Nine goals from Macedon’s Marcus Kenny was all that stood between Melton Centrals and an upset win at the weekend.
Despite Kenny’s outstanding effort, the Centrals more than matched it with their highly touted opponents before losing by 19 points, 14.10 (94) to 11.9 (75).
Melton Centrals coach Glenn Hopkins said there were plenty of positives to come out of the match for his young side.
“They [Macedon] are a running side and I thought we had done a really good job at shutting down their run in the second quarter,” he said.
“We worked hard to apply pressure and block the space at full forward and our midfielders did that.
“In a 10-minute period in the third quarter, they kicked about four goals and that was the difference, really. It was just that period which cost us. Apart from that, we thought we did a really good job.”
Kenny wasn’t the only big forward to enjoy a day out with Centrals’ off-season recruit Rex Hickman playing his best game for the club.
Hickman booted five goals and was his side’s best player.
“Rex covers a lot of ground and he gives us a really good focal point,” Hopkins said.
“He provides a bailout kick; he’s someone we can go to long from our backline because he works strongly up the ground and hard back down the ground.
“He’s a great target and can burn the centre half back, that’s for sure.”
Christopher Carassellos, Nathan Richardson and Shane Frederickson all worked hard for Centrals inside 50 and finished with two goals each.
Around the ground, Liam Toohey and Glenn Ryan were also impressive with their workrate.
Melton turns its attention to another strong opponent this week when it takes on Riddell.
The Bombers will go into the match full of confidence after a 110-point win against Woodend-Hesket at the weekend.
“Our next four games are against top sides,” Hopkins said.
“Against Riddell, we’ll need to try and shut down their run.
“We’re getting used to how we create uncontested possessions and that’s something we’re working on. We want to make not only Riddell but all the other teams be accountable to us as well.
“That’s what we’re working on at the moment, getting guys to the outside and getting some free possessions.”
Meanwhile, it was a tough day at the office for Melton Centrals in the Riddell District Netball League, the team succumbing to Macedon, 50-41.
