By Tara Murray
Macedon got a crucial win as it held off a fast-finishing Wallan in the Riddell District Football League.
Like the corresponding match last season between the two teams, this match went down to the wire.
After an even first three quarters, the Cats got a mini break in the last quarter and looked set to go on with it.
The Magpies responded and closed the gap again, but the Cats had done enough, winning 9.10 (64)-9.4 (58).
Cats coach Ben Tankard said it was another good contest between the two sides.
He said these are the sort of games you want to play in, as you can test yourself and how to handle the situation.
“It was an arm-wrestle all day,” he said. “Neither side could break it open.
“We managed to get up early in the last quarter.
“They got back into the game. They were more attacking and more direct and they had more skill than us on the day.”
Skipper James Wright kicked three goals, with Tankard saying Wright was their best.
He highlighted defensive jobs that Tom Hilderbrand and Seb Miletic did on Matthew Perri and Nathan Fowler.
Tankard said another standout was Glenn Campbell in his first game with the club.
PHOTO GALLERY: Macedon vs Wallan
“He played four premierships at Strathmore and had been playing at Ocean Grove,” Tankard said of Campbell.
“We’ve been after him for a while and we were able to grab him.
“He’s basically a direct replacement for Joe Wilson, who we thought had a knee injury. He actually tore his quad off the bone and won’t play again this season.”
The win moves the Cats to 4-2 and to sixth spot, ahead of the bye and matches against two of the lower sides, Rockbank and Lancefield in coming weeks.
Tankard said they were confident of winning both those matches, which would take them to 6-2.
“That’s a good foundation with a tough draw on the road home. The top three is the goal, but you have to make the top six first.”
The Cats, who have had their fair share of injuries, should get some good news after the bye. Tankard said that premiership players Jason Cooke, Daniel Markworth and Alastair Collins should all return in the next fortnight.
But they will lose full forward Aaron Johnston with a broken arm.
“He spent the night in hospital and is likely to have surgery. He’s unlikely to play again this season.”
In other matches, Diggers Rest did what it had to do to account for Woodend-Hesket, winning 15.10 (100)-10.10 (70).
Dylan Tarczon kicked five goals as Riddell beat Broadford, 18.23 (131)-3.2 (20).
Mitch Jensen kicked another bag as Romsey smashed Rockbank 33.34 (232)-1.1 (7).
Rupertswood was too good for Melton Centrals, winning 15.12 (102)-5.5 (35).
Lancefield had the bye.
MORE RDFL NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/diggers-rest-lets-the-good-times-roll/
