For a fleeting moment, the Central Highlands Football League looked destined for a memorable come-from-behind success.
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But as has been the case in the previous two years, it ultimately ended in heartbreak.
Riddell District had looked the better team for much of Saturday’s AFL Victoria Community Championships bout in Buninyong and had the result under control deep in the final term when it led by 15 points with only minutes to play.
But the decision to waste time in the backline came unstuck when Jake Dunne capitalised on a mistake and snapped a goal and seconds later Harry McKimmie emerged with a long bomb to cut the margin to just three points.
The crowd was in full voice and there was a sense of expectation from those on the Central Highlands bench, but it was short-lived as the siren sounded immediately after the restart.
Riddell District led the game at quarter time, but the Highlanders finished strongly in the second term to grab an eight-point advantage at the main break. But it was in the third quarter that the RDFL boys showed their class and opened up a match-winning 11-point break at the last change.
For Highlanders coach Clive Raak, Saturday’s defeat was a familiar feeling.
Raak has been at the helm for the past three interleague campaigns, which have all resulted in losses by less than a goal.
“It’s very disappointing considering that we spoke about it three weeks ago, backing off that intensity,” Raak said.
“After half time, in that third and fourth quarter, at times we dropped off mentally. We have just got to sustain that pressure.”
McKimmie was a star for the Highlanders in attack and finished with four goals, but it was James Lukich that won the CHFL’s best on ground medal for his efforts in the middle and down back. Tim Brayshaw had a strong game in the midfield, particularly in the first half, while Jack Robertson and Finn Anscombe were solid in defence.
Key forward Todd Podolczak kicked six of the visitors’ goals and was a worthy winner of the RDFL’s best on ground medal.
Arron Bray was thrilled to have landed a second-straight win as RDFL coach.
Bray said his side had chances to break open the game on the scoreboard, but struggled to shake the CHFL outfit.
“I thought we had the ascendancy early on, but we couldn’t get a break on them,” Bray said.
“To their respect they came back at us and led by eight points at half time.
“We put it on the midfielders at half time and we took the game to another level in third.”