Macleod made it three wins on the trot and retained first place on the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 ladder with a barnstorming 61-point win over Montmorency.
The Magpies kicked the first two goals of the game, but the Roos went on to dominate the Round 4 clash at De Winton Park, finishing with a 14.20 (104) to 6.7 (43) win in their first home game of the season.
Ned McKeown was phenomenal for the Roos in defence, spoiling or intercepting any ball the came his way, as well as providing fantastic ball use to his teammates with his accurate left boot. Fellow key defender Brad Leggett was also resolute.
They were helped by Justin White, whose intercept ability was one of the major reasons behind Macleod’s constant rebound from defensive 50. Patrick Martin kicked six goals to add to his four-goal tally the week prior, while Hamish Paynter won plenty of the football.
It was all about Montmorency early in the match, as Magpies booted the first two goals of the game in the opening five minutes to open an early 11-point advantage. The would be the visitors only two goals of the opening half.
The game paused momentarily following a knee scare to Montmorency star forward Patrick Fitzgerald. The Magpies big man managed to walk from the field and eventually returned later in the term but was clearly hampered for the remainder of the afternoon.
Macleod responded swiftly with a goal to Luke Joyce, before Ben Lennon, Hamish Paynter and Martin all got in on the party to give the Roos a handy 16-point buffer at the first break.
At the quarter-time break Montmorency coach Ben Haynes implored his side to take the game on more often and to not allow their opponents too much room to attack from defence.
However, Macleod dominated a scrappy second quarter, kicking the only three goals to extend its lead to 33 points. The Magpies had chances to score late in the term, but the Roos’ outstanding defence were able to apply enough pressure to deny the visitors a goal.
Patrick Fitzgerald willed himself into the contest early in the third term and he kicked the Magpies’ drought-breaking goal eight minutes after the resumption from the main break.
The Magpies would go on to kick the next two goals of the match through James Brooker and debutant Bailey Eustance to bring the margin back to within three goals.
However, Macleod gradually gained back control in general play and was able to put a halt to the Magpies’ momentum. When Justin White put through a goal moments before the three-quarter time siren, he extended the margin back out to 28 points.
The Roos went right on with the job in the final term, outscoring the Magpies by six goals to one, which included a four-goal quarter from Martin.
Patrick Fitzgerald finished the game with ice strapped to his right knee, however it was a better day for his teammate and name-sake Michael Fitz-gerald, who did a great job in defence to restrict Ben Lennon to just two majors.
Macleod will be looking to continue its winning streak in Round 5 when it makes the trip to take on Northcote Park. Montmorency will be looking to rebound quickly when it travels to second-placed West Preston-Lakeside.
Final score: Macleod 14.20 (104) def Montmorency 6.7 (43)
