The Round 1 encounter was always going to be a beauty following a classic the last time the teams met.
Monty claimed a one-point win that the day, with the main talking point an epic shootout at either end between sharpshooter and competition leading goalkicker Dean Limbach and Macleod debutant Daniel Francis.
Francis kicked seven goals but was outdone at the other end by Limbach who kicked 11 in one of the most dominant displays by a forward for a long time.
This time around it was the Magpies’ big recruit from the offseason, ex- Richmond forward, Kayne Pettifer who got things under way with the opening goal of the game.
The goal came at a cost as moments later Ryan Jackson was sent off with a yellow card which led to Macleod’s key forward Nick Lynch kicking his first of the day.
After a great setup from young speedster James Brooker, Dean Limbach booted his first goal of the year, which he followed shortly after with another. When ex-Diamond Creek star Jesse Donaldson kicked the next, Montmorency had established a three-goal lead.
Macleod fired back with its second, before Pettifer returned serve with his second goal.
However, Roos’ Chris Long scored a major on the cusp of quarter time, leaving Mont with just a 13-point lead.
The second quarter started like the first, with Monty getting the first goal of the quarter through Jackson but Macleod refused to yield and got another one back to keep it at two goals.
Lynch made the margin a straight kick when he kicked his second, but Montmorency managed to kick clear to a 24-point lead thanks to goals to Aisake O’ hAilpin, Ben Sinclair and Pat Fitzgerald.
Ill discipline cost the Magpies the opportunity to hold their lead, and with Ben Haynes yellow carded, Macleod kicked the next four goals, three of which came from Lynch, to cut the half time margin to a solitary point.
Former Mont captain Daniel Keenan got things started in the second half with a nice snap to give his side breathing space before Jackson was given his marching orders with a second yellow card.
Despite his ejection, Mont began taking control of the match and snagged the next three goals with Pettifer on fire and taking his match tally to four.
Lynch hit back with two, but Pettifer wasn’t to be denied and kicked the final two goals of the quarter to again provide Monty a four-goal lead.
The fourth quarter started intensely and scoring was kept to a minimum, but when the first goal was finally kicked it was Pettifer who again rose to the occasion.
While his seventh major was quickly cancelled out by a Kyl Ewart goal, Pettifer had the last laugh when he snagged the next two majors to deal the final blow.
Ewart got his second goal of the quarter to round out the game with Monty victorious by 29 points, 18.10 118 to 13.11. 89.
Macleod next week travels to West Preston, a venue it won at the last time it venture there, while Montmorency hosts Eltham in the twilight game commencing at 4:10pm.
Final score: Macleod 13.11.89 def by Montmorency 18.10.118
