Tara Murray
There’s a sense of deja vu for Macedon in the Riddell District Football League on Sunday.
For the second time in three years, the Cats upset Romsey in an elimination final, having only just made it into finals.
Like 2022, the win sets up a knockout semi final with Diggers Rest at Gilbert Gordon Reserve.
Cats coach Al Meldrum said he was so proud of the playing group for the 11.6 (72)-6.12 (48) win on Sunday.
“It was a strange day, a long day with the delay,” he said. “We’re a pretty young team overall and the young guys today, most of them in their first senior final ever.
‘To get a result and defeat a team above us for the first time this year, you know this obviously no better time to do it in a cut throat final
“A lot of pride. It makes all the training sessions, all the planning, it makes it all worth it.”
It was an even first quarter and it was still game on in the second, with the Cats leading by a goal at the main break.
The margin increased to 14 points in the third quarter. Lightning in the area then halted the game.
Meldrum said he’d seen games interrupted through his work, but had never been involved in one at local level.
“It was all a bit different, all a bit new,” he said. “We didn’t know how long it would be.
“I told the guys to try and calm down and preserve energy and then we gave them correct information when it was coming through.
“It was a bit strange. When we came back out, Romsey kicked the first goal and then we were super in the last quarter.”
The Cats kicked five goals to three in the final quarter to lock up the win in now sunny conditions.
Meldrum said they had the game how they wanted it, with the youth on the outside getting the run and carry going.
He said the way the group was able to respond after the break was really pleasing.
“I’ve seen a lot of teams go into their shells in a final after doing all the hard work early,” he said.
“The guys played without fear which was really good. It was a bit of a theme for us this week, was the only real fear is fear itself.
“No matter how long the season goes we will be the underdogs. It’s a good space to be in.”
Jack Kernan kicked three goals for the Cats.
Brodie Hoyne, Xavier Morgan and Matthew Dick were named their best.
For the Redbacks, Matt Burkett, Corey Pertzel and Nathan Tessari were their best.
The Cats will face the Burras on Sunday.
The Burras lost to Wallan in the qualifying final on Saturday.
Meldrum said he watched the qualifying final and the Burras did a lot right in that game.
“Wallan changed a few things and threw it at Diggers and came over the top,” he said.
“I still felt like Diggers, their big game players still stepped up and played well.
“They are a super experienced team… We try not to read to much into the tail end of the season.”
