FOOTY returned to De Winton Park for the first time in 2014, as Macleod recorded its first win of the season over Northcote Park.
In a game full of momentum swings, the Kangaroos prevailed 19.12 (126) to 16.16 (112). The victory extended the club’s good record against the 2012 premier, having now beaten the Cougars at least once in each of the past five seasons.
Northcote Park started off best kicking the first goal of the game but it didn’t take long for the Roos to settle in, kicking the next two goals.
It was end-to-end football early on, a theme which continued throughout the day in a free-flowing game.
Northcote Park hurt Macleod late in the quarter and kicked the last two goals of the first term to lead by five points at quarter time.
The second was a similar affair to the first, although this time the roles were reversed as Macleod kicked the first goal of the quarter.
Northcote Park soon answered back with a goal of its own, but it was all Macleod after that.
The Roos’ pressure and run – led by midfielders Hamish Paynter and John Andrew – was instrumental as they went on to kick the next four goals of the quarter. The Cougars needed something before half time, and that they did kicking the last goal of the half.
The Roos went in at half time holding a 13-point lead. Both coaches would’ve been pleased with the attacking efforts of their troops, as both sides moved the ball well out of the backline, with plenty lot of run and carry.
Macleod raced out of the blocks in the third, kicking the first three goals. The Roos looked deadly moving the footy into the forward line, giving Nick Lynch and Mathew Pow the opportunity to contest one-out against their direct opponents.
Northcote Park too had its chances throughout the term, although the visitors were at time wasteful in front of goal, kicking 3.6 for the quarter to Macleod’s 4.1.
The Roos went into three-quarter time with a 14-point lead, although they would soon find themselves behind on the scoreboard.
As it did in Round 1, Northcote Park awoke from its slumber in the last term. It kicked five of the first six goals of the term to open up an 11-point lead.
Macleod seemed dazed and confused. Having lost a number of close games in 2013, it looked as though its horror run in tight matches would continue.
Then it hit. The Roos pegged one back. Then another. And another to snatch back the lead.
Now it was Northcote Park’s turn to fight against the tide. What looked like being a runaway win had quickly unravelled.
Macleod had been hit, but still stayed strong and recovered. It kicked the final five goals of the game to win by 14 points.
As the final siren sounded the car horns went off in unison, supporters screamed and players jumped to embrace each other.
With confidence high, the Roos next travel to Whittlesea to take on the bottom-placed Eagles, while Northcote Park – still without a win in 2014 – takes on Heidelberg at Warringal Park on ANZAC Day.
