Diggers Rest's Pat Jackson gets a kick away from Riddell's Lachie Crosbie. Photo: Chris Fleming
The game had more twists and turns than a liquorice stick but the team with the most courage who made the most of opportunities came away with a much-deserved win. The Bombers dictated the tempo in the first half and led by as much as 25 points at the 22-minute mark of the second term before the Burras stormed home in the second half to win.
The Bombers went into the game as the walking wounded with leading goal kicker, Brian Ruffell, key midfielder, Paul Sahlberg, and key backman, Brayden Allen, in the list of casualties to not take the field. The Burras went into the game unchanged, something that has been crucial to their success over the finals with a well-balanced team.
The Bombers dominated the first half but could not put the Burras away. They played daring, confident and game-changing football with forward James Nolan the hero in front of goals. He finished the day with five straight goals, but when it mattered most, a brain fade cost his team. Nolan conceded a free kick in the Bomber forward line, gave away three 50-metre penalties that put Dylan Hannan on the goal line at the other end who put the Burras in front for the first time since the start of the first term. They were never headed. Luke Smailes played a final quarter of a lifetime for the winners with three final quarter goals to inspire his team to victory.
Diggers Rest's win sets up a date with Romsey at Romsey Park, the first time in five grand finals that they have lost to the Bombers on all occasions.
"That second half was unbelievable, the first half we didn't look good," said Diggers Rest Football Netball Club president, Chris Payne, "Kruly (Matt Krul) missed that sitter in front of goal (in the second term), and then the boys got going and won the football and that's all you have to do in pressure situations when you're down, you've just got to win the football and have a bit of heart, I could not be more proud."