Wallan defeats Macedon, prepares for early finals test in next fortnight

In beating Macedon, Wallan proved it was a serious finals team. In the next fortnight, the Magpies will get the chance to prove if they are a premiership team.

Riley Gilchrist in action for Wallan. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Wallan has proved it is a serious RDFNL finals team.

Now the Magpies will get the chance to prove they are a premiership contender.

On Saturday, last year’s grand finalists proved too good for Macedon, claiming a strong 49-point win at Greenhill Reserve.

It follows big wins over fellow top-six sides Romsey and Kyneton in recent weeks.

Now, in an early finals preview, the real tests come as it faces reigning premier Riddell and ladder-leader Diggers Rest in the next fortnight.

Patrick Mahoney flies for the mark for Wallan. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“It was a really big win in the context of the ladder,” Wallan coach Daniel Nolan said.

“We were essentially playing to hold third spot, they were in good form, we’ve won a few on the trot as well, so it was the old fashioned eight-point game.

“Our last four or five weeks we’ve played sides in finals contention and had big wins.

“We’re playing an exciting brand of footy, there’s a lot of talk about Riddell and Diggers but certainly we’ve got the belief that we’re still good enough.

“That’s the best way to go into finals, playing against the best – two away games as well.

“We’ve got a lot of respect for them but the boys are firing at the moment so we’ll go in with confidence and see what happens.”

Wallan locked in third spot on the ladder with the 14.13 (97) to 7.6 (48) victory.

The Magpies sit two games ahead of Kyneton, with a game in hand.

Jordan Port in action for Wallan. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Kicking with a strong wind at Greenhill Reserve, Macedon made a fast start, hold Wallan to a single behind to jump out to a 22-point lead.

However, the home team took full advantage of the breeze in the second quarter and poured on seven goals to nil.

It could have been more if not for an inaccurate 7.6 while holding the Cats scoreless.

Wallan had control for the rest of the game, kicking two goals against the wind in the third quarter before finishing with another five-goal term in the fourth.

“The conditions were tough, it was just a slog – windy and wet,” Nolan said.

“We got plenty (of rain).

“They kicked with the breeze early but the boys fought hard and managed to get it on our terms from the second quarter onwards.

“It was a four goal breeze and our midfield got on top and were able to get it into the forwards.”

Brodie Gilchrist was named best-on-ground, while Matthew Perri led the attack with five goals.

Riley Gilchrist, Jeremy Hayes, Victor Micallef and Sean Morris also impressed.

“Brodie Gilchrist, our two co-captains Steve Boyall and Sean Morris are having outstanding years, Victor Micallef is having a good month and Nash King is a young superstar in the making, he was playing with a dry footy (on Saturday).

“Having a forward line of Cloke, Stewart, Perri, even Carlisle floating down there, the connection is really good.”

“(Perri) had a few weeks off, he steps up at this time of year.

“In the wet too, he’s had the x-factor for a long time and the great man has still got it.”

In a strong weekend for the club, Wallan’s reserves also continued their undefeated season.

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For Macedon, Hamish Govan was best afield and Matthew Dick, Charlie Rossetti and Brodie Hoyne stood tall.

The Cats slip to sixth, just two points ahead of Melton South, which falls outside the top-six while on the bye.

Elsewhere, Diggers Rest survived a massive scare from Woodend-Hesket, winning by 10 points and Kyneton blew out Gisborne Giants by 62 points.

Romsey moved back inside the top-six with a 31-point win over Lancefield and Riddell was too strong for Melton Centrals in a 56-point victory.