Macedon overcame its worst first half of the season to storm home and win its qualifying final against Rupertswood on Saturday.
With both sides having little finals success in the Riddell District Football League in recent years it was the Sharks who got off to a flier, kicking five of the first six goals to lead by 20 points at half-time.
Such was the Sharks dominance they could have quite easily led by a lot more at the main break.
It was a different second half as the Cats lifted the intensity. The Sharks did everything they could to hold them off.
A dribbling goal on three-quarter time to the Cats’ Alastair Collins reduced the margin to seven points at the last break.
From there the Cats ran over the top of the Sharks, kicking the only three goals of the final to win 10.15 (75)-9.6 (60).
While much had been made about the Cats’ poor finals record in recent years, coach Jeff Andrews said it hadn’t been mentioned around the club.
He said while his side was shambolic in the first half, a lot of that was caused by the Sharks.
“I honestly think it’s the worst we’ve played all year in the first half,” he said.
“I’d like to give credit to them as it was because of their pressure but we weren’t happy, but turned it around in the second half.
“They were considerably the better team, their pressure was great their ball movement was great, everything was troubling us.”
At half-time Andrews put it on the players to step up and respond and it was the leaders who took the initiative. Shaun Harrison, Casey Summerfield and Daniel Markworth started to win the ball and find space.
League leading goalkicker Jason Cooke started the second half in the midfield to get into the game.
“There’s no doubt we’ve got some great players, but all year we’ve tried to build pressure and they won that part in the first half,” Andrews said. “We wanted to address that, which we did. Individuals and the team weren’t playing well and it had a fair bit to do with Rupo’s pressure, but we are a pretty proud group and they all stood up.”
The Cats now face Diggers Rest for a spot in the grand final. Andrews said they had a full list to choose from.
For the Sharks, who now face Riddell in an elimination semi-final, they will be sweating on the fitness of several players.
Among those players is Dean Putt, who played the second half of the game with a leg injury, and Todd Podolczak, who broke his nose in the last quarter.
