Macleod keeps Greensborough scoreless in a quarter for first time since 2018
Back-to-back wins over finals contenders sees Macleod storm back into the NFL Division 1 top-five battle as Patty Flynn dominates again.
Northern
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Macleod has stormed back into the NFL Division 1 finals fight with a superb 24-point win over Greensborough.
After starting the season 2-5, the Kangas backed up last week’s breakthrough win over North Heidelberg and are now just two games behind the Borough in second place.
A dominant first quarter at DeWinton Park saw Macleod keep Greensborough scoreless and establish a game-defining 21-point advantage.
The Kangas were also the last team to hold the Borough scoreless, in the fourth quarter of their thrilling comeback win in Round 6, 2018.
Coach Christian Stagliano was proud of his players’ response after losing key defender Liam Wanders to a nasty head knock in the opening term.
“After losing Liam early, the guys remained dialled in and we were able to execute and not be distracted by what happened,” he said.
“Against a strong side like Greensborough you want to put them under pressure on the scoreboard as early as you can.
“They came back pretty strongly in the second quarter and kicked three or four in a row at one point and it was good to respond to the challenge.
“They challenged a couple of times really strongly but we held our nerve, which was really pleasing.”
Macleod extended its lead at half-time to 28 points and held firm in a tense second half thanks largely to an accurate 6.1 to the visitors’ 6.5.
“Since we played Greensborough the first time around, we’ve been getting a lot right and haven’t taken our chances,” Stagliano said.
“I mentioned it last week but it was probably our best four-quarter performance and more importantly we took our chances in front of goal.
“We kicked the first three points of the game from set shots, which was a bit of a worry based on the last five or six weeks, but we got moving after that.”
Patty Flynn claimed a perfect 10 Coaches’ MVP votes in the win over North Heidelberg and will likely poll strongly again after a dominant display.
The star ruckman battled a three-pronged Borough big man division to give his team first use in the middle and a valuable outlet around the ground.
“I can’t speak highly enough of what Patty brings, he’s an unbelievable leader,” Stagliano said.
“His workrate, intensity, competitiveness and the way he’s able to win the footy and influence the contest is enormous.
“His last month – since the Mont game – he’s been huge … the more work he gets the better he is.”
Jack Bianchin nullified Nathan Hrovat’s influence while in his first game back from injury Anthony Doherty booted three goals, as did Patrick Martin and Jordan Corelli.
Stagliano said Doherty and Brad Leggett were critical inclusions after battling injury for much of the season.
“It made a massive difference having those two back, structurally and their leadership,” he said.
“We’ve had a pretty inexperience side at different times, when we played Greensborough the first time we had 10 guys that hadn’t played 10 senior games and that flipped (on Saturday).
“In the big moments their cools heads and leadership definitely made a difference.”
DIV 3: KILMORE SWEEPS HAWKS FOR SIX IN A ROW
LEADER: GET YOUR NORTHERN FOOTY NEWS HERE
DIV 1: MOORCROFT SET FOR SURPRISE RETURN
Tom Bell was named Greensborough’s best after missing last week’s loss to Bundoora, while skipper Chris Clark, Ben Pannam and Adrian Cataldo also impressed.
Macleod will be looking to make it three wins on the trot when it travels to Bill Lawry Oval for a clash against Northcote Park.
The Cougars will be desperate for a first win of the season after being cruelly denied by a North Heidelberg comeback on Saturday.
Greensborough will look to break its post-lockdown funk when it hosts Hurstbridge.
MACLEOD KEEPS FINALS HOPES ALIVE
Macleod has kept its NFL Division 1 finals hopes alive with a thrilling 12-point win over North Heidelberg.
The Kangas sit seventh now two games behind the Bulldogs, who slipped to sixth on percentage after a second straight defeat.
Coach Christian Stagliano labelled the 11.17 (83) to 10.11 (71) win at DeWinton Park Macleod’s best four-quarter performance of the season.
A three-goal-to-one third term broke the game open as the home team took a 16-point lead into three-quarter-time.
The Bulldogs hit back early in the fourth quarter but Macleod was able to steady and keep its season alive.
“It was nice to come out on top at the end of the day because we’ve been on the other end of a few of those,” Stagliano said.
“We missed some opportunities during the game which might have been costly but it was good to come away with the win.
“The positive for me is the opportunities, we’re creating plenty of chances and it means we’re doing plenty right.
“It’s a long year and obviously missing a couple of weeks doesn’t help our situation but bar Round 1 we’ve been thereabouts.
“It’s disappointing not to have a better win-loss result at this point in the year but at the same time we certainly haven’t dropped our bundle or given up on the season in any way, shape or form.”
Stagliano lamented his team’s inability to convert in front of goal.
In the past five matches Macleod has kicked more goals than behinds just once but still managed key wins over Montmorency, Whittlesea and now North Heidelberg.
Reid Brandt and Patrick Martin both booted two goals as nine Kangas got their name on the scoresheet.
Star ruckman Pat Flynn was named best-on-ground after an enthralling battle with Bulldogs’ big man Anthony Daw.
“He said after the game Anthony (Daw) probably got him in the hitouts, he didn’t felt like he got his hand on it too often, but his work around the ground was unbelievable,” Stagliano said.
“He took a lot of important marks and his follow up, work rate, tackling and winning his own footy, he’s like another mid with a big body.”
Jordan Corelli’s creativity around goals earned him praise from the coach while Anthony Da Silva and Liam Wanders also impressed.
“He’s been playing around the ball but spent time forward and looked really dangerous, very creative and was quite influential in a lot of our scoring chains,” Stagliano said.
Macleod got through the match unscathed and can expect some big-name reinforcements for next week’s clash against Greensborough.
DIV 2: THOMASTOWN PAYS HEAVY PRICE FOR BIG WIN
LEADER: GET YOUR NORTHERN FOOTY NEWS HERE
NFL: DIVISION 1 CLUBS’ MID-SEASON REPORT CARDS
Brad Leggett and Anthony Doherty are both expected to be available for selection after overcoming injury.
The key pair have struggled to get on the field at times this season with Leggett playing half a game and Doherty three.
Stagliano confirmed Rhys Rigoni’s season was over after the in-form midfielder underwent a shoulder reconstruction.
North Heidelberg also got through without any major injuries and will look to bounce back against Northcote Park.
Ex-AFL talent among newest Northern recruits
RECRUIT TRACKER: Local footy silly season is in full swing and Northern league clubs have brought in more than 50 recruits, including ex-AFL and VFL talent, league medallists and more.
Popular footy show shuts down amid league crackdown
A local football league’s decision to limit its clubs’ access to outside media, threatening fines or disqualification, has forced a popular fan-driven footy show on Facebook to shut down.