Macleod jumped to the top of the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 ladder after a stirring 49-point win over premiership fancy West Preston-Lakeside.
After kicking the opening seven goals of the game, the Roos slipped behind in the second quarter before setting up the 19.9 (123) to 11.8 (74) win with an 11-goal to four second half.
Both teams enjoyed dominant patches throughout an enthralling first half, but it was all one-way traffic thereafter in a game that was largely played in dour conditions at De Winton Park.
Lucas Hobbs and Cathal Corr ran riot in Macleod’s midfield, standing up when it mattered most in trying conditions underfoot. Both played starring roles and were clinical, also influencing the match on the scoreboard.
Dependable defender Brad Leggett was inspirational down back for the home side, while Laurence Schubert showed no signs of intimidation after playing a significant shut down role on the league’s leading goal scorer Ahmed Saad.
The Roos had six multiple goal kickers for the game, but it was Patrick Martin who stole the show as he booted seven goals straight in his side’s romp.
For the Roosters, Nathan Valladares was the most threatening player in the forward line and finished with a well-earned four goals.
Adam Valeri found himself in many of West Preston-Lakeside’s scoring chains in a solid display, while midfield counterparts Patrick Karnezis and Andrew Walker were damaging prospects throughout the match, demonstrating their polished foot skills.
Macleod was ruthless from the opening bounce and kicked the opening seven goals of the game to claim a 42-point lead after 25 minutes.
But the Karnezis-inspired Roosters booted four goals in as many minutes to peg the margin back to 18 points at quarter time.
It was Macleod’s midfield which dominated the early stages of the contest, but it was that battle which took a sharp turn, with the Roosters’ midfielders beginning to win more of the ball during time-on.
Kicking four unanswered goals to finish the opening term struck life back into the West Preston-Lakeside team.
Suddenly those four unanswered goals became seven as the Roosters continued to rally after a strong finish to the first quarter.
Early goals to Valladares (two) and Saad helped the Roosters claim a two-point lead midway through the second term in an amazing turn of events.
The visitors began to show assertiveness in the middle of the ground as they kicked three goals to one for the quarter, making the ever-intriguing contest more rousing with just five points separating the two sides at the main break.
But the pain relief was only temporary.
Macleod kicked seven of the nine goals in the third quarter – highlighted by a miraculous Nick Lynch goal from the boundary line while being forced out of bounds – and from there was never seriously challenged.
It was a burst which epitomised the final gap between the teams as, unlike the first quarter, West Preston-Lakeside was unable to wrestle back the momentum.
Macleod continued to flex its muscles, with an early goal to Matthew Clark – courtesy of a 50m penalty – and a toe poke via Corr inevitably putting the game beyond doubt in the final term, in what was in the end a comfortable victory.
The result leaves the Kangaroos undefeated for the season, while a first loss has been inflicted on the Roosters, who slipped to third place on the ladder.
Final score: Macleod 19.9 (123) def West Preston-Lakeside 11.8 (74)
