- Banned
- #701
I think before we start talking about how the "Big Three" are going to fit into two for the big dance in a couple of weeks over at Lancefield............ Or at least I think its at Lancefield....... Who knows it may well have changed by now ! What time is it ???
Anyway it would be extremely remiss of us all not to consider the distinct possibility that the Cats are indeed in with a pretty good shot at going all the way now that they have gotten the "Monkey" off their backs, by finally coming off age & beating Diggers in a Final.
Belief is a massive driving force in footy. And now Macedon knows how to win a Final, they just might now have the confidence & appetite for a few more !
I think everyone in the comp' knows they have the cattle to play good footy, & after Saturdays convincing win by their reserves side, it shows they also have the depth of talent as well.
Although Macedon seniors win over Diggers on Sunday was at times a little scratchy, & both sides made a plethora of errors, the Cats stood firm when it mattered & there was no discernible second half fade out by them, which has been an unfortunate flaw of their game in recent years. Yes, a couple of their players need to do MORE. Ash Fleming & Al Collins need to step up. And big Al Meldrum needs to have a greater impact...... "THAT" is the burden which comes with leadership !
On the plus side the Cats had many solid contributors on Sunday & their commitment as a team to do the one percenters was a major factor in their victory. James (Nipper) Wrights run & carry was invaluable, as was the inspirational goals he booted in the first quarter. Darren Goodwins work at the stoppages was first rate. He is a big body, surprisingly mobile for his size & not easily pushed aside in the contested stuff, and he aint too shy when it comes to the in and under work either. Little Josh Cloughs performance on the far wing, (that saw most of the days play) was an absolute ball tearer. He may only be 50 kgs wringing wet, but the kids got a massive heart, puts his head over the ball & has a great turn of speed. Daniel Sandle & Tim Dettmann's contributions on Sunday were solid & important, as was Robbie Belchers. A backmans role is never glamorous or flashy, but Belcher offers good leadership down back, martials his troops very well, is not afraid to be creative & always makes his opponent earn every single possession.
Sometimes when you watch or play a game of footy you can be privileged to witness a watershed moment in the heat of the contest. These can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up & give you goose bumps. Well on Sunday at about the fifteen minute mark of the last quarter, we had a beauty !
Diggers were on the march, having kicked a couple of goals & were closing down the margin on Macedon, FAST ! The Cats were under siege. The game was tough & hard. No place to hide & certainly no place for the faint hearted. Diggers needed to get the ball down quickly to their forwards to score. A Burra player won possession of the pill in the centre & drove it long over half forward & into the hole. Shane Marchewka the Diggers full forward lead fiercely & direct with eyes only for the ball, desperate to take the grab.
Now people have all sorts of definitions & thoughts on what is "courageous" & what is "tough" in footy. Well, for mine, its what Macedons Pete Markworth chose to do on Sunday arvo' in the close, dying stages of this game. With the ball floating over his head, he turned around, running back with the flight of the ball, wide open & without any regard to his own welfare he made a suicidal contest of "that mark", which could only end in a bad way for his person. The sickening clash left him prostrate & motionless on the deck, BUT....... His valour in putting his body on the line had won Macedon a free kick for high contact to his noggin. HE had single handedly halted Diggers Rests dangerous foray forward. (although he could not take the resulting kick, & was helped from the ground by two trainers)
Had Marchewka taken the easiest of marks on the lead & converted the relatively simple shot, who knows if Macedon could've held out against a rampaging Diggers for that win !
Sometimes these selfless inspirational acts are the sort of things that players must do if their team is to prevail.
If Macedon now have a depth of players that are prepared to do this sort of thing, coupled with the 1%ers for TEAM success who knows how far it will take them ????
Anyway it would be extremely remiss of us all not to consider the distinct possibility that the Cats are indeed in with a pretty good shot at going all the way now that they have gotten the "Monkey" off their backs, by finally coming off age & beating Diggers in a Final.
Belief is a massive driving force in footy. And now Macedon knows how to win a Final, they just might now have the confidence & appetite for a few more !
I think everyone in the comp' knows they have the cattle to play good footy, & after Saturdays convincing win by their reserves side, it shows they also have the depth of talent as well.
Although Macedon seniors win over Diggers on Sunday was at times a little scratchy, & both sides made a plethora of errors, the Cats stood firm when it mattered & there was no discernible second half fade out by them, which has been an unfortunate flaw of their game in recent years. Yes, a couple of their players need to do MORE. Ash Fleming & Al Collins need to step up. And big Al Meldrum needs to have a greater impact...... "THAT" is the burden which comes with leadership !
On the plus side the Cats had many solid contributors on Sunday & their commitment as a team to do the one percenters was a major factor in their victory. James (Nipper) Wrights run & carry was invaluable, as was the inspirational goals he booted in the first quarter. Darren Goodwins work at the stoppages was first rate. He is a big body, surprisingly mobile for his size & not easily pushed aside in the contested stuff, and he aint too shy when it comes to the in and under work either. Little Josh Cloughs performance on the far wing, (that saw most of the days play) was an absolute ball tearer. He may only be 50 kgs wringing wet, but the kids got a massive heart, puts his head over the ball & has a great turn of speed. Daniel Sandle & Tim Dettmann's contributions on Sunday were solid & important, as was Robbie Belchers. A backmans role is never glamorous or flashy, but Belcher offers good leadership down back, martials his troops very well, is not afraid to be creative & always makes his opponent earn every single possession.
Sometimes when you watch or play a game of footy you can be privileged to witness a watershed moment in the heat of the contest. These can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up & give you goose bumps. Well on Sunday at about the fifteen minute mark of the last quarter, we had a beauty !
Diggers were on the march, having kicked a couple of goals & were closing down the margin on Macedon, FAST ! The Cats were under siege. The game was tough & hard. No place to hide & certainly no place for the faint hearted. Diggers needed to get the ball down quickly to their forwards to score. A Burra player won possession of the pill in the centre & drove it long over half forward & into the hole. Shane Marchewka the Diggers full forward lead fiercely & direct with eyes only for the ball, desperate to take the grab.
Now people have all sorts of definitions & thoughts on what is "courageous" & what is "tough" in footy. Well, for mine, its what Macedons Pete Markworth chose to do on Sunday arvo' in the close, dying stages of this game. With the ball floating over his head, he turned around, running back with the flight of the ball, wide open & without any regard to his own welfare he made a suicidal contest of "that mark", which could only end in a bad way for his person. The sickening clash left him prostrate & motionless on the deck, BUT....... His valour in putting his body on the line had won Macedon a free kick for high contact to his noggin. HE had single handedly halted Diggers Rests dangerous foray forward. (although he could not take the resulting kick, & was helped from the ground by two trainers)
Had Marchewka taken the easiest of marks on the lead & converted the relatively simple shot, who knows if Macedon could've held out against a rampaging Diggers for that win !
Sometimes these selfless inspirational acts are the sort of things that players must do if their team is to prevail.
If Macedon now have a depth of players that are prepared to do this sort of thing, coupled with the 1%ers for TEAM success who knows how far it will take them ????
