2015 was a year of mixed blessings for the Macedon Football Club. The year saw the Cats return to the finals after a year’s absence, however their finals experience lasted only a week, going down to eventual premiers Romsey in a controversial Elimination Final at Boardman Reserve.
With a swag of new players calling Tony Clarke Reserve home, Cats coach Jeff Andrews is confident his side can improve on their fifth-placed finish in 2016.
"We were competitive last year, and it was a big step forward in the right direction, but we didn’t beat anyone above us", Andrews commented in the above video.
"We’ve got to beat some sides above us that finished in the top three of four [last year]."
"Once you have wins over those sides and you know you can do it, then hopefully you can do it at the business end".
After recruiting players like 2015 Matthews Medallist Shaun Harrison and 2015 Steve Turner Medallist Jason Cooke prior to last season, the Cats have stocked up on quality players again this season, with a quality trio making the short trip up the Calder Freeway from Gisborne to don the hoops this year.
"We’re lucky that a few boys were looking for a change, so we threw our hat in the ring pretty early and we were lucky enough that they thought that where we were going was going to be OK", Andrews commented.
The inclusions are former Bendigo league interleague ruckman and the 2010 Bowen Medallist Tom Waters, former Gisborne captain Casey Summerfield and key forward Matthew Knox, all of which will make a big difference to the Cats and fill holes in their line-up.
"Tommy Waters has won a Bowen Medal and is a high-quality player", Andrews said.
"Liam Gardiner, who was with us last year, has retired so he’ll help us fill that ruck role".
"Casey Summerfield [is] another quality strong midfielder and Matt Knox was a leading full-forward at Gisborne."
"It doesn’t look like Marcus Kenny’s knee’s going to come up this year, so Knoxy is a good like-for-like replacement for him".
Andrews has been pleased with the work of his squad on the track so far pre-season, with one of the younger Cats catching the coaches eye in particular.
"We’ve had really good numbers since November", Andrews said.
"We’ve done a few time trials and everybody across the board is better than last year, and even better [now] than the start [of pre-season]."
"Big Seb Miletic, who kicked a lot of goals in the Under 18s a couple of years ago, he’s doing midfielder times in time trials which is really impressive".
Whilst Macedon’s practice match circuit starts in Inverloch in a couple of weekend’s time, Andrews’ focus is firmly on the Cats opening round encounter with Broadford at Harley Hammond Reserve which concludes the blockbuster opening round of the 2016 season on Sunday 17th April.
"From what you hear, Broadford are going to be improvers and they played in a Prelim last year, so they’ll be a measuring stick", Andrews commented.
The following week will also be a big one for Macedon as, like in 2015, they host ANZAC Day football at Tony Clarke Reserve, with Rupertswood travelling north to take on the Cats on the ANZAC Day Monday.
"We have a great relationship with Rupertswood, they’re a good club", Andrews commented.
"We’ve had the cystic fibrosis day that they’ve run when we played Rupertswood and both clubs chipped in [to raise money] for that, and they’ve agreed to play us on ANZAC Day which is great".
"Hopefully the weather’s still nice at that time of year and we get a big crowd, Tony Clarke’s in great nick and we’re all looking forward to the first two games, although we’re not really looking forward to the four-day back-up [to Round 3]!"
KEY MATCHUPS
Round 1 v Broadford (away, Sunday)
– as mentioned above, the Cats will be looking to unveil their big names and kick-start their season with a tough game against a Broadford side on the improve.
Round 10 v Diggers Rest (away)
– the Cats were flying come Round 10 last year before they slipped down the ladder, and they’ll be earmarking this game against perennial Grand Finalists Diggers Rest as a chance to kick-start their run towards the post-season
Round 15 v Rupertswood (away)
– second-last round before finals, and this could be the difference between a top-three spot and having to potentially face going through the finals the long way
PREDICTED FINISH
: 2nd-4th
Last Modified on 08/03/2016 15:50