By Colin MacGillivray
DIFFERENT ground, different stakes, same result – Wallan comprehensively defeated Diggers Rest for the second week in a row on Saturday to set up a Riddell District Football Netball League semi-final showdown with minor premier Riddell.
While the Magpies impressed with a 38-point victory over the Burras in the final round of the home-and-away season, they showed they were capable of even more during Saturday’s qualifying final at Romsey Park in a 17.14 (116) to 3.5 (23) demolition.
From the opening bounce the Burras appeared nervous, often fumbling the ball when chances for clean possession presented themselves.
In contrast, the Magpies were ruthless and assured, tackling hard and surging forward repeatedly.
Half forward Jake Layley helped set the tone for Wallan with repeated efforts to tackle and lock the ball inside forward 50 in the first quarter, reaping reward with an early goal.
The procession continued, with midfielders Steven Boyall, Ricky Schraven and Jarryd Bonello feeding off the ruck dominance of Will Brock and Patrick Mahoney to keep the ball in Wallan’s forward half.
Boyall’s ball use and sharp decision making were particularly noticeable on a day when heavy conditions made clean play difficult.
On the rare occasions Diggers Rest was able to penetrate Wallan’s midfield zone and send the ball forward, Magpies skipper Michael Mannix and fellow defenders Cody Lynch, Matt Bonello, Corey Baker and Brenton Cox were able to repel them.
In the absence of league-leading goal-kicker Matt Perri – who missed with a nagging injury for the second straight week – Corey Grindlay was a focal point in Wallan’s forward 50 early.
Grindlay provided the highlight of the first half when he tracked a long kick into the goal square, booting it cleanly out of the air without taking possession for a goal.
In the second half it was Nathan Fowler and Todd Muldoon who put on a show, finishing the game with four goals each.
Wallan coach Daniel Nolan was full of praise for his players after the performance, lauding the Magpies’ ability to hold Diggers Rest goalless in the first half.
“The midfield were really bringing that two-way running, which is what we’re pushing them to do. They’re getting up and down the field – getting in the back line and helping out and then running hard forward and setting up our zone,” he said.
“Full credit to the whole 22, but the back line again was strong. To keep a really good side goalless for a half of football – the back six probably doesn’t get the praise that it should get, but they certainly hold us together.”
Vice-captain Ricky Schraven said the team was buoyed by its win against Diggers Rest in the final home-and-away round.
“We didn’t really change anything. We thought we had to come out with the same intensity and same focus as last week,” he said.
“We knew in that first 10 minutes if we could get our game going and put them on the back foot, we could take off from there.”
Schraven said he expected a tough contest against Riddell with a grand final berth on the line.
“It’s going to be a hot game. They came out the last time we played them and brought the pressure early. We went into our shell a little bit,” he said.
“Especially in the midfield, we want to focus on coming out with a bit more physicality and prevent them from getting on the front foot.”
Nolan said individual match-ups would be crucial.
“If some of our boys can win their match-ups and we can continue to play attacking football by winning the ball first and then spreading to create, it will be a good contest to watch,” he said.
The Magpies rested several key players in the last quarter but emerged without any injury concerns.
Nolan backed his team to recover well before facing the Bombers, who enjoyed a bye in the first week of the finals.
“There were a few boys who were close this week but didn’t quite make it. We’ve got Perri, [Lachlan] Inness, and Rhys Frost who has played a lot of senior football and is in the mix as well.
“Those three boys are knocking the door down, which makes my job a little bit harder with selection, but it’s a good problem to have.”
Romsey bow out
Romsey bowed out of the finals on Sunday, succumbing to Macedon after a strong first quarter in the Riddell District Football Netball League senior football elimination final.
The Redbacks used a breeze and favourable conditions at the southern end of the Greenhill Reserve ground to register seven scoring shots to one in the first term, but kicked a wasteful 2.5.
The Cats got on top in the second quarter, booting six goals to none to take a 21-point lead at half time that was never seriously challenged as scoring opportunities dried up for both sides in the second half.
Romsey coach Paul Kennedy said while the 4.8 (32) to 8.8 (56) loss was disappointing, the young side had a bright future ahead of it.
“We feel like we made some improvements as a group [this year],” he said.
“We’re an exceptionally young side, so it’s been pleasing to see a couple of the guys from last year who had their first year of senior football step up. The main two would be Corey Pertzel and Dean Walsh. Their growth this year has been incredible.
“Corey is probably a big chance to finish in the top three in our best and fairest and Dean has kicked 25 goals for the year and been exciting.
“If we can get the same improvement out of the kids who we’ve brought in this year, I think the club is on a real steep rise with some talented juniors.”
Kennedy said he was undecided on whether he would coach the Redbacks in 2023, but paid homage to the club.
“I’ll let the dust settle before I decide [on whether I come back] but I don’t think they’ll lose any players. They’re a very close group with some terrific leaders,” he said.
“It’s a great football club. When you come there you feel very welcome and the players seem to fit in and don’t want to leave. In 20 years of coaching they’re the most respectful group I’ve ever coached. They’re a terrific bunch of boys.”
