Macedon is through to its first Riddell District Football League grand final since 2017 as it ended Kyneton’s exciting finals run.
It was a battle between fifth and sixth in Saturday’s preliminary final for the chance to face Riddell in the grand final.
Both sides had their chances and when Kyneton hit the front in the fourth quarter, a lot of people would have been thinking, can they come from behind to win for a third straight week?
The Cats showed composure late in the quarter and sealed the game with 90 seconds to go, when Toby Sims kicked his second of the game.
The Cats did enough to win, 12.9 (81)-10.11 (71).
Cats coach Al Meldrum said it was pretty amazing to be back in the final game of the season.
“It was a great day for the league and it was a great atmosphere,” he said. “It was a good game of footy and it was close all day and credit to Kyneton, which went on a wonderful run.
“We came out on top in a few moments and that was what won the game.
“We’re a small community club and we have our senior men, under-19s and C-grade netballers in the grand final. Our senior women have already won the flag.”
Meldrum said the playing group took a lot out of its preliminary final loss 12 months ago against Wallan.
He said the group had learned to play in big matches.
Kyneton got off to a strong start in front of a big home crowd, kicking five goals in the first quarter.
Meldrum said conceding that many goals in a quarter wasn’t something they’d done much this year.
“They kicked only another five goals for the rest of the game,” he said. “We were able to wrestle the storm.”
With just one point the difference at three quarter time, Meldrum was to take on the game and make sure they played out the full quarter.
The Tigers had come from behind in both their finals wins.
“We had enough of the momentum in the last quarter,” he said. “They hit the front in the final quarter and we had to dial up defensively and there’s a lot of pressure in tight finals.
“You can go away from what you have done all year.
“Everyone has some input in the game and owned a few moments.”
Just four players from the Cats’ 2017 premiership side played in Saturday’s preliminary final, James Wright, Matt Dick, Zach Smedley and Jason Cooke.
Chad Walker, who played in that game, is on the coaching panel.
“It’s hard to come by,” Meldrum said. “We’ve won three premierships in our history.
“We look at how we have gone about it and build the list with a lot of talented locals.”
The Cats will now face Riddell in the grand final on Saturday at Romsey Park.
Having led in the final quarter of the semi final between the two sides, Meldrum said they take plenty of confidence into that game.
“This week is totally a different game and we want to make sure the boys and the entire club enjoy the week.”
