WITH two tightly-contested finals spots on the line Macedon produced a monster final quarter to beat Romsey 14.20 (104) to 7.15 (57) in the Riddell District Football League on Saturday.
The top four – Riddell, Diggers Rest, Sunbury and Romsey – is all but locked away, leaving fifth and sixth open. Seven teams can mathematically make the finals but the Cats took a giant step to securing a place with the surprise 47-point win over the Redbacks.
Both teams missed opportunities in front of goal on a blustery day, and Romsey was left to rue some first-quarter inaccuracy that may have put the Cats to the sword early – the Redbacks had 11 scoring shots but kicked only four goals. They led by 17 at quarter time.
Macedon cut that lead to just three points during the third term and worked its way eight points in front at the last change. In the final quarter, only peppering in front of goal prevented a bigger margin as Macedon kicked 6.11 to Romsey’s 1.2 to record its best win of the year.
Cats playing coach Al Meldrum booted five goals, while Josh Clough and Darren Goodwin bordered on sensational.
Melton Centrals’ finals hopes remain alive despite a 7.4 (46) to 12.8 (80) loss to Diggers Rest. The Burras delivered the Centrals’ most crushing result back in round seven with a 104-point belting, but the Centrals were up to the task early on Saturday.
They led at quarter time by three points and trailed by a point at the half, but went scoreless in the third quarter as Diggers Rest piled on five goals to kill off the contest.
Broadford kept its finals hopes alive at Harley Hammond Reserve with an 18.9 (117) to 8.9 (57) thumping of Kilmore.
Wallan set up its 12.7 (79) to 5.2 (32) win over Woodend-Hesket with an eight-goal-to-one second quarter. After a dour first term in which both teams kicked just a point each the Magpies roared to a 45-point lead in the second and kicked four in the second half to keep the Hawks at bay.
Sunbury Lions dented Lancefield’s charge at finals with a 28-point victory.
