Diggers Rest has done a great job of keeping the lid firmly sealed in the Riddell District Football League this season.
The Burras, yet to win a senior RDFL premiership, are through to the grand final after defeating reigning premier Sunbury 8.10 (58) to 8.6 (54) at McPherson Park on Saturday.
PICTURE GALLERY: Diggers Rest v Sunbury Kangaroos
THE COACH: It’s ‘business as usual’
It is one step better than they achieved last season. Diggers Rest
was the minor premier in 2012 but was dumped out in the preliminary
final.
When the siren blasted to signal the end of Saturday’s qualifying
final Burras coach Jamie Elliott, his staff and players threw their
hands in the air.
Elliott was a happy man following the game but remained pragmatic, saying the lid remained on with a game still to play.
“It was a bit emotional, that last quarter and a half,” he said. “We’ve got one more hurdle. We’ve made it, so we’ve got a chance, don’t we?”
If Elliott was happy, Sunbury coach Chris Meacham was the opposite. He knew his side’s poor first half had cost them a chance at victory.
The Kangaroos trailed by 29 points at half-time after a listless
second term saw Diggers Rest dominate and get out to what proved to be a
match-winning lead.
But Sunbury kicked six of eight goals in the second half to nearly steal a win in front of a vociferous crowd.
A crosswind blowing towards the clubrooms made scoring tough for
both sides, but Diggers Rest had the better of the opening quarter.
Steven Freeth kicked the game’s first goal, a lovely, well-judged kick
in the wind.
With key target Brent Tuckey well held by Daniel Gregory, Brandon
Kilty had to step up, and he did, kicking two, ensuring the Burras went
into quarter time with a six-point lead.
The second term, however, was largely one-sided. The Kangaroos
failed to capitalise on some early opportunities as both sides fumbled
early in the quarter.
Diggers Rest got the ascendancy when Tuckey took a great pack mark
and kicked truly, followed shortly by Brad Sluggett and Kilty goals,
and by half-time the contest appeared over.
But the Kangaroos refused to lie down. Meacham asked for a greater
physical presence from his players, and they answered the call, lifting
their intensity across the ground.
Jake Young drove the Roos inside 50 and Tierone Cuffe marked and
goaled from the boundary to give Sunbury the first of five goals for the
term.
The Roos fed on the emotion, gathering momentum with every forward
thrust. Defender Joeb Ploog went forward, and it proved a masterstroke,
the defender lighting up McPherson Park with three goals.
Amazingly, it gave Sunbury a two-point lead at three-quarter time.
It was all set up for a grandstand finish in the last quarter and
both sides were nervous early, with several turnovers, free kicks and
50-metre penalties.
Tuckey broke the deadlock midway through the term, finally
breaking free of Gregory – who did a brilliant job on him all afternoon –
and put Diggers back in front.
Minutes later Cole Laurie marked and kicked a superb goal from 55 metres out.
Sunbury had chances late in the game but were thwarted by Brett Caton, who was invaluable in defence.
Lenny Clark played another terrific game for Diggers in the ruck and was easily the most influential big man on the ground.
Sunbury lives to fight another day, and will meet Riddell in the preliminary final this weekend.
