Macedon set to welcome back several key players for difficult finals race

Currently sitting outside the RDFNL top-five, Macedon has regained several key players just in time as it looks to make a late run to finals.

Sam Indian in action for Macedon. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The cavalry is coming for Macedon.

The Cats welcomed back captain Jason Cooke and Matt Knox on Saturday and are expecting star midfielders Zach Smedley, Hamish Govan and young ruck Sam Indian back for this Saturday’s match against Riddell.

It’s a welcome boost after an injury-riddled RDFNL season with the club looking to make a late surge to play finals.

Cooke and Knox played their first games of the season with Cooke kicking a goal in a promising return for the pair.

Smedley, Govan and Indian have all missed the past two weeks, last featuring in the Round 9 win over Romsey, with Smedley set to play his 100th senior game for the club.

Michael Rutledge in action for Macedon. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Macedon coach Al Meldrum hoped the tide was turning for his team.

“It should be a good game against Riddell, we’ve got a few bodies back now – getting healthier – which had been a challenge this year,” he said.

“For us, there are a couple of guys in every team that you can’t replace and people like that fit into that category.

“Those guys (Cooke and Knox) have got a game under their belt and the other blokes, Smedley and Govan have been our two best midfielders this season and that stood out against Wallan.

“Sam has been a really good recruit for us and getting Knox in the same team gives us a different dimension and Cookey is Cookey.

“Once those three guys come back, probably the only mainstay to return is Jack Kernan who hasn’t played since Anzac Day when he ruptured ligaments in his elbow.

“He’s still a couple of weeks off, so if we can stay healthy by the time he returns will have a good list to pick from.”

Meldrum said the club’s injury issues had had a silver lining with several youngsters stepping up.

Macedon coach Al Meldrum. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Dylan Johnstone has earned back-to-back mentions in the best, while 16-year-old Lachie Hay has established himself as a senior footballer.

“Lachie Hay has been excellent, he’s still only 16 but is clearly in our best team now,” Meldrum said.

“He’s really smart, crafty, a good ball user, there’s not much of him but he’s really composed for a young kid.

“He’s part of our very strong under-17 team that is trouncing everyone, so he’s loving the challenge of senior footy where you don’t get everything on your terms.

“Dylan Johnson is having a really good patch too, had a pretty consistent year, and it’s only his second season of senior footy.”

After its 54-point loss to Wallan at Greenhill Reserve, Macedon sits outside the top-five, with a 4-5 record, a position the club is unaccustomed to.

It trails fifth-placed Romsey on percentage, more than 30 per cent, but is still only a game behind Riddell in fourth, yet also only a game ahead of seventh-placed Melton Centrals in a tight finals race.

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After Riddell this weekend, Meldrum’s men travel to undefeated ladder-leader Diggers Rest before consecutive home games against Lancefield and Melton Centrals.

“We’ve done a reasonable job of hanging in there, to give ourselves a chance of making finals,” Meldrum said.

“That Romsey win prior to our bye was really important and these types of games against teams around us are crucial, every game is crucial, but they’re the old fashioned eight-point game.

“Diggers has shown everyone they’re the team to beat but underneath that anything can happen I feel.”