MACLEOD stormed to an outstanding win over last year’s premier Greensborough, coming from behind to win by 26 points at De Winton Park in Round 2.
The Roos continued last year’s rich home form, where they turned De Winton Park into a fortress, as a dominant third term saw them kick 51 points to two which set up the 16.12 (108) to 12.10 (82) win.
The result sees the Roos sit atop the ladder after two rounds, largely thanks to a huge percentage following their smashing of North Heidelberg last week. They next week take on fellow unbeaten side Heidelberg in an ANZAC Day blockbuster.
Missing key players Kane Shaw, Cathal Corr and Brad Leggett, the win over Greensborough sent another message to the rest of the competition that Garry Ramsay’s look the real deal.
The Boro will have to reassess after their third term capitulation, where they saw a 22-point half time lead turn into a 27-point deficit at three-quarter time on the back of eight unanswered Macleod goals.
Macleod got off to a flyer at the commencement of the game, with Shane Doherty picking up where he left off last week and putting through two of the Roos first three goals to give the Roos a 20-point head start after five minutes.
The home side had the Boro on the ropes, however Josh Grubb got himself on the goal kickers list as he found some rare open space in Macleod’s defence to kick a good running goal against the run of play.
Contested football ensued for the next 13 minutes before Grubb ended the scoring drought, kicking the next two goals to have three for the term and cut the Boro’s deficit to only four points at the first break.
Greensborough was able to keep its momentum rolling at the start of the second term, with goals to Tim Atkins and Rhys Boyden putting the Boro in front for the first time in the match.
Anthony Doherty was able to briefly halt the Boro’s charge, pegging one back in a rare second-term highlight for Macleod. However, the Boro finished the first half the better, putting through three more goals to go into the second half with a handy 22-point buffer.
After a promising start, the Roos lost their way in the second term as the visitors booted eight of the last nine goals of the opening half.
Whatever coach Garry Ramsay said to his troops at half time worked an absolute treat, as the Roos dominated the third term from start to finish. In a simply scintillating display of attacking football, Macleod put through eight unanswered goals to make for a 49-point turnaround on the scoreboard.
Jack Langford moved into the ruck and dominated the quarter, while Patrick Martin and Hayden Seivers proved a handful up forward.
With the game slipping beyond them, the Boro needed to find some of that second quarter form in the fourth term. They took the game on early in the last and found an avenue to goal through Tristan Stead, who steadied himself from 25m to get the Boro rolling.
But despite the Boro dominating the early play, a costly midfield error saw the Roos pounce, with second-gamer Riley Salvador crumbing the ball and running into an open goal to take Macleod’s lead back out to 26 points.
Goals to Boyden and Grubb saw the margin pegged back to 14 points with plenty of time left on the clock.
However, the Roos were able to steady the ship, with consecutive goals to Shane Doherty, Langford and Martin keeping their unbeaten start to the season intact as they recorded one of the club’s greatest wins.
Langford’s outstand second half made him the best player on the day, while recruit Lucas Hobbs was dominant throughout in the midfield. The Boro were led by Josh Grubb, who booted six goals in defeat, while Josh Riddle and John Desmond battled manfully.
The Boro will look to redeem themselves in Round 3 as they host another side on the rebound in Northcote Park, while the Roos make the short trip to Warringal Park to play Heidelberg where the winner will shoot four points clear atop the ladder.
Final score: Macleod 16.12 (108) def Greensborough 12.10 (82)
