The Romsey Redbacks have secured their spot in the 2012 RDFL senior grand final this week against the Sunbury Kangaroos after a commanding 34-point win over Diggers Rest at Tony Clarke Reserve in Macedon.
The Redbacks led all day in the win that sets up a dream match-up between them and the Roos for the second year running in what promises to be just as good as the two-point heart-stopper in last year's decider.
BIG INCLUSIONS
The Redbacks welcomed back Cam Dawson and Leigh Erwin into their line-up after both missed games through the finals campaign due to ankle injuries. Full-back Warren Kairns played in the Reserves due to match-ups. The Burras welcomed Steve Fogarty into the team after a stellar season in the Reserves.
HIGH EXPECTATION
The ground was in as good a condition as it could possibly be after the Macedon Football Netball Club staff worked on it frantically for the past month in preparation for the sudden-death final. Diggers Rest headed into the clash on the back of a win over Riddell. The Burras started slowly and then worked their way in front after half-time. Romsey dominated possession in its loss to the Sunbury Kangaroos in the second semi-final the previous week but couldn't convert. Could lightning strike twice in as many games?
GOLDEN START
Romsey headed into the game with its premiership title defence on the line. Kicking to the Mt Macedon end, Romsey had the ideal start when forward Cam Dawson picked up the ball in the left forward pocket and dribbled it towards a vacant goal square from 35 metres out, to get his team off to a great start at the three-minute mark. Diggers Rest's Brent Tuckey had his chance just several minutes later from a set shot to level the score, but missed. Enter Romsey wingman Chris Petroro. He gathered the ball from defensive 50 and embarked on the most memorable run since Essendon's Michael Long in the 1993 grand final. He took the ball into the middle of the ground with several bounces, arched his back and side-stepped opponents, took two more bounces, ran to 50 and found teammate Matt Davidson in space on the bounce who kicked truly. The crowd lept to its feet and roared for the most stunning play in a game in some time as the Redbacks extended their lead to 11 points at the eight-minute mark. Davidson kicked his second just minutes later to extend the lead out to 17 points. Romsey spent the next five minutes peppering the goals for little result. The Redbacks kicked three behinds and the demons of inaccurate kicking that cost them the previous week started to come to the fore. Diggers Rest capitalised on Romsey's errors when Shaun Sims goaled from 30 metres out off a step to bring the margin back to 14 points. Matt Davidson took the game into his own hands when he kicked his third on the left foot at the 20-minute mark to settle the margin back out to 20 points. Romsey's Jake Lever was a great stand-out on half-back. He could not be beaten in any contest, while Diggers Rest's Steve Fogarty was very influential through the middle.
BURRAS FIGHT BACK, FARMER WASTEFUL
Dangerous Romsey forward Mitch Farmer took matters into his own hands but couldn't buy a goal. He kicked two points from set shots in the opening five minutes. He was awarded a free kick on the boundary line at the seven-minute mark and kicked it beautifully over the goal umpire's cap for a goal to put the margin out to 27 points. Could Diggers Rest fight back? They did, through Dan McCabe who marked and kicked strongly at the 11-minute mark. Steve Ruane kicked another a minute later off a standing start to bring the margin back to 15 points. When Jack Sheahan marked and kicked truly from dead in front at the 17-minute mark, Diggers Rest brought the margin back to 11 points after three straight kicks through the middle. Farmer sharked the ball from a forward thrust from the resulting ball-up and kicked his second goal to give them some breathing space. Tom Evans goaled in the shadows of half-time for Diggers Rest to keep the contest alive with the margin at 11 points. Farmer kicked 2.4 for the term.
REDBACKS IN COMPLETE CONTROL
Romsey opened the second half in style when Farmer gathered the ball from 50, switched it to Jake Lever who was vacant in the left forward pocket and he kicked a stunning goal in the second minute. Stuart Clarke snapped brilliantly around the body just two minutes later 25 metres out for Diggers Rest to bring the margin back to 12 points. From that point on, Romsey dominated. Brad Mitchell continued to improve as the game progressed. Ash McNaughton was prolific across half-back and centre wing and Danny Harrison was strong off half-back. Diggers Rest embarked on a frustrating football display and only carried the ball from left half-back to right half-forward along the wing for most of the term. Romsey was able to pick off their kicks, carry the ball through the corridor on the overlap and score goals. Farmer kicked truly twice and Davidson kicked another to extend the margin out to 30 points at three-quarter-time.
THE DREAM IS OVER
Diggers Rest's Shaun Fogarty marked and goaled at the seven-minute mark to bring the margin back to 24 points. From that point on, Diggers Rest lacked venom pressing forward and the final 13 minutes of play had the players go through the motions. Matt Davidson marked and kicked strongly at the 15-minute mark for his fifth as the Redbacks celebrated a magnificent win and the grand final dream was over for the Burras who finished the season as minor premiers.
Last Modified on 18/09/2012 13:14