MACLEOD staged a stunning come-from-behind win against Division 1 ladder-leader Greensborough in a see-sawing affair at War Memorial Park.
A Josh Callaway major midway through the second term extended the Boro’s lead to 38 points, but the Roos rallied to kick nine of the last 11 goals of the contest to run out 11-point victors.
Under siege for the majority of the first half, Macleod was dominant in the clearances and controlled the corridor after half time.
Kangaroos midfielder Lucas Hobbs was a vital cog in the comeback, winning clearances and having his hand in two straight goals to give the Roos the ascendancy.
Defender Steven Kelly was also important for Macleod, manning Rhys Boyden. Kelly won numerous one-on-one contests to hold the Boro spearhead goalless after quarter time.
Boro co-captain Matthew Hyde was his side’s best in their second loss of the season, leading from the front across the back half.
Macleod coach Garry Ramsay said his side’s courage after half time was the reason it won.
“I thought our bravery with the ball in the second half was excellent,” Ramsay said.
“We were prepared to take chances … from behind the ball we showed a lot of courage with our running and our kicking to the corridor.
“Our backline was outnumbered massively in terms of inside 50s in the last quarter but they held up brilliantly.”
The Roos have now won four of the past five games against Greensborough and with only percentage separating the two teams on the Division 1 ladder, Ramsay said his side will gain a huge confidence boost from the win.
“It’s massive (to beat Greensborough),” Ramsay said. “Greensborough are the side that we want to be.
“We’re chasing them … we will still be training and playing like we are the challengers.”
Aided by a strong breeze, the Boro burst out of the blocks to open up a 33-point lead at the first change.
Boyden was looking ominous leading out of the goal square, whilst Michael Hooper’s presence in the ruck was giving Greensborough’s midfielders first use of the ball.
The opening major of the second term was Callaway’s set shot against the breeze, however Macleod rattled off three straight goals before half time to enter the main break with some momentum.
With the Roos dropping a loose man into the back half, Greensborough struggled to score and could only manage two goals for the third quarter.
Macleod kicked two goals of their own through Lucas Hobbs and Daniel O’Brien, cutting the Boro’s margin to just 15 points at the final change.
Young forward Reid Brandt played a vital role for the Roos in the last quarter, slotting the first goal of the term following Patrick Martin’s raking ball forward.
Brandt’s impressive contested mark on the half forward flank provided the springboard for the Roos’ next goal; Brandt’s kick forward was crumbed by Nick Lynch who found Shane Doherty in the goal square to draw Macleod within a point of the reigning premiers.
Lynch gave the Kangaroos the lead after converting a set shot and soon after sealed the win after a poor defensive error saw two Greensborough defenders fly against one another – leaving Lynch to run into an open goal.
Macleod will look to continue its impressive run of form when it returns home to face a resurgent West Preston-Lakeside after the Queen’s Birthday break, whilst the Boro will look to rebound against the battling Lower Plenty at Montmorency Park.
Final score: Greensborough 8.8 (56) def by Macleod 9.13 (67)
