Macedon captain Zach Smedley ruled out for the rest of the RDFL season

Macedon has been dealt a hammer blow with captain Zach Smedley ruled out for the rest of the Riddell District season with a nasty injury.

Macedon has been dealt a massive injury blow.

The Cats will be without skipper Zach Smedley for the rest of the season after scans confirmed a broken leg and ligament damage from Saturday’s win over Woodend-Hesket.

Smedley, 23, is expected to undergo surgery this week and is facing three months in a moon boot.

It was initially feared the star half-back had suffered a knee injury after his leg got caught under a tackler.

However, scans revealed two breaks in his lower leg and ligament damage.

Zach Smedley in action for Macedon. Picture: Hamish Blair

Macedon coach Al Meldrum said it was similar to a syndesmosis injury.

“It’s a blow, we’re pretty disappointed for Zach,” Meldrum said.

“We had a really good win on Saturday night and he was playing really well.

“Unfortunately he’s broken his leg in two spots and he’s also going to have rubber band surgery to tie together ligaments at the bottom of his foot.

“He’ll be in a moon boot for three months and he was told it would be six months before he’s running again but hopefully he’s back before then.

“He was worried he might have done some knee ligament damage, so I suppose that’s a silver lining.”

Smedley took over the captaincy this season from Macedon legend James Wright.

In his absence, spearhead and long-time Cats teammate Jason Cooke will take leadership duties.

“Cookie is a really good leader and we’ve always got Nipper,” Meldrum said.

Smedley, a Macedon premiership player in 2017, will be difficult to replace with his skill and leadership off half-back and through the midfield.

The star ball-winner was named in the RDFL Team of the Year last season and was set to play a key role in the Cats’ premiership aspirations.

Meldrum said the club would adopt the “next man up” mantra.

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“We’ve given quite a few young players an opportunity so we’ll probably debut one of the kids from the under-17s this week,” he said.

“I think that could be a good news story out of it.

“We feel like we’re well positioned with our juniors, we’ve got two under-17 teams and I’m watching them every week.

“The top-agers will be part of the senior club next year so we’ll continue to back youth.”

INJURY SOURS MACEDON’S WIN OVER ARCH-RIVAL

Macedon is sweating on a potential knee injury to captain Zach Smedley.

The injury sours a season-reviving 19-point win over arch-rival Woodend-Hesket on Saturday, under lights at Tony Clarke Reserve.

A dominant second quarter secured a 9.6 (60) to 6.5 (41) victory and leap-frogs Macedon over the Hawks back into the RDFL top-five.

The Cats skipper will have scans this week to determine the extent of the damage.

Coach Al Meldrum said the whole club had fingers crossed.

Declan Phyland in action for Macedon. Picture: Aaron Cook

“It was a pretty serious injury … I don’t know what the end result is going to be but he’s done some damage to his knee,” Meldrum said.

“There was a contest on the wing, the ball spilled out and he was left back were the play was holding his knee.

“We seem to get a few back and then the nature of footy you lose a couple but he’s a big blow for us.

“We’ll throw our arms around him and hopefully the news isn’t too bad and others can step up in his absence.”

Macedon made a strong start, taking a 13-point lead into quarter-time before Woodend-Hesket hit back in the second term, narrowing the margin to just five points at the half.

However, it was all Cats in the second half as the home team booted four goals to two in slippery night-time conditions.

Brodie Hoyne and Jordan Dyer were sensational in the win.

Dyer was awarded the Bill Tunn Memorial Medal for best-on-ground, while Hoyne was prolific in midfield.

Macedon coach Al Meldrum. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“It’s the best game I’ve seen Brodie play full-stop,” Meldrum said.

“He’s been that 15-possession-a-game player who does his bit but he got massive reward for effort last night, I’ve never seen him win so much ball.

“He’s part of our leadership group, he came runner-up in our best-and-fairest last year by one vote but he definitely pulled one out of the box last night.

“Jordy’s so raw but so talented, he’s athletic and agile, he’s got no ceiling on what he can do in footy.

“He was awarded the medal last night after a really good battle in the ruck with Chris Oliver but Jordy gave our midfielders some good hitouts to advantage.”

Having overcome an early-season injury, Jason Cooke looked back to his best with four goals in a dangerous partnership with Matt Knox (two goals).

“He’s essentially missed three games, he missed two with injury and was done in the first quarter against Lancefield,” Meldrum said.

“He got through last night pain free because he’s just had these ailments that have been plaguing him and he hasn’t felt at his best.

“Getting Matt Knox back straightened us up as well, his experience demands a good defender and gives the opposition something else to think about.

“Jase played really well, his forward pressure got him a couple of goals, which was really impressive.”

Harley Giddings was Woodend-Hesket’s best in defeat, while Marcus Stapleton, Tyson Chapman and Dean Bramley also impressed.

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Caleb Dumper was the Hawks only multiple goalkicker on the night with a brace.

Macedon faces Western Rams next before a blockbuster clash against ladder-leader Wallan.

Woodend-Hesket will look to bounce back when it travels to Romsey.

In other results, Romsey (81) was too good for Melton Centrals (45), Diggers Rest (194) had a big win over Lancefield (14) and Riddell (126) made light work of Western Rams (19).