Riddell saved its best for last to secure back-to-back Riddell District Football League premierships on Saturday.
The Bombers, who had jumped out to a fast start with the first five goals of the game, found themselves trailing by 17 points 10 minutes into the final quarter.
Macedon had momentum but the Bombers had the fresh legs having had the previous weekend off.
The Bombers class and run in their legs shone through late as they kicked the last five goals of the game to make it a second straight premiership, winning 13.13 (91)-12.6 (76).
Bombers coach Arron Bray said there was a real sense of relief when the final siren went.
“We got off to the perfect start that we wanted but credit to Macedon, they pegged it back and they had the momentum going into the last quarter,” he said.
“It was probably one of those games where you think to yourself that we could probably lose the unlosable here.
“But I said the boys that they are running out of legs, slowly but surely. We needed to get the ball on the outside and take the corridor as much as we could.
“Fair play to the boys, they went at it. The boys stood up when we needed them too.”
Bray said they had gotten off to the ideal start before the Cats showed why they had become one of the top sides this season.
He said they never gave up on getting the lead back in that final quarter and going back-to-back.
Bray said when they were down by 17 points in the last quarter, the question was what do they do now to get the game back on their terms.
He said they made a couple of moves with Ben Sonogan and Jacob Chahine switching ends but that didn’t work.
When they went back to their normal spots, things started to work.
“I think the arse goal from Tarczon which just bounced sideways three times was the one that sparked us,” he said.
Zakkaria Saad won the Doug McIntyre Medal as the best player on the ground.
His performance included the goal that put the Bombers back in front in the final quarter after capitalising on a mistake from the Cats when they kicked across goal.
“He’s a freak,” Bray said. “That’s why we got him here.
“Saady loses his first 10 games at Heathcote and comes across to us and ends up winning a premiership medal and a Norm Smith.
“Not many do that after losing their first 10 games.”
Lachie Hay, who crossed from Macedon in the off season, stood up in big moments late and was one of the Bombers best.
Bray said he worked through all the pressure put on him by the Cats and showed maturity beyond his years.
Dean Galea again starred on the biggest stage, finishing with five goals including the sealer.
“He’s played in god knows how many grand finals and the least goals he’s kicked in a grand final is four,” Bray said.
He’s kicked five again. The most competitive player I’ve ever coached. Driven to succeed and it rubs off on the other guys.”
Bray said they would celebrate the premiership pretty hard. He said the last two years had been different to 12 months ago.
“The one last year I was pretty sketchy as I had lost three prelims which is always on the back of your mind,” he said. “Are you ever going to get one?
“This year I was a lot more calmer until three quarter time, calmness went out the window.”
It’s the Bombers third premiership in four years with Bray saying the club had an opportunity to do something no one has done since the 1980s and go three in a row.
“They are a pretty special group,” he said. “They drive their own standards.
“They are very easy to coach.”
Bray said they were expecting most of the group to come back next year.
