Romsey takes major step towards finals with big win over rival Macedon

Romsey took a major step towards playing RDFNL finals with a big win over top-five rival Macedon. See how the Redbacks make it happen.

Samuel Wilson in action for Romsey. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Romsey’s finals fate is in its hands after a stirring 28-point win over top-five rival Macedon on Saturday.

The Redbacks dominated from start to finish at Romsey Park to move into fifth spot with two games left in the Riddell District home-and-away season.

The 12.9 (81) to 7.11 (53) triumph sees Romsey and Macedon locked on six wins apiece but the Redbacks ahead by 43.01 per cent.

The Redbacks face a difficult task with a trip to ladder-leader Diggers Rest on Saturday before hosting Lancefield in the season finale.

The Cats will likely be back in the top-five as it faces Western Rams in Round 17 but must then beat Woodend-Hesket in the final round to play finals.

Corey Pertzel on the run for Romsey. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Jason Cooke gets a kick for Macedon. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Redbacks coach Justin Sherman felt like his team was hitting top form at the right time of year.

“We needed it, we’ve been close,” he said.

“Our form as been reasonable over the last few weeks we’ve just been unlucky not to have wins next to our name.

“We finally got a bit of reward for effort, so we needed that for a bit of team belief.

“We’ve got a big game against Diggers and we’re looking forward to the contest but we can’t slip up so we’ve got to keep the foot down.

“If we can play our best footy in the last two games I think we’re in really good form, we’re building at the right time, guys are in form and we’re starting to see the rewards for effort.”

Romsey jumped out to a 14-point lead at quarter-time and the margin was the same at half-time, despite Macedon having one more scoring shot.

The Cats will rue booting 3.8 in the first half as they were then kept scoreless in the third term as Romsey build a match-winning 42-point lead.

Romsey coach Justin Sherman talks to his players. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Crashing the pack during the Romsey-Macedon clash. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Macedon found its range in the last but it was too little, too late.

Sherman was impressed with his team’s defence, which led to Nathan Rayment having a day out in attacking – kicking six goals.

“They got a couple of cheap ones late but our defence was outstanding,” Sherman said.

“We’ve got to thank the midfielders, I thought their pressure around the footy was immense and it allowed us to play in our forward half for the majority of the day.

“When you’re allowed to set up behind it allows our forwards to go to work.

“Nath has been outstanding, not only as a great on-field leader, the last couple of months he’s been our most consistent.

“He’s playing mid and a bit of forward, the greatest thing is he’s a great overhead mark for his size so he can go deep and take a dangerous match-up and hit the scoreboard.

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“He’s a bull at the contest, hits the ground with second and third efforts, and then got the ability to take a pack mark, so he’s a handful.”

League-leading goalkicker Jack Jedwab booted two goals and remains 11 goals clear of Melton Centrals’ Dylan Jobson.

Corey Pertzel, Will Di Pietro and Darcy Lockens also impressed for Romsey, while Brodie Hoyne, Zach Smedley, Will Gray and Aaron Morham were Macedon’s best.

Elsewhere, Diggers Rest claimed a 81-point win over Western Rams, Riddell eased past Melton Centrals by 23 points and Wallan was too good for Lancefield in a 44-point triumph.