Nathan Blair returns to help guide Romsey to critical win over Macedon

Romsey captain Nathan Blair returned from injury to inspire his team to a critical win over top-five rival Macedon, kicking a miraculous sealer.

Nathan Blair in action for Romsey. Picture: George Sal

Romsey has all but sealed its RDFL finals spot with a gutsy seven-point win over Macedon.

Returning Redbacks captain Nathan Blair inspired his team with a best-on-ground performance to stun the Cats at Tony Clarke Reserve.

Blair was prolific through midfield and kicked two goals, including the sealer, to steer his team to a 8.9 (57) to 7.8 (50) victory.

The result lifts Romsey into fourth, a game clear of Macedon, and 10 points ahead of sixth-placed Woodend-Hesket with a game in hand on both top-five rivals.

Missing the likes of Matt Burkett, Jack Jedwab, Angus Storey, Nathan Rayment and Ben Way, the Redbacks have had to go about it differently this season but have still managed to win critical games.

Mitchell Caddy in action for Romsey. Picture: George Sal

Coach Paul Kennedy said it was an exciting sign for the future but also forecast big improvement come finals.

“They’ve been so brave this year, the players we’ve had out of the side – and still got out of the side – it’s been a remarkable effort,” he said.

“We’re still missing our complete spine, so to do it without those blokes and with young kids is exciting for the future.

“That was a massive win, it gives us some breathing space, and in the next couple of weeks we should be able to roll a few of these blokes back out.

“If they can get three games under their belts before finals and we can be peaking at the right time.”

Kicking with the breeze, Romsey burst out of the blocks with a six-goal-to-one opening term and took a 25-point lead into half-time.

However, a goalless third quarter saw Macedon jump back into the contest and when the Cats narrowed the margin to a single point late in the final term it look like the comeback was a certainty.

However, Blair produced a moment of brilliance to seal the game.

Kicking for goal deep in the forward pocket, against the wind, the Redbacks star kicked truly to put his team back up by seven points.

“They had all the momentum but we won a couple of centre clearances and Nathan kicked a monster goal,” Kennedy said.

Romsey coach Paul Kennedy talks to his players. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“Considering we were kicking into the breeze and he was deep in a pocket, a 35-40m kick, and when that went through the guys lifted and we were able to hold on.

“It was his first game back from injury, he’d missed the last three weeks, and he was enormous, led from the front.”

Romsey young gun Corey Pertzel continued his excellent season, while Mitch Caddy, Dean Walsh and Callum Sankey also impressed.

Kennedy was particularly pleased with Pertzel’s development.

“Corey’s gone from strength to strength this season, he’s an elite young player,” he said.

“I really hope he wins the Rising Star award at the end of the year, he’s been in our best nine times.

“He’s so versatile, he can do a run-with role – which he did against Diggers last time on Jensen and beat him convincingly – and now we’re letting him run and he finds his own footy and he’s got that bit of class.”

Club great James Wright was Macedon’s best in his return from injury and Jude Wills, Zach Baggs and five-goal spearhead Jason Cooke also stood tall.

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Kennedy said the win gave the club breathing space in the finals push and would allow him to manage his injured stars’ return in the coming weeks.

Romsey face Diggers Rest on Saturday at Romsey Park but are now unlikely to rush their big names back.

With Woodend-Hesket six points behind in the top-five race, Macedon will look to bounce back when it travels to second-placed Riddell.

The Hawks went down to Diggers Rest by 27 points, while Riddell (58) eased past Melton Centrals (19) and Lancefield (55) picked up its second win of the campaign against Western Rams (28).