Macedon coach Al Meldrum discusses the Cats’ expectations, recruits

Macedon stormed to the RDFNL preliminary final last season but coach Al Meldrum says there’s one key area that will need to improve for the Cats to take the next step.

Brodie Hoyne in action for Macedon. Picture: Josh Chadwick

From fifth, Macedon stormed to a preliminary final last season.

However, coach Al Meldrum knows there are key areas the Cats need to improve if they are to again challenge for the Riddell District grand final.

An improved attack is top priority after ranking fifth in points for last season as skipper Jason Cooke was restricted to 13 games.

The club kicked 10 goals seven times last season, critically two of those performances coming in their elimination final and semi-final victories.

Meldrum said, while the club’ defence was strong throughout the season, the attack often impacted its chances of victory.

Hamish Govan puts the pressure on for Macedon. Picture: Josh Chadwick

“It will be a very even competition, having Kyneton come in last season was great and now you add in the Giants and Melton South as well,” Meldrum said.

“We feel we’re a lot further advanced than we were 12 months ago but in saying that it depends on what other teams have done as well.

“We’ll improve from the side we were last year because our retention has been excellent and we’ve added a couple of pieces, which we feel will help our game and increase our depth.

“Defensively we did well but lacked a bit of offence.

“Jason Cooke had an injury-interrupted year and he’s obviously a big asset for us up forward, so we’re trying to find more avenues to goal.

“A couple of times we were left short because offensively we lacked a bit.”

Cooke still managed 40 goals in an injury-interrupted season, underlining his class, while Lachlan Hay was next best with 17.

Macedon ranked third in points against in 2024, pointing to a strong defence.

The Cats will be bolstered by the return of Zac Baggs after a season off, while 203cm ruckman Charlie Rossetti is a big – literal and figuratively – addition from Eastern club Montrose.

Blake Watson (Sunbury), Tim Walsh (time off), Charlie Ozanne (Gisborne) have also signed on and Michael Rutledge and Leo Webb are full-time after travelling last year.

“Zac didn’t play at all last year but he was really good for us before having the year off,” Meldrum said.

“We’ve added Charlie, who played in the under-17 and under-19s in 2023, he’s come back from Gisborne and I think he can make a strong impact.

“There were a couple of guys who were travelling, Mick Rutledge and Leo Webb, as well.”

Young gun Hay is the only major departure, defecting to Riddell.

“Really disappointed to lose Lachie but he’s got a family connection at Riddell,” Meldrum said.

“We wish him all the best but I thought if he was going to make a move, I didn’t think it would be in the same comp.”

Macedon has slowly ramped up its pre-season, travelling down to Portarlington last week before a final hitout against Western league club Spotswood.

The Cats will face reigning premier Riddell in the Puka Up Cup in Round 1.

It then tackles newcomer Gisborne Giants and semi-final and elimination final adversaries Diggers Rest and Romsey in the opening month.

“Most teams would have been looking to get fitter knowing the quarters are probably going to be longer this year,” Meldrum said.

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“So, I’m pretty happy with the fitness levels and it’s been good to test them out in the couple of hitouts.

“We want to double down on the things we did well but there’s a couple of key areas that we’re going to measure ourselves by, in terms of contest and forward efficiency.

“We’ve got Riddell Round 1, which will be a great test.

“We had a couple of good battles with them, we were in both games in the last quarter, so it should be a good opener.”