By Tara Murray
Diggers Rest is starting to hit its straps as it heads into another Riddell District Football League finals series.
After a mid-season slump where they dropped three out of four matches, the Burras have found some form in recent weeks.
The Burras were a class above on Saturday against another finals’ contender Macedon, with some of the best football played this season.
Switched on from the start, the Burras led by 48 points at half-time.
While the Cats made a mini comeback in the third quarter, they weren’t able to get back into the game.
The Burras finished it off with a four-goal-to-nil final quarter, to win 17.7 (109)-7.9 (51).
Burras coach Jamie Lobb said they had executed their game plan in a strong performance.
“The last few weeks it’s been something that we’ve been building to.
“We didn’t plan on dropping as many games as we did during the year, so it’s good to get back on the winners’ list.
“The Rupo game was a turning point for us. We sort of set ourselves up from there.
“It’s been good to get some players back, which helps as well.”
Lobb said they had expected the Cats to respond in the third quarter.
“They have a lot of good players and we were ready for it, but we sort of didn’t react as quickly as we would have normally liked.”
Lobb said it was good to win at home.
PHOTO GALLERY: Diggers Rest vs Macedon
Deven Costigan kicked four goals, while Alec Del Papa, Josh Wallace and Thomas Taylor kicked three goals each.
Lobb said Cale Morton and Steven Fogarty played good games, while Matthew Krul did a good job in shutting down Jason Cooke, restricting him to five possessions.
“Some other guys that we’ve brought up and have been in and out of the side are starting to find their feet,” Lobb said.
The Burras sit third, equal on points with the top two sides Romsey and Riddell.
However, their percentage is the worst out of the top six.
Lobb said they expected that as they gave younger guys opportunities against the bottom sides, and as a result they did not blow out the margin as much as other teams.
Diggers Rest has the bye this weekend, before finishing the season with matches against Woodend-Hesket and Lancefield.
There is likely to be selection headaches for the Burras as three or four players are still to return.
Lobb, who hasn’t played senior football since round 11, is expected to be back next round.
“Hopefully I’m not too far off.”
Lobb said the focus in the run to the end of the season was to finish off well and get a top-two finish.
“Hopefully we can get another two wins and then we are into another finals’ series.”
It was a tough day for Melton Centrals as they lost to Rupertswood 17.12 (114)-2.4 (16).
Rockbank had the bye.
