Chris Yeend
Macedon cemented its place in fifth position on the RDFL ladder with a 39-point victory over Kilmore in challenging conditions at the Tony Clarke Reserve on Saturday. The ground had soaked up plenty of rain in the 36 hours leading up to the game and it was extremely muddy all over the ground by the time the game started. Once the game finished, any sign of green grass was lost in a sea of mud.
HARD SLOG
The game wasn't expected to be pretty and it delivered on that level on a grand scale. Quick running was going to be near impossible but Macedon skipper James Wright proved that theory wrong when he gathered up the ball from 45 metres out and dribbled it through the big sticks on his left foot from 35 to put the opening score on the board. The Cats won plenty of possession early to keep the scoreboard ticking over. They registered four straight behinds before explosive forward Aaron Christiansen kicked an impossible wobbly goal through tucked up right on the boundary line. He was on the wrong side for a right-footer but the ball was doing nothing but sailing through the goals in the left forward pocket. The Cats finished the term 16 points ahead with Kilmore's only score coming from a rushed behind. Shaun Neeson was a livewire across half-forward, coach Al Meldrum played a kick behind the play that worked to advantage and Jason Davies was wrong across half-back. Kilmore's Shane Jacobs won plenty of the ball along the wings while teammate Matt Zanini was a rock across half-back, taking a number of strong chest marks and was quick to play on at every chance.
INTENSITY LIFTS
Macedon assistant coach Brendan Lee said first quarter inaccuracy was disappointing. He said that the 2.5 could have easily turned into 5.2. Kilmore's pressure stopped the Cats from having things their own way and they managed to kick their opening and only goal of the game through young gun Zac Treacy from a snap 30 metres out to bring the margin back to nine points. Luke Crowley and round 16 RDFL rising star nominee Alex Desmond started to win much of the ball through the middle and Kilmore started to take the game up to the home side. Shaun Neeson's desperate attempts to score a goal came to fruition when he kicked one on the run at the 10-minute mark and his captain, Wright, kicked his second five minutes later to extend the margin out to 22 points at half-time.
MUDDY AFFAIR
The second half was a dull affair as the simple plan for either side was to gather the ball and kick it as far away from the contest as possible. The ground became heavier under foot while conditions remained drizzly with the occasional ray of sunshine. After five misses, Adam Cusworth kicked the Cats' opening goal of the second half at the 17-mark of the third term with a snap from the left forward pocket to extend the margin out to 33 points. The fourth term was played between the arcs with little forward thrusts. The icing on the cake was put on by Neeson when he sent through a kick from 55 metres out that dribbled into a vacant goal square at the 16-minute mark to seal the deal for a 39-point win. The third and final quarters went for 21 minutes each. The Blues will take on Broadford in their final game of the season. The Cats will take on Melton Centrals before a likely elimination final against Riddell in week one of the finals.
RADIO
Tune into the Friday Sports Wrap from 6.30pm on 100.7 Highlands FM this Friday with Doug McIvor and again on Saturday from 12pm. The show will build up to the big clash between Woodend/Hesket and Riddell at the Kyneton Showgrounds from 1.30pm on 100.7FM.
Last Modified on 21/08/2012 11:57