MACLEOD secured its biggest win of the year with a 28-point triumph over Montmorency to advance to the Division 1 preliminary final against Greensborough.
With elimination facing the loser of the first semi final at Preston City Oval, the Kangaroos prevailed 13.12 (90) to 8.14 (62), leading at every change in a complete four-quarter effort.
On Macleod’s biggest day of football since its 2009 Division 2 Grand Final victory, the Kangaroos stood up to the bigger bodies of Montmorency and ran them off their legs.
With the game in the balance at the half time break, it was the third quarter dominance from Macleod that changed the complexion of the game. The Kangaroos attacked relentlessly, kicking 5.3 to Montmorency’s one behind for the quarter to open up a 45-point lead at three quarter time.
The quarter was played in Macleod’s half with wave after wave of attacks coming from outside the 50m arc. Had Macleod kicked straight and hit a few more targets inside its forward 50, the lead could have easily pushed past 10 goals.
A quick start to the last quarter was needed from Montmorency, which it delivered on kicking four goals and reducing the margin to only 23 points at the 20-minute mark.
However, all hope however was squashed when Macleod’s Sean Driscoll intercepted a mark on the back flank and kicked the sealer much to the delight of the Macleod faithful.
Macleod had a host of stars on the day with forwards Patrick Martin and Jack Langford kicking two goals apiece and taking over a dozen marks.
Defenders Brad Leggett and Daniel O’Brien held their men accountable all day and came out on top, while midfielders Laurance Schubert and Steve Kelly accumulated high possession numbers.
Montmorency forward Ben Walton was his side’s main focal point and kicked three goals, while Patrick Fitzgerald – the usual focal point up forward – spent the first and third quarters playing loose in defence.
Walton and Fitzgerald could have increased their season goal tallies had they been able to make their chances on goal count.
It was younger players in Xavier Cahill and Bobby Lamanna who led from the front for Montmorency, with usual suspects Walton and Ryan Jackson also among the better players.
Montmorency started the game with fluent and slick ball movement through the middle of the ground. Kicking into the breeze didn’t appear to faze the Magpies as they attacked through the centre corridor, rarely turning the ball over.
However, they were wasteful with the wind in the second quarter, managing just 1.6 for the term. Poor disposal along with inaccurate kicking at goal put them behind the eight-ball heading into the second half.
Macleod was also wasteful in the second quarter kicking 2.5 with a few gettable chances on goal missed.
While the wind didn’t appear to be as strong as it usually is at Preston, 14 of the 21 goals were still kicked to the city end where the wind is always prevalent.
Montmorency’s loss was its 11th finals defeat in 13 attempts over the past seven years. It is also the fourth time in six years the club has exited in straight sets, and the fourth consecutive season that a side placed third on the ladder has failed to win a final.
Macleod now plays Greensborough in the preliminary final on Sunday, with the winner advancing to the Division 1 Grand Final against Heidelberg. The teams have squared off twice this season with Macleod victorious on both occasions.
The Kangaroos are on track to emulate Northcote Park’s run at the finals back in 2012, when the Cougars won four consecutive finals to win the premiership.
Final score: Montmorency 8.14 (62) def by Macleod 13.12 (90)
