Michael Rutledge breakout lifts Macedon, Kyneton too good for Woodend-Hesket
A breakout Michael Rutledge performance powered Macedon’s big win over Gisborne Giants, while Angus Nolte and Ryan Pretty did likewise Kyneton.
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It was a Good Friday to remember for Macedon young gun Michael Rutledge.
The 21-year-old bagged seven goals in a man-of-the-match performance to inspire the Cats to a 53-point win over RDFNL expansion club Gisborne Giants at Macedon Ranges Sports Precinct.
In just their second senior match, the Giants were far from pushovers before a big Macedon finish saw it triumph 17.16 (118) to 10.5 (65).
Rutledge’s career day only got better with younger brother Tom adding two goals, a week after the pair played their first match together in Round 1.
Cats coach Al Meldrum said it was the type of performance that proved to a young player he belongs at the level.
“Mick was OK against Riddell and then had his breakout game, which is always a great thing,” Meldrum said.
“We’ve found that’s happened with quite a few of our young players, once they get that breakout game under their belt, their confidence goes up and they start to become more consistent.
“He’s got some tricks, he’s still very lean so we’re coaching him how to use his skillset, and over time his body will mature because he’s got good height, a good leap, good hands and a nice kick for goal.
“He’s just turned 21, he was able to play three years of 19s – he was co-captain of our premiership team in 2023.
“He’s got his first full (senior) pre-season in and got his opportunity to play as a key forward in the absence of Jase Cooke.”
The younger Rutledge was equally impressive but Meldrum doesn’t expect to see him too often this season.
“Tom is a ripper, he’s school captain at Assumption, he’s football captain too and is on the Bendigo Pioneers list, so whenever we get access to him he gives us something,” he said.
“They played their first game together, ever, against Riddell, so that was a good moment and they both had strong games on Friday night.”
While Rutledge had a day out on Friday, it was Brad Cooke who led the attack in the Round 1 loss to Riddell.
And the Macedon attack will get a timely boost for its annual Anzac Day blockbuster against Diggers Rest with Jason Cooke set to return.
The Cats spearhead injured his calf in pre-season training and missed the opening fortnight, targeting a return against the Burras.
Cooke booted seven goals in a best-on-ground performance in last year’s stunning semi-final upset and will be looking for a repeat effort.
Friday’s match will also see gun midfielder Brodie Hoyne play game 100 for the club, a week after Tom Hildebrand celebrated his milestone.
“I remember Tom playing his first game in 2014, so in terms of perseverance it’s a fair effort,” Meldrum said.
“Brodie has been a model of consistency … he’s been great for us since coming across in 2018, so across four seasons he’s been in the top three in the best-and-fairest in every year, including a win in 2022.
“Back-to-back weeks of blokes playing their 100th senior game, which is pretty rare in community footy at one club. It’s great we’re getting a little cadre of players that enjoy the place and want to succeed here.”
Behind Rutledge Hoyne was just as impressive against Gisborne, while Charlie Rossetti, Hamish Govan, Xavier Thorburn and Jack Kernan also shone.
A five-goal opening term saw Macedon take a 19-point quarter-time lead and while the Giants were within 15 at half-time, the visitors booted nine goals to four in the second half to take the four points.
Meldrum paid tribute to the fledging club, believing they would be a tough team to beat this season.
“It’s difficult playing against a team you don’t know much about,” he said.
“It took our boys a half to get a feel for the type of game they were looking to play and we’re still trying to work out a few things ourselves.
“Gisborne will be very competitive this year, I can guarantee that, they’ll cause some headaches that’s for sure.
“Their strategy, with their initial list, I think they only had five or six guys in the team that played under-19s last year, everyone else was someone they’ve recruited that’s played senior footy.
“You think back to Gold Coast and GWS, that strategy is going to hold them in good stead.”
Macedon and Diggers Rest is one of two RDFNL games on Anzac Day with Kyneton hosting Lancefield at the same time, while Gisborne Giants will tackle Melton South on Saturday.
NOLTE PUTS ON GOOD FRIDAY SHOW FOR KYNETON
Ryan Pretty and Angus Nolte, Kyneton’s odd couple.
Pretty is the older, big, bustling key forward, while Nolte is the younger, quicker protege.
On Good Friday, they combined to fuel the Tigers’ dominant 60-point win over RDFNL rival Woodend-Hesket at Gilbert Gordon Oval.
Nolte finished with six goals in a man-of-the-match performance, while Pretty booted three and skipper Harry Huntley added three more as he looks to transition to attack from defence.
A nine-goal second term broke the game open, Kyneton piling on 10 unanswered goals from the second to fourth quarters, before running out 20.10 (130) to 11.4 (70) victory.
Creating the supply, Danny Grmusa, James O’Sullivan and James Gaff were prolific in midfield.
Tigers coach Ethan Foreman said the second quarter was a show of the team’s very best football.
“I said to the boys, we fell into their style in the first quarter but after that we got it back on our term,” Foreman said.
“The second half of that second quarter we really played our best footy.
“It was a pretty scrappy game I thought but we really turned it on for that 10 or 15 minutes.
“They wanted to make it a scrap to try and stop our run but when we opened the game up we took the sting out of it.”
Woodend’s Joachim Liaw kicked the first goal of the match and the Hawks booted the final two majors of the term to take a four-point lead at quarter-time.
However, tensions boiled over on the siren with almost every player involved in a melee as Woodend skipper Alistair Rae and Josh Willmott went toe-to-toe and the league sure to scrutinise the match vision.
O’Sullivan, prominent in the first term, sparked Kyneton’s second-quarter onslaught with the first goal, winning the hard ball and gathering the rebound after his initial kick was smothered.
Nolte (two), Huntley, Grmusa, Gaff, Isaac Barassi, and Charlie Thompson kept the scorers busy as the Tigers often charged out of the front of centre clearance, earning a 32-point half-time lead.
Everything went pear-shaped for the hosts as Brendan Butler gave away a 100m penalty that led to Thompson’s goal, while young gun Ryley Ferguson’s day ended early after suffering a concussion.
The Hawks also lost Cooper Newton, while gun midfielder Daniel Toman is racing the clock to be fit for Round 3 with a calf issue.
Kyneton is sweating on Foreman’s fitness after he suffered a hamstring strain.
Just one goal was kicked in the third term, Francis Randall extending the visitors lead to 39 points at the final change.
Kicking with the wind in the final term, Kyneton looked to pile more misery on Woodend and two goals in a minute from Nolte and two more in less time from Pretty pushed the margin past 60 goals.
Jack Binns finally broke the drought for the Hawks and the home team kicked three of the final four goals to claw back some respect.
Foreman praised Grmusa’s game as he proved a wreaking ball around the contest and set up several goals.
“Danny is a beast, absolutely,” he said.
“He was sort of starved of opportunity at Werribee Districts, it’s a tough side to break into the midfield.
“When we got him across we knew we had a player on our hands, allowing him to play through the middle he can turn a game on it’s head – you can’t tackle him, he’s so strong through the hips.”
Meanwhile in the Good Friday twilight match, Macedon proved too good for expansion club Gisborne Giants.
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Michael Rutledge booted seven goals in the Cats’ 53-point triumph at Macedon Ranges Sports Precinct.
Brodie Hoyne, Charlie Rossetti and Hamish Govan impressed, while nine players got on the scoreboard as Macedon ran out 17.16 (118) to 10.5 (65) victors.
However, the Giants showed they’ll be more competitive than some expected in their first season, staying within 15 points at half-time and 31 points at three-quarter-time before falling away.
Zach Ploog and Oscar Schnoor both kicked three goals, while Tom Doyle, James Hall and Matt Quigley stood tall.
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Macedon will rue several missed gilt-edged opportunities as it salvaged a draw with Diggers Rest on Anzac Day, while a courageous Burra was awarded the Grumont Medal.
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