Justin White recaptured the form that saw him finish runner-up the in 2011 Frank Rosbrook Medal and was far and away the best player on the ground in the 13.14 (92) to 8.12 (60) victory.
After a slow start where it trailed by nine points after six minutes, Macleod never looked truly troubled by the Eagles despite not being able to shake their persistent host until late in proceedings.
Nick Lynch booted four opportunistic goals while Cathal Corr kicked two and missed a number of other golden chances. Down the other end of the ground Matthew Quinton was Whittlesea’s only multiple goalscorer and kicked two.
White accumulated a stack of possession off half back and used the ball with precision despite the wet and heavy conditions. His dash and polish was equalled by his courage with the speedster taking a number of memorable marks running back with the flight of the ball.
Ryan Harris was superb in close and won countless clearances, while Matthew Clark dominated off half back, particularly in the first half where he won plenty of disposals and completely blanketed Matthew Quinton.
With skipper Kane Shaw confined to the sidelines with a knee complaint, the Roos were also well served by Patrick Martin and Adam Woodhams who linked up well through half back and the wing.
Whittlesea looked set for its second consecutive home win when it raced out of the blocks. Janan Daniel was able to find plenty of ball in space and helped set up Andrew Fairchild on two occasions in the opening five minutes, however the tall forward failed to convert on both occasions.
The Eagles kicked the first goal when ruckman Jeremy Page crumbed a ball in the goal square, but their early dominance resulted in little on the scoreboard as Nicholas Brannelly and Corr hit back soon after to give Macleod the lead.
The Roos led by seven points at quarter time and extended that margin to 15 when Corr goaled from a free kick early in the second quarter.
Macleod continued to pepper the goals but with little success before Whittlesea stole the ascendency with much-needed goals to Jason Buhagier and Lucas Hobbs in the space of one minute.
Quinton then missed a chance to make it three in three minutes from a 35m set shot and was made to pay when Matt Walter marked strongly in Macleod’s forward 50m and dished off to Matt Veszpremi who kicked truly.
But the Eagles soon regained the lead with two quick goals courtesy of Janan Daniel and Quinton. Daniel’s was a nice snap from a forward 50m stoppage, while Quinton took a towering mark from the resulting centre clearance.
Nick Lynch kicked his first to help Macleod take back the lead at half time, and the Roos were able to extend their advantage to 21 points midway through the third quarter with the opening three goals of the second half.
The best of those was a 50m bomb by Ryan Harris who got on the end of a coast to coast movement which involved slick play by White, Martin and Woodhams.
Whittlesea managed to fight back again with Roy Dyson and Quinton kicking consecutive majors, but as he did in the second quarter, Lynch was able to snap truly from a late stoppage outside Macleod’s forward goal square to give the visitor a 13-point lead at the final change.
Ill-discicpline hurt the Eagles early in the last quarter with David Adams booting the all-important first goal of the final term thanks to a 50m penalty.
As the rain began to pour down neither side was able to find an avenue to goal in the following ten minutes, with time become Whittlesea’s biggest enemy.
The game was then sealed when Jack Bianchin’s 40m snap took a fortunate bounce into the goal mouth, before Brannelly added a finishing touch with a piercing 45m set shot.
Macleod will look for its third consecutive win when it hosts Greensborough at War Memorial Park on Saturday, while Whittlesea faces a stern test when it travels to Warringal Park for a clash with third-placed Heidelberg.
Final score: Whittlesea 8.12 (60) def by Macleod 13.14 (92)
