A hard-fought contest between the top two sides of MC Labour Division 2 ended in Macleod extended their winning streak with a nine-point victory over Diamond Creek.
The teams faced each other in Round 1, where Andrew Tranquilli’s men showed out and won against Nick Lynch’s men by 41 points. However yesterday’s game was neck and neck, with the Roos coming out winners 10.9 (69) to Diamond Creek 8.12 (60).
The result pushes Nick Lynch’s men a game clear of the Creekers atop the MC Labour Division 2 table.
Darcy Barden starred for the visitors, kicking seven of the Roos 10 goals to break the 50-goal barrier for himself in season 2025.
Jordan Corelli, Kurt Manuel also starred for the Roos whilst Connor Lidgerwood was terrific in midfield alongside Jacob Booth.
Bronson Hill and Ben Major threatened in attack for the Creekers, with Hill kicking three goals and Major kicking two.
Despite the Creekers losing this game against Macleod, all of Tranquilli’s men put up a strong fight, especially in the first term, putting as much pressure as they could.
This pressure was rewarded early on with Bronson Hill scoring the first goal of the quarter inside the first four minutes.
Macleod then turned up the pressure, and Jordan Corelli responded with a goal just as time on started, reducing Macleod’s deficit to one point.
However, the momentum continued for Diamond Creek, and they scored two goals in time on through Hill and Booth, securing the first quarter for the hosts, 20-7.
Macleod started off the second quarter strong, with their top scorer for the season and Coaches MVP leader, Darcy Barden, scoring 7 magnificent goals across the game, 5 of which were right after each other within the first 11 minutes of the second term.
Mackenzie Hogg, another top scorer of the season for Macleod, added another goal to the board at the 15-minute mark, extending the Roos advantage to 25 points.
The second term was tough for The Creekers but that didn’t stop them, they kept going, with Andrew Elward kicking their first goal of the term early into time on.
Just minutes after Ben Major, whilst battling it out with Zachary Hudson, managed to score a goal for the Creekers to make it a two-goal ball game.
Jordan Corelli, another one of Macleod’s top goal scorers, secured the second quarter for Macleod with an after the siren goal, with scores settling on 5.5 (35) 8.5 (53) in favour of the Roos at the main break.
In the third quarter it was the Creekers time to come back, Bronson Hill scoring another goal along with Ben Major early in the term, giving the Creekers just what they needed to keep Macleod on edge for the rest of the quarter.
With five points separating the two teams at the start of the last term both sides tried to gain momentum. It was the Roos that were rewarded though, with Barden’s sixth goal pushing their lead out to double digits.
Taj Logan kickstarted the term for the hosts with a goal minutes later though, giving them the push they needed and putting pressure on Macleod.
However, Darcy Barden secured his seventh goal for the game after Logan’s goal, locking in the win for Lynch’s team, ending the scores at 8.12 (60), 10.9 (69) in favour of Macleod.
