Macedon’s 2017 Bowen Medallist and premiership player Jason Cooke turned in one of his vintage performances to be instrumental in Macedon dominating Diggers Rest in the second half of their knockout Riddell League final on Sunday.
Captain Cooke kicked seven goals in an unstoppable display, as Diggers Rest wilted from leading by 13 points at half-time to being restricted to a miserable six points in the second half.
Macedon, after battling to make the final five, has now eliminated Romsey and the reigning premiers in successive finals.
Final scores were 14.7 (91) to 8.10 (58).
Astute Macedon head coach Al Meldrum has been justly proud of his players this season, both the large younger contingent and the more experienced campaigners who are revelling in the Cats’ success to date.
And Macedon’s run may not yet be over, as this Saturday’s preliminary final against Wallan at the Kyneton Showgrounds is a match the Cats will be welcoming.
Flag-favourite Riddell has the luxury of sitting back to see what unfolds, having booked a grand final berth with a 35-point victory over the Magpies in the second semi-final on Saturday.
Rain and very blustery winds was less than ideal for last weekend’s finals, with players, coaches and spectators having to adapt accordingly.
250 for ‘Nipper’
James ‘Nipper’ Wright, Macedon’s 2017 premiership captain (he led the Cats for 10 seasons), played his 250th senior game for Macedon at Gilbert Gordon Reserve at Woodend on Sunday.
Wright has always ‘put in’ for the Cats, and continues to provide young players with incentive to achieve their best.
Meldrum said Wright was an icon of the club and it was a big occasion to be celebrating his milestone achievement.
“He is arguably the most decorated Cat to have ever played, and to celebrate his milestone with a win over Diggers Rest would be something pretty surreal,” the coach said in the lead-up to the final.
Nine goals were kicked in the first term on Sunday, with both sides producing some systematic team football.
Some of the bigger-bodied Burras were prominent early, though the absence of the talented Mitch Day after he received a one-match suspension on a striking charge arising from the previous final against Wallan was costly.
Speculation was rife at half-time about the likely outcome.
No-one could have predicted the level of confidence the Cats would show, as they kicked a match-winning six goals to four points to lead by 22 points at the last change.
With their spectators in full voice, the Cats had a vice-like grip on the game, and were not about to let it go.
Cooke, Zac Smedley, vice-captain Hamish Govan, Brodie Hoyne, and youngsters Thomas Rutledge and Lachlan Hay were among the best for the winners in what was a remarkable team effort.
For the Burras, Campbell Wearne, 2025 coach Shaun Campbell, Ben McMahon, Hayden Davis, Ryan Mullen and Jaidyn Caruna were good contributors.
Diggers Rest has had a topsy-turvey season, being the only side to topple Riddell, yet fell to lowly Melton Centrals leading up to the finals.
In the Reserves, a very resolute Diggers Rest eliminated Riddell 8.4 (52) to 4.4 (28).
The previous day, Romsey Reserves advanced straight to the grand final with a 6.11 (47) to 4.6 (30) victory over Wallan.
Cats’ captain Jason Cooke (left) kicked seven goals in an unstoppable display. 
Flashback: Macedon’s 250-game James Wright when he captained the Cats to the 2017 premiership.
