Riddell put in its best performance of the Riddell District Football League season to easily accounted for Romsey on Saturday.
Having won their past two games against sides which will likely finish in the bottom half of the ladder, the Bombers were looking for their first win against a team which played finals last year.
Just like the last time the two teams met, which was in the finals, it was all the Bombers in the 18.19 (127)-9.6 (60) win.
Bombers coach Jamie Elliott said it was pleasing to finally have a big win against a good side.
The win could quite easily have been 100 points-plus had the Bombers kicked straight.
“We were trying to get there in the end [100 points margin], but they pushed a few numbers behind the ball,” Elliott said.
“As we have been all season, we haven’t really kicked well and that was disappointing.
“We were attacking the footy pretty well and we just need to clean up a few little areas and we’ll be OK.”
Elliott said they would continue to work on goalkicking at training, but admits a lot of it is mental.
Hayden Ross was the pick of the Bombers in front of goal, kicking five goals.
Elliott said Paul Sahlberg and Tim Walsh were the best in a team performance.
He also singled out Riley Miller and Bryce Williamson as two of the younger players who impressed in only their second and third senior games respectively.
The win brings the Bombers back to 3-3, having lost their first three matches.
Elliott said while they would have liked to have won all three of those matches they had learnt a lot of lessons.
“It’s funny and sometimes you learn more from your losses than you do from your wins,” he said.
“We’re training better and setting up a lot better defensively.”
He said they were still trying to get the right mix, with several players in the under-19s and reserves who could easily be in the top side.
The Bombers this week face the Sunbury Kangaroos, who have been up and down all season.
“Hopefully we bring the same attitude and intensity as we did this week,” Elliott said.
In other results, Woodend-Hesket caused the upset of the season so far, defeating Diggers Rest, 15.9 (99)-13.10 (88).
Wallan was too good for Melton Centrals winning 19.12 (126)-8.3 (51), while the Sunbury Kangaroos returned to the winners’ list with a 24.12 (156)-4.5 (29) win against Lancefield.
Rupertswood smashed Rockbank 36.20 (236)-3.5 (23), while Macedon held Broadford score less, winning 25.18 (168)-0.0 (0).
