FINAL-QUARTER FADEOUT PROVES COSTLY - CHRIS CAVANAGH
LEADER NEWSPAPER
24 MAY 2016
A FLAT final quarter cost the Riddell District Football League as it suffered a second interleague loss in three years on Saturday.
Diggers Rest’s Brandon Kilty impressed for the RDFL.
Taking on the Alberton Football League as part of the revamped AFL Victoria Community Championships, the RDFL led by two points at three-quarter-time but went on to lose 14.13 (97) to 13.7 (85) in Inverloch.
The result was a familiar story, after the RDFL lost to Alberton by one point after holding an 18-point advantage at the final change in 2014.
“We just got pipped. We just didn’t take our chances in the last quarter,” RDFL coach Matt Power said.
“We were only two points up but we just couldn’t get that goal to get a break on them.”
Alberton got the jump in Saturday’s match, opening a 14-point lead at quartertime.
However, the RDFL worked its way back to get its nose in front by two points at halftime.
The visitors held that advantage at the final change, but Alberton went on to boot four goals to two in the final term to take the win.
“We were obviously disappointed with the loss as you are with any game of footy that you think you’re a chance to win,” Power said.
“But we just blew it in the last quarter.”
Lancefield power forward Jonathon Kent kicked five goals to collect the medal from the umpires as the RDFL’s standout performer.
However, it was Diggers Rest midfielder Brandon Kilty who most impressed the league’s coaching panel, while Rupertswood’s Brent Swallow and Riddell pair Haydn Ross (three goals) and Timothy Walsh also had an impact.
The RDFL slipped to 29th in the rankings for next year’s interleague championships after the defeat.
The RDFL posted a better result in the earlier under-18s interleague clash, Lachlan Henson best-onground in an 18.18 (126) to 6.13 (49) win over Alberton.
Alberton prevailed 45-35 in the open netball match between the leagues.