Riddell sent an early finals message with a demolition job against Diggers Rest in the Riddell District Football League qualifying final.
Having not played their best football yet, the Bombers entered finals primed to take it up to the best.
Fresh off a week off, the Bombers faced the ladder leaders who were coming off two straight losses, in a qualifying final on Saturday.
The Bombers jumped out of the blocks early and led by 42 points at quarter time.
The game was over at half time with the margin out to 64 points.
Riddell continued the momentum heading in the second half to come away with a 19.12 (126)-6.7 (43) win.
Bombers coach Arron Bray said while they weren’t expecting that scoreline, they were pretty confident heading into the game.
“We got pretty much all our squad back together,” he said. “We haven’t had that all year with four or five changes each week hurting us.
“We didn’t have that continuity. They had a couple out as every team does at this time of the year.
“We still had Taco [Dylan Tarczon] and [Matthew] Darby out.”
Bray said the most pleasing thing about the win was the spread of contributors in a really good team performance.
Getting a good start was exactly what they were after.
“We started really well and the mids took control early on,” he said. “Our forwards got some really good looks in the first 20 minutes.
“We had five or six goals at the 20 minute mark and that set us up. They lost a few and had to battle it out to their credit.
“They were down on rotations and I asked the boys to be ruthless and they were.”
Bray said the Burras had three or four injuries leaving them with no bench late in the game.
The Bombers had seven multiple goal kickers led by Zak Saad with four goals.
Brent Swallow, Matthew Panuccio and Bryce Williamson were named the Bombers best.
Bray said they showed some of the signs they had in the run to the premiership last year in the win on Saturday.
“We’ve spent a few weeks at training working on the adjustments we needed in the midfield group,” he said.
“We started that five weeks ago and we’ve seen that come to fruition which is good for the coaching staff.
The Bombers now face Macedon in the semi finals with a grand final spot on the line.
The Cats beat Melton South in an elimination final on Sunday.
Bray said with the double chance they wouldn’t rush Tarczon and Darby back into the side with having the double chance.
For the Burras, James Waters and William Rousch were named their best.
The Burras will face Kyneton in an elimination final after the Tigers upset Wallan in an elimination final on Sunday.
