Eltham dug deep to claim a potentially season-deciding win over Macleod at Eltham Central Park.
The Panthers held off a late surge from the Kangaroos to pull off a 10.12 (72) to 8.15 (63) win.
With both sides cemented in the bottom half of the ladder, they both entered the field looking to recover their finals hopes and avoid the relegation scrap.
The Roos were out to bounce back after an embarrassing 129-point loss to Bundoora, but despite an improved effort they couldn’t pull it off against an Eltham side that was out to prove it still had what it took to play finals.
With previous matches going down to the wire, this game stuck to the script and provided another ripper of a clash, only decided in the final minutes.
Macleod was down by 22 points early in the final term after Jackson Weatherald kicked Eltham clear, but the Roos hit back within 10 points. Cathal Corr then had a shot at goal from point blank range late with under two minutes to go, but hit the post. The miss shattered all hopes of a Macleod come-from-behind win.
Eltham got off to a flyer, kicking the first goal inside the opening minute of the first quarter through Joshua Merkel. Macleod hit straight back through Lachlan Considine, but this was the only goal for the visitors in the first term as Eltham piled on four more goals to take a commanding 24-point lead into the second term.
Macleod started the second term positively, kicking the first two goals but Eltham stopped the charge with a goal of its own. The Roos then hit back and kicked the next two goals to go into the second half with all the momentum and trailing the Panthers by just five points.
Eltham appeared to switch off in the second term and lagged behind as it allowed Macleod back into the match. However, the Panthers started the second half impressively, kicking the first two to extend their lead to 17 points.
Macleod hit back through Corr after both he and Chris Long applied great tackling pressure on the Panthers. Once again, Eltham hit back to push the lead back to 16 points through Matthew Williamson heading into the final term.
The third quarter was ultimately wasteful for both sides. Macleod missed too many opportunities in front of goal, while Eltham gave away too many free kicks and 50m penalties.
Macleod applied the early pressure in the final term but Weatherald put Eltham clear with the opening goal of the term, before another free kick against the Panthers resulted in a goal to Justin White.
Macleod then got within 10 points through Hamish Paynter and had all the momentum, however Corr’s missed effort denied them a chance to push closer in the dying stages.
Weatherald was Eltham’s best and dominated in the back line. Williamson and Long had an intriguing ruck dual all afternoon, both kicking a goal each, but Williamson probably won the battle in the end just getting more hit-outs.
Eltham take the short trip to Greensborough in Round 8 in what will be a very tough encounter, while Macleod takes on Heidelberg at home ahead of the Queen’s Birthday break. The Roos will be talking up their chances against the Tigers who are in a mini form slump.
Final score: Eltham 10.12 (72) def Macleod 8.15 (63)
