Diggers Rest has stamped itself as the team to beat in this year’s Riddell District Football League season after a big win against Macedon on Saturday.
It was a top-of-the-table clash at Bloomdale Oval for the at-home Burras against Macedon, and it was the undefeated home side that controlled most of the game.
The Burras found plenty of the ball early on but couldn’t convert.
Then, having found the middle of the goals, the Burras kicked away from the Cats for a 13.17 (95)-6.14 (50) win.
After only just getting the job done the week before against Wallan, Burras’ coach Shaun Sims was more pleased with Saturday’s showing.
“We addressed a few things during the week and, for most of the game, our performance was really strong,” Sims said. “We’re blessed to have some really good players [who] stood up at different times.
“Most of the day, we were putting ourselves in a good position.
“We gave away some stupid free kicks and gave them three or four goals which I’m not rapt about, but to get away with a 40-point win, and to play well, is pleasing.”
Sims said the club was focused on ensuring the players were not just concerned with results but enjoying themselves on the field and as a group.
He said, overall, the club was as close as it had been in his time there.
The club’s reserves side is also undefeated after beating the Cats in its top-of-the-table clash.
“Footy is fun and that’s the important thing,” Sims said. “We want to do the right things most of the time, which we’re doing,
“We’re not judging ourselves on just wins. We’ve been quite disappointed with some of our performances and happy with others.”
Jamie Lobb was named best-on-ground for a second straight week, while Luke Smailes kicked four goals in Saturday’s win.
Cats midfielder Casey Summerfield was the game’s standout player.
One positive for the undermanned Cats was the return of Daniel Markworth.
Markworth played junior football at the club and was playing his first game back after an injury-riddled stint with AFL club St Kilda.
The result puts the Burras two games clear of Riddell and the Cats. They play Sunbury Kangaroos this week.
Sims said Andrew Tyquin, Michael Kilty, Brent Tuckey and Patrick Jackson would all return to the senior side in the next few weeks.
Elsewhere, Wallan snuck home against Romsey, Rupertswood smashed Woodend- Hesket, Lancefield defeated Melton Centrals, Broadford had a 290-point win over Rockbank, and Riddell was too good for Sunbury Kangaroos.
