Northcote Park have produced their most impressive performance of the 2022 Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 season after defeating Macleod by 47 points at Bill Lawry Oval.
The Cougars claimed their third win of the season in classy fashion, winning all four quarters and never losing control of the contest to prevail 12.12 (84) to 5.7 (37).
It’s also the biggest margin Northcote Park have won a match by since Round 4, 2019 when they defeated Lower Plenty by 51 points.
The triumph moves the Cougars off the bottom of the ladder and into eighth spot, while Macleod have lost touch with the top five following the defeat, as they sit six points away from West Preston-Lakeside who are in fifth position.
Michael Amad was excellent up forward, kicking five majors, including three in the second quarter, to play a big role in the Cougars’ victory.
The pace of Ricky Fandrich was also brilliant as he created many chances for his forward’s while also kicking a goal in the process. The defensive trio of Benjamin McNiece, Daniel Tallariti and Ayui Makiemg were superb in limiting the Roos’ attacking presence.
Jacob Walker and Jose Miliado were solid contributors in what was otherwise a disappointing showing from Macleod.
Lucas Hobbs started the game well, kicking the first major of the afternoon on the run while also having an influence in the midfield for the Roos.
The Cougars were already without captain Matthew Perry heading into the clash after he was deemed a late out, and it wasn’t long before they lost a second Perry brother as Jordan was stretchered off with a leg injury in the first term.
But it was the home side who had all the control in the opening quarter, registering seven scoring shots to one and despite only having one major to show for their efforts, Northcote Park had all the confidence heading into quarter time.
That confidence was justified in the second term with a five goal to one quarter breaking the game wide open.
Three of those majors came from exciting forward Michael Amad who in the space of 10 minutes, blew the home side’s lead out to 26 points. Janus Waldron soon got in on the act, kicking his third goal of the season, before Boyse had his second for the afternoon to extend the margin to an astonishing 40 points.
Haydon Manuel was able to break the goal drought for the visitors just moments before the half time siren, winning a 50-metre penalty to reduce the deficit to 33 points at the main break.
Macleod stepped things up in the third quarter in an attempt to get back in the contest, with Kobe Brandt kicking a nice major six minutes into the term.
But Northcote Park responded immediately thanks to an incredible running goal from Ricky Fandrich that quickly got the game back on the home side’s terms.
Amad then had his fourth before back-to-back goals from Macleod forward Anthony Doherty gave his side a glimmer of hope, trailing by only 24 points heading into three quarter time.
But that was before Cougars recruit Matthew D’Angelo produced back-to-back majors of his own to once again swing the momentum back into Northcote Park’s favour at the final change.
The home side were keen to have the game sewn up as early as possible and after D’Angelo streamed through to kick his third consecutive goal a minute into the last quarter, it was all but over.
Amad slotted through his fifth from the goal square to put the cherry on top of what was one of the most relentless performances from Northcote Park in three years.
