14).

“We had a plan to come out and try and ambush Riddell in the first 10 minutes and we deliberately left a few or our better midfielders and our ruckman on the bench at the start,” Helmers said.

“We had a clear message that as soon as the ruckman (Trigg) came on it was time to go up a gear. So he came on with a couple of fresh on-ballers and really from the 10-minute-mark on the boys really stepped up.”

In what was at times a heated affair, the Redbacks kicked nine-straight goals from the 10-minute-mark of the first term to open up a 58-point advantage at half-time before three goals to one in the second half only further increased the margin.

Mitchell Brewer, Shaun Austin and Cameron Streeter were among the visitors’ best in what was Romsey’s 12th win on the trot.

But while still very much confident about his side’s chances this year, Helmers said Riddell was my no means out of the premiership race despite the lopsided scoreboard.

“On the day it probably wasn’t too much of a contest but I know what Riddell’s got to come back into the side with Jimmy Nolan and Peter Robertson and (Jarrod) Silvester and Cameron Casson,” he said.

“They’ve got some good players to come back in so we’re under no illusions it will get a lot harder. But it’s not very often that you have a good win at Riddell.”