Polished Greensborough too quick for Macleod in Northern season opener
It was Michael Hurley’s Macleod homecoming but it ended as Greensborough’s day as fellow former AFL recruit Jack Newnes shone.
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Jack Newnes and Greensborough rained on Michael Hurley’s Macleod homecoming on Good Friday.
A big crowd descended on DeWinton Park to see the former Bomber’s first game for the club since 2006 but left disappointed as the Borough claimed a 29-point victory to launch the NFNL Division 1 season.
Hurley kicked two goals, both in the second quarter, but otherwise struggled to make an impact with poor delivery and close checking from young defender Angus Seivers.
Newnes, meanwhile, impressed in his Greensborough debut, kicking a critical goal in the 11.15 (81) to 7.10 (52) win.
The former Carlton and St Kilda midfielder almost missed after suffering an ankle injury in a practice match three weeks ago but showed his class in his first taste of suburban footy.
Greensborough coach Saade Ghazi said it was a strong start for the boom recruit.
“What we like about him, he’s a workman-type player, he’ll just go in there and help others,” Ghazi said.
“We’ve got to be fair to him, he’s missed a lot of training with an ankle injury and he’s got a new born.
“He was touch and go today but he just showed his polish.
“To get that goal in the third quarter was invaluable because we couldn’t kick a goal there for a while.”
Leading by just three points at halftime, Greensborough could have put the game to bed with a dominant third term but kicked a wayward 3.9.
Macleod recruit Zach Hudson then kicked truly as the three-quarter-time siren sounded to bring the margin back to 20 points at the last change.
Hurley had the chance to make it a 14-point game in the opening minute of the final term but couldn’t convert and the Borough kicked the next three goals to seal the win.
With limited bench rotations, Ghazi was proud of his team’s finish.
“You always worry that you’ve had all that momentum and haven’t scored and then they got a goal on the (three) quarter-time siren,” he said.
“We knew we had to score a couple of goals (against the wind) and considering the only rotation we had at the end was the ruckmen I thought we ran the game out pretty well.”
Three goals in the first quarter from Tom Phelan set up the win for Greensborough.
Phelan finished with four, while Rayden Garrard and Daniel Ferranato both bagged two.
Saade rated summer addition Joe Ayton-Delaney has his team’s best, while Jordan Smith, Joel Trudgeon, Charlie Bowes, Ethan Luke and skipper Jack Johnston also impressed.
New ruck pair Nathan Howard and Jamie Smith also stood out in an enthralling battle with Macleod recruit Zach Hudson.
Greensborough took a 12-point lead in the first term but Macleod was quickly in front thanks to Hurley.
The two-time All-Australian defender kicked his two goals in the space of a few minutes to put the Kangas in front, the second a inch-perfect dribbler from the boundary.
However, the home team would kick just two more goals for the game.
Kangas coach Craig Hayes was disappointed with the result but saw enough positives to believe his team would bounce back quickly.
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Big off-season recruit Darcy Barden looked strong at centre half-back, taking several intercept marks, fellow new arrival Hudson looked good in the ruck and Essendon VFL-listed defender Solomon McKay also caught the eye.
Both teams will be licking their wounds after the game.
Macleod defender Brad Leggett was taken to hospital with an ankle injury, while Jackson Hasler (ankle) and Harrison Andronaco (concussion) were early casualties for Greensborough.
Both will have 15 days to recover before the Kangas face West Preston-Lakeside at Moore Park and Greensborough hosts Montmorency at War Memorial Reserve.
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