The Merimbula Diggers won’t be getting ahead of themselves after knocking over the Pambula Panthers for the first time in two years on Saturday.
The Diggers led by sheer attacking pressure to secure the win 14-17-101 to 10-4-64.
Coach Ian Radford said the team was prepared for a hard slog against the reigning premiers and that is what played out at Berrambool over the weekend.
“We knew they weren’t going to go away and we had to stick with them for the four quarters and more,” Radford said.
“We’ve tried to focus on a group effort and everything that we did on Saturday was a team effort and a well-deserved win for the boys.”
Both teams are agile, strong, fast and fit so it really was anyone’s game after the first bounce.
Radford said he knew how strong Pambula had been in the past few years, which only sweetened the win.
“It was fast and furious, the game played like a final and we certainly expected no less from them,” he said.
“We had to rely on our hard work since the pre-season and we were actually able to kick away from them in the final quarter, which was one thing that really impressed.”
Radford said he had given instruction were the Panthers to get the upper hand that his team should slow down play and maintain composure.
“However, both sides just played strong attacking footy and it was a fast game,” he said.
Radford led from the front with six goals to his name, while Danny Adams and Luke Higgins were right in the scoring mix with three apiece.
A number of shots by the Diggers faded and Radford
For the Panthers, the tally was headed up by Sean Smith, Mitch Cameron and Tom Hammond, each putting two majors on for the day.
The Panthers were in touch throughout the game, but dropped off in attack during the third quarter, finding just two behinds as the Diggers veered ahead on the scoreboard.
The coach said Pambula was undeniably a quality side, and it was pleasing to trump them over the weekend, but the Diggers would be looking at taking things one game at a time.
A number of clubs will face a handful of bye rounds leading into the finals and the Panthers and Diggers are no different.
However, Radford said both clubs had wet-weather rounds up their sleeve after earlier cancellations to continue a run to the finals.
“We moved our catch up round to plug some of the gaps as we’ll be looking for strength and consistency in the lead-up to finals.”
The Diggers will be off this week with a bye round, while the Panthers will travel to Bermagui’s Dickinson Oval to play against the Breakers.
Women’s will run at the Bermagui ground from 1.15pm with senior play at 2.30pm.
Jacob McMaster
I am passionate about amplifying people's stories and trying to do them justice in the written word. I find pressure washing videos soothing. email me jacob.mcmaster@austcommunitymedia.com.au or 0406 212 845.
I am passionate about amplifying people's stories and trying to do them justice in the written word. I find pressure washing videos soothing. email me jacob.mcmaster@austcommunitymedia.com.au or 0406 212 845.
