Whittlesea knocks off Macleod to join three-way tie at the top of NFNL Division 2
Don’t forget about Whittlesea. The Eagles fought back to beat Macleod in an early finals preview and join a three-way tie at the top of NFNL Division 2.
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Don’t forget about Whittlesea.
The Eagles sent a reminder of its premiership credentials to the competition on Saturday with a fighting 11-point win over Macleod.
The Kangas and Diamond Creek have dominated the limelight in NFNL Division 2 but the Eagles have quietly joined the pair on 11 wins, in a three-way tie at the top.
In an early finals preview, Macleod took a seven-point lead early in the fourth quarter and looked to have the momentum but Whittlesea responded with the final three goals of the game to snatch victory.
The 13.11 (89) to 12.6 (78) triumph at Whittlesea Showgrounds was the club’s sixth win in a row, unbeaten since losing to the Kangas in Round 7.
Whittlesea coach Garry Ramsay says that loss was a turning point.
“I feel our footy has improved over the last six weeks, since Macleod beat us,” Ramsay said.
“We’ve been a few adjustments and our footy has improved and our results are showing that.
“We needed to reduce our turnovers and create more run, take the game on more.
“It was a good indicator, against a top side, the things we’re trying to get better at are working.”
The match was an arm-wrestle throughout, the lead rarely more than a kick.
Riley Powell put Whittlesea 15 points in front just before half-time but Jordan Corelli responded to make it a nine-point game at the main break.
Two Lucas Hobbs goals in the space of a minute made it 15 points again early in the third but Macleod hit back again to narrow the margin to just four at the final change.
When Will Tsitsis and Jack Medley goalled to start the final term, the Kangas were in front for the first time in the match.
However, Mitch Andrews, Lachlan Shinn-Mahoney and Paul Higgins restored the Eagles lead and despite Higgins being shown a yellow card, the home team held on in a tense finish.
“That was really pleasing, because we led all day, then next thing you know we were seven points down,” Ramsay said.
“It was a real arm-wrestle all day, I think we might have got out to 15 points at one stage, but other than that is was within a kick all day.
“They got in front and nice to respond the way we did and kick the last three (goals).
“I was fortunate, my assistant Andrew Fairchild made some great moves at half-time and did a great job.”
Big man Khaled El-Leissy was named best-on-ground, showcasing his ability to win the ball in the ruck and around the ground.
Andrews, Shinn-Mahoney, Taidhg Bland, Zane Anderson and Harley Fraumano also impressed in the win.
“It was a really good contest between (El-Leissy) and Zach Hudson in the ruck,” Ramsay said.
“Sticks, his movement around the ground was really good, he took a lot of marks.
“In tapping they probably broke even but his movement around the ground was probably the difference.”
For Macleod, Kurt Manuel was best afield, while Hudson, Joel Anderson and Medley stood tall.
Clancy Bland kept league-leading goalkicker Darcy Barden to four goals for the match, the Kangas spearhead now needing 32 goals in five matches to crack the ton.
On a sour note, Bland finished the game injured, while Deakin Tennant was knocked out.
It’s an untimely blow with a trip to new ladder-leader Diamond Creek this week.
Whittlesea faces a testing run home – Diamond Creek, Thomastown, St Mary’s, Panton Hill and Northcote Park – but Ramsay saw the benefits.
“Our practice matches and first seven rounds, our footy was very ordinary,” he said.
“I was optimistic about how good we could be but the last month there’s been a big improvement and we’re making a lot less mistakes.
“It’s a good run home, a strong run home, which is a good test.
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“If we do bring guys up from the reserves or 19s, it will be good to see if they can stand up against the top sides.
“We might get a couple of bolters who are able to force out other players, or put pressure on them, which is exciting.”
Elsewhere in Division 2, Northcote Park cemented its hold on fifth with an eight-point win over Lower Plenty and St Mary’s confirmed fourth spot with a 21-point win over Thomastown.
Panton Hill kept its finals hopes alive with a 78-point thrashing of Watsonia, while Diamond Creek moved back to the top of the ladder with a 68-point victory over Old Paradians.
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