By Tara Murray
Riddell played some strong football as it overcame Diggers Rest in the Riddell District Football League on Saturday.
Coming into the game on the back of a five game winning streak, the Bombers continued that good form on Saturday.
After a close first half on the scoreboard, the Bombers found another level in the second, to win 14.11 (95)-10.13 (73).
Bombers co-coach Jamie Elliott said they played some really good football against a good team.
“Playing Diggers at Diggers and getting the win, they don’t lose too many there,” he said.
“I thought we controlled the game to be honest. They kept coming back and they are a good side.
“We were able to kick some goals late.”
Elliott said Jimmy Nolan was their best in the ruck, making it easy for the small brigade in the middle.
Dylan Tarczon (three goals), and youngsters Jordan and Jesse Taylor were the other standouts.
“We had 22 good contributors which was the pleasing thing.
“We thought we had selected 22 players who would have a real go.”
Elliott said the pleasing thing was they were able to continue the form they had built up in recent weeks.
This was the Bombers first match against a top six side since their loss to Rupertswood in round seven.
Elliott said they had tinkered with their game style a bit this season and it had taken some time to work out.
“We changed the game style a bit, we did a whole 180,” he said. “We tinkered it at the start of the season and then tinkered with it in the first three or four rounds.
“We’ve now come up with something that we’re happy with.”
The win came with the side missing both their captains.
PHOTO GALLERY: Diggers Rest vs Riddell
Elliott said they were continuing to back the young guys in.
“The younger guys like Tommy Alkemade, Matty Panuccio [three goals on the weekend] and Nathan Croft … They’ve all played a lot of senior football. We’re expecting them to be cherry ripe now.”
The weekend’s match was the first in a tough run home.
They face all the other teams in the top six, including Romsey twice, to finish the season.
Currently, just one game separates the top six sides. Riddell sits second, percentage ahead of four teams.
Elliott said they would get a good indication of where they sit over the coming weeks as the race for the finals heats up.
“We’ve got to keep on winning to finish as high as possible,” he said.
“We all want to finish in the top three.”
In other results, Woodend-Hesket got a vital win against Melton Centrals, 14.10 (94)-
9.14 (68).
Rupertswood beat Broadford, 19.17 (131)-8.3 (51), while Wallan beat Rockbank 60.18 (378)-3.5 (23).
Matthew Perri kicked 21 goals for the Magpies in their win.
He now leads the league goal kicking with 65 goals for the season.
