Saturday’s four-point win over Sunbury was one of the most
challenging games of the year, according to Diggers Rest coach Jamie
Elliott.
The Burras have beaten Sunbury twice this year, but it hasn’t been easy – a cumulative total of just six points.
PICTURE GALLERY: Diggers Rest v Sunbury Kangaroos
MATCH REPORT: Diggers Rest into grand final
“It was a hard game to coach,” Elliott said afterwards. “It was
pretty hard to kick into the wind and it wasn’t that easy to kick with
it. It made it pretty tough and it was hard to score with it.
“We put one behind the footy in the third term to try and stem it a
bit. They pushed Ploog up and he got away and a few goals were kicked.
“They’re a good side and they kept going with their younger blokes
and their legs. We probably played off a bit in the third and let them
go.”
In a tense final term, Diggers Rest won the big moments. Brent Tuckey and Cole Laurie both kicked important goals, but Elliott said the work of his defenders was just as impressive.
“When you get a bloke like Brett Caton taking a few marks and setting it up the other way, it’s just as big a moment,” he said.
“They don’t count on the scoreboard as much but when you can hold up the footy and set it up the other way it’s priceless.”
With a week’s break, Elliott said it would be business as usual as the Burras seek a flag they’ve been waiting so long for.
“Nothing changes, we keep doing what we do,” he said. “It’s a long
year and I said to the boys after the game we’ve got one to go, one
more hurdle.”
