Macedon stuns Romsey with second-quarter blitz to keep season alive
Macedon took a “free swing” and claimed a gutsy RDFL elimination final victory over Romsey with a stunning second-quarter blitz.
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Macedon’s “free swing” has delivered it an elimination final victory.
After scrapping into Riddell District finals, the Cats put no pressure on themselves before Sunday’s sudden-death clash against Romsey and came away with a gutsy 24-point victory.
“That was how we framed it, ‘nothing to lose’,” coach Al Meldrum said after the 8.8 (56) to 4.8 (32) win at Greenhill Reserve.
“We felt we came up with a good plan and the most important thing is, we then executing it.
“The boys played a strong brand of finals footy – the conditions were tough and the ground was heavy – but the boys dug in.
“And not a lot changes in terms of mindset, it’s another free shot at the stumps, and the boys are embracing that after a pretty challenging year.
“Finals is a different game and the boys stepped up, which was really pleasing, because we had fallen short each time we’d tried to get a scalp – it was perfect timing.”
Romsey started strongly, kicking 2.5 with the wind and holding Macedon to a single behind, to claim an early 16-point lead.
However, the Cats blew the game open in the second term with a six-goal blitz while keeping Romsey scoreless to open up a match-winning 21-point margin at half-time.
The Redbacks couldn’t take advantage of the scoring end in the third quarter, adding just two behinds, while Macedon scored the only goal of the term.
Meldrum’s men were then able to shut the game down and enjoy the win.
“We were actually pretty happy at quarter-time, Romsey didn’t take their opportunities and our pressure and intensity was right up there,” Meldrum said.
“I didn’t predict we’d come out and kick six goals in the second, we thought it was going to take until late in the fourth quarter to get the result.
“That quarter broke the game open and when you’ve got a good lead in conditions like that, in a final, you’re able to manipulate a few things because you’ve got that scoreboard pressure.
“Offensively the second quarter was our best but defensively, the third quarter, we just locked it down and were happy to get repeat stoppages and grind it out.”
Matt Knox marked his return from two weeks out with three goals, all in the second quarter, to inspire his team.
Jordan Dyer was named best-on-ground for his standout performance as he and Todd Delahey combined in the ruck to nullify Romsey gun Nathan Hoy.
Karl Staudt, Brodie Hoyne and Alastair Collins also impressed for Macedon, while Nathan Rayment, Corey Pertzel and Callum Sankey were the Redbacks’ best.
The result earns Macedon a shot at Diggers Rest in the minor semi-final next Sunday at Gilbert Gordon Oval in Woodend.
The Burras claimed 23 and 91-point wins during the home-and-away season and will be smarting after a 93-point hammering from Wallan in the qualifying final.
It’s another “nothing to lose” opportunity for Macedon.
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“Our boys would have got a lot of belief out of (Sunday),” Meldrum said.
“Diggers have been one of the standout teams all year, there is a gap between the top three, there’s no doubt about that.
“They’ll be wounded after what happened on the weekend, you don’t ever wan that to happen in a final or in any game but some days it just happens, and they’ll come out firing.”
After a week off, minor premier Riddell will face Wallan in the major semi-final at Romsey Park with a grand final berth on the line.
MACEDON’S “NOTHING TO LOSE” MENTALITY FOR FINALS
Macedon will take a “nothing to lose” mentality into Saturday’s elimination final after scrapping into Riddell District finals.
The Cats secured fifth-place with a comfortable 87-point win over Western Rams on Saturday to deny arch-rival Woodend-Hesket in a dramatic finish to the home-and-away season.
It locks in a sudden-death date with Romsey at Wallan’s Greenhill Reserve.
The 16.11 (107) to 2.8 (20) victory was Macedon’s first in four weeks since beating the Hawks in Round 13.
It proved critical as Woodend-Hesket upset fourth-placed Romsey by 19 points to come agonisingly close to ending a 12-year finals drought.
Cats coach Al Meldrum said his team now had a clean slate.
“We were able to beat (Woodend) both times, which sums up exactly where we are, we’ve beaten everyone below us both times and lost to everyone above us both times.
“We finished exactly where we deserved to be.
“It’s been a challenging year but we’ve hung in there and managed to hold onto fifth.
“We’ll definitely be underdogs but I don’t think that bothers us, it’s not a bad mindset to have.
“It’s a totally different game, finals, and it’s the same for Romsey – no matter how far we go every week is going to be an elimination so we’ve just got to throw everything at it.”
Macedon welcomed back several key players against the Rams, including spearhead Jason Cooke, Jack Mills, Jon Barnett and Jordan Dyer.
The Cats hope several more will be fit for the clash against the Redbacks.
Star half-back Matthew Dick and veteran forward Matt Knox are both in the frame for a return.
Jae Wilton is expected to play his 100th senior game for the club in the elimination final against Romsey.
“I think we should be able to field a pretty strong side in terms of some of the challenges we’ve had with attrition and personnel,” Meldrum said.
“We’ll have a couple of quality sessions during the week to work on our connection.
“We had seven changes from our previous match against Wallan before the bye, which was a really tough day for the club.
“We’re hopeful of bringing in another three or maybe four that didn’t play (on Saturday) but we’ll see how they go during the week.”
Jack Kernan was Macedon’s best in the win, while Barrett, Mills, James Wright and Brodie Hoyne also impressed.
Playing his third senior game of the season, former Victoria and Big Bash League cricketer Daniel Salpietro booted four goals in a dazzling display.
Meldrum says he adds another important avenue to goal alongside Cooke, who also netted four goals.
“Dan’s got some close connections at the club … he joined just before our Anzac Day game,” Meldrum said.
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“He kicked a bag of five in his first game in the reserves but the following week he popped his hammy and had a few recurrences of that.
“We brought him into the senior team against Riddell and had four shots on goal, he’s very crafty around goal.
“(On Saturday) he kicked all four of his goals in the first quarter, he was the main instigator for our great start.”
Mitchell Portoglou was Western Rams’ best in defeat, while Michael Oddie and Brandon McGee also stood tall.
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Wallan returns to the RDFNL grand final stage, defeating Macedon in the preliminary final, and is looking to cause a boilover on the big stage.
Grand final wins and a shock or two
Finals accelerated in local footy with plenty of grand final winners as elsewhere there were stunning results as teams looked to qualify for the decider. Here are the talking points from Saturday’s football.