Macedon in box seat to play RDFNL finals after mini-finals win over Romsey

And it was the Cats that triumphed, a 28-point win cementing their place in the RDFNL top-six with two rounds remaining.

The season was on the line for both clubs, each have a bye and one game left, and the 13.11 (89) to 9.7 (61) victory at Tony Clarke Reserve means Macedon just needs to beat Melton Centrals in Round 18 to play finals.

Dropping to seventh, the Redbacks must now beat Woodend-Hesket in the season finale and hope the Blues do them a favour to feature for a seventh consecutive year.

The match was playing with finals-like intensity.

Macedon led throughout but the margin was rarely more than a kick, until the final quarter.

A four-goal burst opened up a 34-point advantage before Romsey finished with two of the final three goals of the game.

In a “tough, edge game” Cats coach Al Meldrum told his players not to back down.

“We didn’t really have the game on our terms, we had to keep chipping away and persevere,” Meldrum said.

“I said don’t be surprised if we do start to get it going because they were putting a lot of effort and intensity around the ball and off the ball – it was a really edged game.

“We felt we had the style to beat them but they were really cracking in, Romsey, and making it hard for us and I said don’t back down, keep that edge.

“We wore them down, so we had the game sown up with eight or nine minutes to go and we were able to bring off some of the elder statesmen.”

Michael Rutledge was central to the strong finish, kicking four second-half goals and five for the match.

The young forward is having a breakout season and now has 30 goals for the year.

He and younger brother Tom, were key contributors.

Brodie Hoyne was named best-on-ground, while Matt Dick, Charlie Rossetti and Sam Indian also impressed.

“Michael’s been excellent, he had his best senior game two weeks ago, he kicked five that day but it was a different five (goals) on Saturday,” Meldrum said.

“He’s got a lot of natural talent and ability and with young key forwards it takes time, their form and consistency fluctuates, and he kicked four goals in the second half – after kicking the first of the game.

“Tom, we played in the back half for the first time and he was excellent, he gave us a lot of drive – really good at taking grass and breaking tackles.

“It was nice to win a crunch game and not rely on Jason (Cooke) to win a bag, he was really excited for Mick.

“And Brodie’s so consistent, he’s been top-three in our best-and-fairest every year I’ve coached and won one year but I think this is his best year.

“The longer quarters help me because he’s so fit, he’s still running hard in the last minute of every quarter, so he was our best four-quarter performer – along with Charlie Rossetti in the ruck.”

Macedon started strongly kicking three goals to one in the opening term to take a 12-point lead.

Romsey briefly hit the front early in the second quarter and again in the third but each time Macedon responded.

Michael Rutledge (two), Brad Cooke and Charlie Ozanne then put the game to bed with a decisive burst in the fourth quarter.

The Cats would complete a perfect day for the club with the under-19s and reserves saluting earlier in the day.

In the final game of the day, the club’s women’s team then secured a third straight grand final berth with a dominant 41-point win over Lancefield in the qualifying final.

“It was a great day for the club,” Meldrum said.

“Our under-19s beat Romsey, who hadn’t lost a game all year, and our reserves came from behind after being 32 points down at half-time.

“Then the senior women booked themselves a third straight grand final.

“So we all get a week off now, the girls earnt the week off and all our men have the bye.”

BEST OF: RIDDELL DISTRICT LEAGUE’S GREATEST PLAYERS SINCE 2000

LEADER: GET YOUR RIDDELL DISTRICT FOOTY NEWS HERE

RDFNL: MELTON SOUTH AIMING TO END FINALS CURSE

Macedon is fourth, two points ahead of Kyneton, Melton South and Romsey – the Tigers and Panthers both have a game in hand.

The Cats will then face Melton Centrals in Round 18, Romsey tackles Woodend-Hesket and Kyneton and Melton South play each other.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Woodend-Hesket was too strong for Lancefield in a 35-point win and Melton South thumped Gisborne Giants by 65.

Ladder-leader Diggers Rest eased past Melton Centrals by 35 points and reigning premier Riddell defeated Wallan by 33 in the grand final rematch.

Originally published as Macedon in box seat to play RDFNL finals after mini-finals win over Romsey