Macedon too good for Woodend-Hesket, reigniting its RDFNL season

After a difficult start, Macedon got its RDFNL season back on track on Saturday seeing off old rival Woodend-Hesket. A young gun and club great starring.

Sam Indian in action for Macedon. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Macedon got its RDFNL season back on track on Saturday with a 30-point win over old rival Woodend-Hesket.

The Cats, last year’s preliminary finalists, had just one win to their name in the opening seven weeks but responded when needed at Tony Clarke Oval.

Entering the King’s Birthday bye, they remain three games outside the top-six but with new hope after a 10.11 (71) to 6.5 (41) victory.

Blake Watson was awarded the Bill Tunn Medal for best-on-ground, while club great James Wright booted three goals in his return from injury and the backline held the Hawks to just three goals after quarter-time.

Coach Al Meldrum said it was important for his players to get some reward.

Leo Webb in action for Macedon. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“We’d been playing alright the last month or so but just weren’t getting the results,” Meldrum said.

“At the end of the day, regardless of how we’ll you’re playing, it is about win-loss.

“It was a bit of an ugly win but we managed to keep a reasonable gap and finished strong.

“It’s just good for the buys to get some nourishment, it might be the tonic they need to get that belief back.”

Both teams started strongly and scores were level, 20 points apiece, at quarter-time.

However, Macedon took control of the game from there.

The Cats held the visitors to just two behinds in the second term but kicked a wasteful 1.4 to take an eight-point lead into half-time.

Three goals to two saw the hosts extend the margin to 17 points at the final change.

Woodend-Hesket was almost held goalless in the fourth but Marcus Stapleton kicked the final goal of the game just before the siren sounded.

“We dominated the inside 50 and territory count,” Meldrum said.

“They got early goals on transition, they caught us out a couple of times, then Marcus Stapleton kicked a late goal so they only really kicked two goals in three quarters.

“We were a bit disappointing in the last couple of games, back-to-back games we conceded 100 points which is a bit unlike us and I put the acid on our defenders.”

Watson was a standout, producing his best game for his new club, while Dylan McDonald, Sam Indian, Charlie Ozanne, Jack Kernan and Matt Dick also impressed.

Wright and Jason Cooke both finished with three goals.

The only sour note, Sonny Phelan suffering a broken arm

“Blake is a young guy and he’s got serious wheels, quite explosive, good agility and power and a has a really nice kick on him,” Meldrum said.

“He trains really hard and looks after himself, he had a really strong game inside and out – inside he was really good and on the outside he was really damaging.

“Nipper has missed quite a few games so we put him forward and he always gets up for games against Woodend – he’s the last of the old firm in terms of that rivalry.

“He was fantastic, he doesn’t need a hell of a lot of the ball to impact the game.

“We got super value from his touches and his leadership, to kick three goals in a relatively low-scoring game and set up a few others.

“Jason was getting a lot of attention but still managed to kick three and Nick Rutledge has become a reliable avenue to goal and is probably averaging two a game.”

For Woodend-Hesket, Joachim Liaw, Marcus Stapleton, Cody Bowen and Jack Binns stood tall.

After the league bye, Macedon faces Melton Centrals, Gisborne Giants and Lancefield as it looks to challenge for a top-six spot.

“We’ve played pretty much all the teams in that top bracket and (Saturday) was one of those games you’ve got to win, against teams around you or below you on the ladder.

“I don’t really have a good look until everyone has played each other, it can be irrelevant because in an 11-team comp the draw can be weighted one way or the other.

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“I say to the boys, our effort can’t be opposition based, you’ve got to turn up to every game in this comp.

“Hopefully we can continue to play decent footy and give ourselves the best chance to win those games.”

Elsewhere, ladder-leader Diggers Rest inflicted a 105-point thrashing on Lancefield, while Riddell showed Gisborne Giants no mercy in a 157-point belting.

Melton South kept its winning momentum rolling, easing past Kyneton by 21 points and Wallan bounced back with a strong 77-point victory over Melton Centrals.