Riddell returned to the winners’ list with a thumping 97-point victory over Kilmore on Saturday at the Riddell Reserve. The Bombers hit the ground running and were relentless with their pressure as they registered their sixth win of the season. The Blues were far from disgraced in one of their stronger performances of the season to-date that was far better than their previous outing against the Sunbury Kangaroos that saw them lose by 144 points.
BIG INCLUSIONS
The Bombers welcomed back two big stars into the team for their first run in quite some time. Nick Ash and James Climas were welcome inclusions and gave themselves every chance in regaining their touch. The Blues welcomed a number of stars that included Zach Treacy and Oliver Duff.
TIGHT OPENING
The Blues were switched on very early. They tackled hard, run well from the backline and maintained possession. The Bombers entered the forward line on many occasions, only to be chopped off by a Kilmore defender. Brent Gordon was a notable possession-winner but none were better than youngster Matt Swindells who was a clear stand-out. He did all the right things, put his head over the ball and would be present at the next contest after kicking the ball. After a slow start, Ricky Elliott put the first goal down at the seven-minute mark after taking the advantage on the back of a Mick Allen free kick. It was a case of ‘seventh heaven’ as Riddell’s number 77 kicked a goal at the seven-minute mark to put the team up by seven points. It would take eight minutes until Riddell’s Cam Casson put his first goal on the board from 30 on the run and then Mick Allen marked and goaled minutes later in trademark fashion. The Blues only goal of the term came at the 20-minute mark with Alex Desmond kicking truly after being awarded a free kick.
GOALS GALORE
It took one quarter for the Bomber machine to hit full flight as Jarryd Silvester won plenty of the ball across half-back and half forward, Haydn Ross was dominated through the middle and Matt Sammut broke clear from packs on more than three occasions. Silvester kicked his first goal at the three-minute mark to send the lead out to 21 points. The Blues through Swinddells, Marrett and Travis Hede were under enormous pressure across the backline but kept level heads to push the ball forward. Gordon was influential as a key link man between these players. Matt Darby kicked his first at the 10-minute mark thanks to strong vice-like hands to send the margin out to 28 points. This would spark a flood of goals as the Riddell machine kicked four goals straight in four minutes to blow the margin out to 55 points. The highlight was a brilliant running goal from 50 metres from Darcy Beddgood in front of the Riddell interchange bench. A late point from Kilmore’s Steve Kenna on the boundary was the only score that his team could put on the board for the term.
BLUES IMPROVE
With the margin at 61 points at half-time, Kilmore needed to lift intensity and win the ball from the middle. This was somewhat instant as the Blues kicked the opening score of the term just moments into the quarter. This was quickly returned by a brilliant goal from Silvester on the run to send the margin out to a game high 66 points. The highlight of these early stages was from Riddell’s Ricky Elliott who gathered the ball at centre half-forward, turning towards goal, bumped into a Kilmore opponent and spun around to find a clever pass to a team mate at left half forward 55 metres out. This was as good as it got from a talented young footballer. Peter and Glen Robertson started to lift the intensity but it wasn’t what the home side was after from a scoring perspective as they were wasteful with 2.4 for the term. Peter Robertson’s goal on the run was the icing on the cake in the middle stages of the term.
TEAM’S LIFT
INTENSITY
Riddell coach Matt Power wanted his charges to be more direct down the middle while Kilmore coach Chris Nolan wanted his team to show some real fighting spirit. They got it through Tom Snatih and Alex Desmond who put their head over the ball and worked tirelessly across half-forward and the middle. Shane Jacobs won plenty of the ball across wing, but far from his usual lethal position around the goal mouth. Brian Ruffell goaled twice in a matter of minutes, the last, from 60 metres out to send the margin out to 83 points. Shane Jacobs kicked the Blues first goal since the 20-minute mark of the first term with a mark and goal at the 13-minute mark. Jarryd Cox’s goal at the 25-minute mark on the run was the icing on the cake to cap off a 97-point win.
RADIO
Tune into 100.7 Highlands FM this Friday night from 6.40pm for the Football Netball Preview Show and again at 12pm on Saturday afternoon as you ready yourself for the explosive match of the season clash between Romsey and Diggers Rest at 1.30pm from Romsey Park where the winner will be on top of the ladder.
Credit: Midland Express
Last Modified on 19/06/2012 10:34