Macedon announces six key signings for 2015 RDFL season but says it is ‘not trying to buy a flag’

MACEDON has stressed it is “not trying to buy a flag” after the Riddell District Football League club announced six new ­recruits last week.

WRFL Division 1 grand final: Deer Park V Spotswood. No 22 Shaun Harrison for Deer Park. Picture: David Smith

MACEDON has stressed it is “not trying to buy a flag” after announcing six new ­recruits last week.

After a disappointing 2014, which yielded just four wins and an 11th-placed finish on the Riddell District Football League ladder, the Cats have been busy on the recruiting front in recent weeks.

The star signing from the drive is power forward Marcus Kenny, who joins from Essendon District Football League Premier Division club Airport West and could just be the best forward the RDFL has seen in some time.

But Macedon has also picked up plenty of other talent in Jim Ferry (Essendon VFL), Shaun Harrison (Deer Park), Teghan Henderson and Damian Fitzpatrick (both St Albans) and former AIS athlete and elite junior footballer Jason Cooke.

The fruits of the recruiting drive have certainly left a smile on the face of Cats coach Jeff Andrews.

“We didn’t like where we finished last year and we did a real good review and knew that we had to fill some holes, so that’s what we’ve done,” Andrews said.

“We’re still pretty keen on developing our youth, we just needed a couple of other guys to fill a couple of holes so the kids weren’t doing the heavy lifting.

“We’re really conscious of getting it out there that we’re not trying to buy a flag. We’re just trying to fill some spots to be competitive again.”

Kenny managed just 12 games for Airport West this year because of injury and work commitments but still managed an impressive tally of 52 goals in one of the state’s best suburban ­competitions. He booted 76 goals in 2013 and cracked the ton in 2012, finishing the year with 106 majors to his name, making him a huge get for a ­Macedon side which struggled to find a target up forward during 2014.

“Our clearances and our numbers going inside 50 were OK,” Andrews said.

“We weren’t a 10-goal worse side from those numbers but when we got it ­inside 50 it just came out way too often. We just didn’t have anyone to kick the ball at. So he (Kenny) will be terrific for us.”

Macedon starts pre-season training on November 24.