It was a case of deja vu for Riddell District Football League interleague coach Matt Power in Saturday’s AFL Country Championship match against Nepean Football League.
Last year the league led Alberton by 18 points at three-quarter time, only to fall one point short.
This time the RDFL led by 12 at three-quarter time but Nepean hit the front late in the last quarter.
“It felt like last year 100 per cent,” Power said. “I thought the gods were against us again.”
However this time there was one more twist and a Jack Mills goal with one minute to go put RDFL back in front by three points.
“We knew how much time was left and we didn’t play the last minute well at all,” Power said.
But it didn’t matter and the RDFL won 15.9 (99) – 13.18 (96).
The result was the biggest upset of the country championships, with the 29th-ranked RDFL defeating the 13th-ranked Nepean FL.
The two teams played each other because their original opponents both pulled out of the competition.
Power said Nepean looked likely to take the game away from the RDFL on more than one occasion.
“They were clean with the ball in the first quarter and we struggled to stay with them,” he said.
“The boys’ work rate was pretty good. Once we got into the game we took control in the second quarter.
“They came at us again in the third quarter and late in the fourth but we held them out. Credit to our boys.”
Power said all 23 players contributed.
“To beat a side like that you need all 23 players at or near their best,” he said.
Corey Viani was awarded the best afield medal for the RDFL side, while Kris Bardon won the medal for the Nepean side.
“Everyone played well,” Power said.
“All the bench players went on and did their roles.
“Mills got what he deserved with kicking the winning goal and Jase Williams was dangerous across half back.
“The back line was very disciplined and [Rex] Hickman, [Kane] Murphy and [Hayden] Ross were lively up forward.”
Power said he didn’t think a hamstring injury to James Nolan was too bad and he was taken off only as a precaution.
RDFL is now ranked 27th for next year’s competition and will play Mid Gippsland.
“If we play our best football we can match it with higher-ranked teams,” Power said.
“We showed that on the weekend.”
