WHAT a week it was in the first round of the RDFNL finals series over the weekend.
Wallan, after dominating all season with only one loss to their name, took on Diggers Rest and Callum Moore over in Kyneton on Saturday afternoon.
Wallan kickstarted the day through Jake Layley before the Burras had their first response of the day.
Moore kicked his first for the day just after Diggers’ response, before the Magpies put themselves back in front through Blaide Dickson.
Diggers closed out the quarter strongly to lead 18-28 at the first break.
Dion Hill dominated the ground in the first, having 13 disposals to his name.
The second quarter was the eliminator for Wallan, as they conceded five goals to none, leaving themselves at 22-60 by half-time.
Moore had five to his name by half-time, while fellow leading goal-kicker Lachlan Smart hadn’t been near it.
Smart responded in the third with the first goal, and Hayden Gill joined him, but Diggers weren’t allowing a fightback to begin, kicking the next six goals of the third to leave the score at 49-101 at the final break.
Wallan would require everything in the tank to move on to a double chance next week, and Jake Layley did his best, slotting the first two goals of the last quarter. But Moore again proved why he’s worth the cash in the RDFNL, kicking his eighth goal for the day to shut the Magpies out.
Ben Dessent was best for the Magpies, leaving 36 disposals and 10 clearances out there, but Moore proved too strong with his eight goals and 23 disposals.
Diggers Rest moved on with the 76-125 win and looked set to face the winner of the Melton South v Riddells Creek game, or Macedon if it beat Kyneton.
Both games also proved to be high-quality entertainment on Sunday.
Melton South led its game from the get-go, kicking the first three goals of the match.
Riddell had conceded three goals from turnovers or unnecessary 50-metre penalties, but weren’t too flat at quarter time considering the score of 34-13, switching its energy from blaming one another to using it as fuel to get back into the game.
It bounced back in the second, but the run was cut short by the centre bounce clearances, which Melton continued to dominate.
The score sat at 54-39 at half-time, with the premiership quarter still to play.
But it was more of the same, an arm-wrestle, with both teams kicking another two goals for the quarter.
Everything was to play for in the final term. South had the chance to punish the Bombers early and put them on the back foot, but a set shot which hit the post proved to be a huge factor.
Riddell were then good enough to bounce back from experience, and its mids got to work in the middle of the ground to take control of the centre bounce.
Captain and ruckman Josh Grabham was putting taps on a platter for Nathan Hrovat and Callum Williamson, who were all named in the best for the Bombers for a reason.
They fought back to kick four goals in the last to none, thanks to goals from Zakkaria Saad, who had five for the day, and Jack Hammerling, who smothered a ball coming out from a kick-in before kicking the goal to reduce the margin to 11 points.
The score finished at 72-83, keeping Riddells Creek’s three-peat chances still alive, but they’ll have to get through Diggers Rest if it wants to go straight to the grand final.
Macedon went into their final against Kyneton as hot favourites, considering the third-versus-sixth ladder positions.
But it wasn’t to be for last year’s grand finalists, who are now eliminated from the competition after an 82-113 loss at Greenhill Reserve.
Next week will see Wallan take on Kyneton for a spot in the preliminary final, while Riddell and Diggers have double chances and play off for a spot in the Grand Final.
In the reserves, Wallan beat Macedon in a tight one by two points to progress to the next qualifying final, which is against Diggers Rest.
It lost in the under-19.5s, though, meaning their season is done.
Over to the netball, Wallan lost in the A-grade qualifying final to Woodend, who seem to be the team to beat across the competition.
Lancefield narrowly won its game against Gisborne by four goals, meaning it is still one of the Tigers’ best chances at a grand final this year.
Lancefield again just beat Romsey in the B-grade qualifying final by four points, and Wallan progressed from its elimination final as well.
Wallan under-19.5s lost its qualifying final to Riddell, who are a step ahead of the competition at this point in time.
