Diggers Rest puts in its best performance of the year to move through to semi-final in RDFL

LAST time Diggers Rest met Sunbury Kangaroos, the Burras got spanked. But on Sunday, the tables were turned.

LAST time Diggers Rest met Sunbury Kangaroos, the Burras got spanked.

In its worst performance of the season, Shaun Sims’ side copped a 60-point belting.

But on Sunday, the tables were turned.

And, unlike that Round 9 result that meant little, this was on the big stage of a knockout Riddell District Football League semi-final.

Meeting at Melton’s McPherson Park, Diggers Rest pulled off a 12.13 (85) to 6.11 (47) victory to move through to a semi-final showdown with Rupertswood.

It was a game the Burras controlled throughout as they put in one of their best performances of the season to not only lead at every change but also win every quarter.

“We obviously played a lot better than we did against them last time,” Sims said.

“We kept them to six goals. We probably gave up two goals at the end which I wasn’t too happy about. But defensively we set up really well behind the ball which is good.

“We tackled a lot better than we have in the last few games and we moved a few people to different positions which worked well.

“We felt like we were in control of the game for 99 per cent of it really.”

Mark Freeth was a key in defence while Brandon Kilty and Thomas Gleeson also impressed.

But Sims was quick to point out it was a true team performance that got his side across the line.

It is a team performance that will again be needed this weekend as the Burras eye another cutthroat clash with Rupertswood at Rockbank’s Ian Cowie Reserve on Sunday.

Rupo has twice beaten Diggers Rest this season and finished in second spot on the ladder before falling to Romsey in its qualifying final on Saturday.

Sims said with that in mind, there was no doubt his side would be the underdog heading into the clash but the Burras are quietly confident about their chances.

“They’d be expected to win,” he said.

“But we’ll go in confident that we played really well (last) week and we’ll try and implement the same sort of stuff that we did this ­Sunday.

“It’s going to be on.”