Macedon is back on the winners’ list and has reclaimed top spot on the Riddell District Football League ladder with a strong showing against Rupertswood on Saturday.
With the top two sides refreshed following a week off, their clash had a finals-style intensity.
In the end, sheer weight of scoring opportunities got the Cats over the line as they held off a fast-finishing Rupertswood for an 8.17 (65)-8.7 (55) result.
Macedon coach Jeff Andrews said it was pleasing to grab a win over another finals-bound side and especially to do it in such difficult conditions, with the wind favouring one end, but mainly going across the ground.
“It was a really tough, tight and hard game of footy,” Andrews said. “No one could get the space or use their skills due to the wind, so with a lot on the line it was tough from the start.
“This game and the Diggers Rest game a few weeks back are the two toughest games we’ve played this year in terms of the intensity, so it was good to come away with the win this time.”
In difficult, windy conditions, it would come down to which side could make the most of limited chances, with just two goals scored in the first quarter.
While Macedon held the lead, its 1.6 for the term had potential to hurt it as Rupertswood was far more accurate from its chances.
The Cats won the day in the third quarter, booting 4.3 to 1.1 to stretch out to a 27-point advantage, the biggest lead of the match.
But Andrews said the Cats never felt comfortable, with Rupertswood coming home with the wind before ultimately falling just short.
“We were never in control and they were never out of the game, so it was tight all the way,” he said.
“We had a big focus to get back to the way we wanted to play after a couple of losses. We addressed some key areas leading into this game and we thought we were significantly better at the contest today.”
While Todd Podolczak kicked five goals for Rupertswood, a more even spread of goalkickers helped the Macedon cause.
On the down side for the Cats, Shaun Harrison, Toby Sims and Dan Markworth all ended the game with injuries and are in doubt for this week.
Andrews said that after coming through a tough portion of the season, it was now about fine-tuning his side for a finals campaign.
“There’s three games to go and we play a few sides who are struggling a bit, so we’ll get ourselves ready,” he said.
“We’ve got through the hump part of the season and we’re hitting the home straight feeling good.”
