Who will finish top? Will Broadford push its way into the top six? And who will miss out on the six? These are three of the questions that remain in the final five rounds of the Riddell District Football League season. And the way the season is going they won’t be decided until the final round.
Tara Murray provides a quick look at each club’s run home.
Rupertswood
Position: 1st
Record: 10-2
Points: 44 (188.44%)
Last five games: 5-0
Run home: Lancefield (H), bye, Riddell (H), Romsey (H), Wallan (A)
For a side which has won nine games in a row and sits a top of the ladder, Rupertswood seems to be flying under the radar. The Sharks haven’t always been convincing but have done enough to get over the line each time. They would be looking to get the win against Lancefield before a bye the following week. Consecutive matches against Riddell and Romsey will determine where they finish.
Romsey
Position: 2nd
Record: 9-2
Points: 44 (173.19%)
Last five games: 4-1
Run Home: Macedon (A), Rockbank (H), Sunbury Kangaroos (A), Rupertswood (A), Woodend-Hesket (A)
Romsey has a mixed run home including matches against two of the three teams who have really tested them. The Redbacks lost to Rupertswood in round two and it took until the last 10 minutes against Macedon to get the win. Both are games the Redbacks will be looking to win. They also face the Sunbury Kangaroos who are fighting for a finals spot. The Redbacks are the only team of the top seven which doesn’t have a bye to come.
Riddell
Position: 3rd
Record: 10-2
Points: 44 (156.43%)
Last five games: 5-0
Run Home: Melton Centrals (H), Broadford (A), Rupertswood (A), bye, Sunbury Kangaroos (H)
Riddell is the form side of the competition having defeated Diggers Rest, Romsey, Sunbury Kangaroos and Macedon in the last month. At least two clubs believe the Bombers are the best side they have faced this year. Win the next two matches against teams which are below them on the ladder and the Bombers will be in a good spot. They will be tested with matches against Rupertswood and Sunbury Kangaroos in the last three weeks.
Diggers Rest
Position: 4th
Record: 9-3
Points: 40 (178.24%)
Last five games: 4-1
Run Home: Sunbury Kangaroos (H), Wallan (H), bye, Melton Centrals (A) Macedon (H)
For most of the season, the Burras have shown what people expect for them and why they have been one of the premiership favourites. They then through in a poor game, which happen to be against sides which make them pay. They have lost to Romsey, Sunbury Kangaroos and Riddell and been disappointing in those games. They should beat Wallan and Melton Centrals, but it’s the games against Sunbury Kangaroos and Macedon that will give a clearer indication where they are at.
Macedon
Position: 5th
Record: 8-4
Points: 36 (150.65%)
Last five games: 3-2
Run Home: Romsey (H), Kilmore (A), bye, Lancefield (A), Diggers Rest (A)
After struggling against sides above them on the ladder, the Cats got a win last weekend against the Sunbury Kangaroos. This will surely give them confidence that they can not only match, but beat the better sides. They will be hoping to avoid last quarter fade outs against Romsey and Diggers Rest like they had the first time they played them.
Sunbury Kangaroos
Position: 6th
Record: 8-4
Points: 36 (147.59%)
Last five games: 2-3
Run Home: Diggers Rest (A), bye, Romsey (H), Rockbank (H), Riddell (A)
The Kangaroos have one of the harder run homes of the top seven teams. They face three of the top four teams with both Riddell and Romsey having easy wins against them earlier in the year. The Kangaroos have lost all three games since their first bye and will need to find form quickly if they are to remain in the top six. Winning against Rockbank is vital and they will need to beat at least one of the top sides to play finals.
Broadford
Position: 7th
Record: 7-5
Points: 32 (132.39%)
Last five games: 3-2
Run Home: Wallan (A), Riddell (H), bye, Kilmore (H), Rockbank (A)
Everyone has said all year that Broadford has had one of the easier draws and with their remaining four matches they should make finals. Riddell is only one of the top sides Broadford plays in the run home. Expect to see former AFL stars Paul Licuria, Russell Robertson and Brodie Holland take to the field as they look to qualify for finals. The one negative for Broadford at this point of the season is they haven’t beaten a side above them on the ladder.
Lancefield
Position: 8th
Record: 5-7
Points: 24 (84.28%)
Last five games: 3-2
Run Home: Rupertswood (A), bye, Rockbank (A), Macedon (H), Kilmore (H)
Three games outside the six with only five rounds to go the Tigers look set to finish middle of the table again. Like Broadford, the Tigers have only beaten the sides below them but have struggled against the sides above them. The challenge for the Tigers is to see whether they can match it with either Rupertswood or Macedon and try and get an upset win.
Wallan
Position: 9th
Record: 4-8
Points: 20 (81.79%)
Last five games: 2-3
Run Home: Broadford (H), Diggers Rest (A), bye, Woodend-Hesket (H), Rupertswood (H)
It has been an up and down season for the Magpies where they have dropped matches they thought they would have won. Have a tough run home with only one match against a side below them on the ladder. They too haven’t beaten a team above them.
Rockbank
Position: 10th
Record: 2-9
Points: 16 (58.94%)
Last five games: 1-4
Run Home: Woodend-Hesket (A), Romsey (A), Lancefield (H), Sunbury Kangaroos (A), Broadford (H)
Results don’t necessarily show the improvement of the Rams this season. They have been competitive for parts of games against the top sides. They have some tough matches left against sides which are looking to play finals.
Woodend-Hesket
Position: 11th
Record: 3-9
Points: (49.91%)
Last five games: 2-3
Run Home: Rockbank (H), Melton Centrals (A), bye, Wallan (A), Romsey (H)
The Hawks will be looking to add to its three wins with three very winnable matches in the run home. They beat Rockbank and Wallan the first time they played and have yet to play Melton Centrals. Last year they had three wins for the year and they have been a better side this year.
Melton Centrals
Position: 12th
Record: 2-10
Points: 12 (54.32%)
Last five games: 0-5
Run Home: Riddell (A), Woodend Hesket (H), Kilmore (A), Diggers Rest (H), bye
Centrals are still a very young side looking towards the future having blooded several under-18.5 players. The have matches against Woodend-Hesket and Kilmore which they would mark down as very winnable games.
Kilmore
Position: 13th
Record: 0-12
Points: 4 (30.72 %)
Last five games: 0-5
Run Home: Bye, Macedon (H), Melton Centrals (H), Broadford (A), Lancefield (A).
Getting a win would be the goal for Kilmore in the last five rounds. The best chance of that is against Melton Centrals who only have two wins themselves.
