Macedon sends reigning RDFNL premier Diggers Rest out in straight sets

Macedon captain Jason Cooke produced an inspirational display to send his team to a preliminary final and end reigning premier Diggers Rest’s season.

Jason Cooke in action for Macedon. Picture: Josh Chadwick

“It was just a magnificent day, a lot of people who have been around the club a long time reckon it was the best feeling outside of our 2017 flag, which says a lot.”

Macedon produced one of its greatest wins on Sunday to send reigning RDFNL premier Diggers Rest crashing out in straight sets.

Keeping the momentum rolling from its elimination final win over Romsey, the Cats claimed a stunning 33-point semi-final victory at Gilbert Gordon Oval.

Captain Jason Cook booted seven goals in an inspirational display, ensuring club great James Wright celebrated his 250th match in style.

While Cooke was doing the damage at one end, the Macedon defence was equally brilliant, keeping Diggers goalless in the second half.

Macedon great James Wright is chaired off after his 250th game. Picture: Macedon Instagram

The Cats piled on eight goals to nil after half-time to win 14.7 (91) to 8.10 (58) and return to the preliminary final stage for the first time since 2018.

Coach Al Meldrum said it was an unbelievable performance.

“I was pretty proud last week to win a final but this was a different kettle of fish, Diggers won the senior flag 12 months ago,” Meldrum said.

“I probably didn’t anticipate the amount of offence the boys were able to produce in the second half.

“I really wanted them to close the game down because we’d conceded eight goals in the first half, which isn’t really us.

“I wanted us to defend with the ball a bit, find uncontested marks and take the speed out … but the amount of offence we generated off the back of that was something we’ll gladly take.

“It was just a magnificent day, a lot of people who have been around the club a long time reckon it was the best feeling outside of our 2017 flag, which says a lot.”

Cooke was at his deadly best.

The Cats spearhead booted a goal in the first quarter but had otherwise been well held by Justin Tenaglia in the first half.

However, he exploded in the third term, bagging four goals to snatch the momentum and sealed the game in the fourth.

“When Jason Cooke is up and going he’s bloody hard to stop, he kicked four goals in the third and broke the game open,” Meldrum said.

“(Jason) is such an important player and I feel like our young players lifted his energy.

“Our young guys have been successful in their junior careers and they play like winners and that can help our experienced guys who feed off their energy.

“We were able to get the ball to him in one-on-one situations where he’s really difficult to defend both in the air and on the ground.

“Once he kicked that first one in the third and got the crowd engaged, I thought we could be in for something here and it happened.”

Cooke was a standout best-on-ground, while Zach Smedley played a key role nullifying Diggers prime-mover Shaun Campbell.

“Campbell had cut us up in the first quarter especially and was still having an influence in the second, just roaming free from centre bounce and running forward,” Meldrum said.

Hamish Govan, Brodie Hoyne, Tom Rutledge and Lachlan Hay were also key contributors.

For Diggers Rest, Campbell Wearne, Shaun Campbell, Ben McMahon and Hayden Davis stood tall.

The defeat ends premiership coach Jamie Lobb’s tenure with the reins set to be handed to Campbell next season.

Macedon can now look to a preliminary final date with Wallan.

The Magpies are coming off a 35-point semi-final loss to Riddell but claimed both clashes with Macedon this season, winning by 23 points in Round 5 and 40 points in Round 14.

With the wave of momentum his team is riding, Meldrum said all the pressure was on the Magpies.

“When you’ve got that bit of belief and the guys can see the evidence with results, once they got the scalp last week the energy in the rooms was huge,” he said.

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“Wallan have been at the pointy end for five of six years, lots of experience and well coached.

“We’ve got the mentality that every game is a free hit and the pressure is on the opposition and that can be a good headspace to be in.

“I said it pre-game (on Sunday), don’t worry the pressure is on the opposition and just enjoy this, it can be powerful and hard to stop.”

Macedon’s under-19s will join the senior team on preliminary final week after losing its major semi-final to Gisborne Giants.