Gallery | Mooroopna and Echuca close in on top spot in Goulburn Valley League

The match was the annual Blue Ribbon Shield fixture between the two sides in honour of police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

A win would have kept the Swans in touch with the top six, with only a month remaining before finals.

However, standing in the Swans’ way was the imposing force that is Mooroopna.

The Cats are a scary proposition for any side in 2024, with dominant players such as Dayna Williams in defence, Asha Gray through the midcourt and the towering captain Ash Lancaster in attack.

As the storm clouds collected above them the whistle blew and the match began.

As they have done all season the Cats burst out of the blocks to run away to a 10-goal lead (10-20) at the first break.

Mooroopna was relentless in the opening exchange, slicing and dicing its way through Shepparton Swans’ defence, largely thanks to Gray’s tireless work through the centre.

The Swans fought back in the second term thanks to captain Sophie Garner and Ella Cirillo; however, the Cats maintained their lead, as the scores were 20-34 at half-time.

As the rain steadily continued Mooroopna took complete control of the match in the third term as the lead rocketed out to a 26-goal margin.

Lancaster (52 goals for the match) was electric and physical in attack, with the Swans unable to stop the Cats’ gun goal shooter.

After the third-quarter blitz, the Cats’ form rolled on in the final term, with the away side claiming an impressive 31-68 victory.

Star goal keeper Williams was a key part of Mooroopna’s impenetrable defence on the day and took home player-of-the-match honours in the Blue Ribbon game.

Cats assistant coach Matt Healey said he was pleased with how quickly his side gained ascendancy over its opponents.

“Probably surprising in how we were able to pull away so early on,” he said.

“The Swans are a high-quality team; we expected them to stay closer for a lot longer and have to work for the whole four quarters to get that win.

“I can’t explain why it didn’t (happen), but we will take it.”

Mooroopna sits second on the ladder behind Euroa, but has a game in hand on its premiership rival.

Healey said while the Cats’ fast starts had been a feature of their game in 2024, their recent focus at training had been on how they perform after half-time.

“We have started really well all year,” he said.

“It has been a big focus to start strong and get the score in our favour as quick as we can.

“Early on in the season — as most people would know — we were falling away badly in the third quarter, so the last three weeks to a month, we have put a big focus on that third quarter.

“To make sure we are consolidating what we have done in the first half.”

In other matches, Echuca has continued its charge towards finals by claiming an 18-goal win over top-of-the-table Euroa.

The Magpies led the match by one goal at half-time away from home before a second-half onslaught from the Murray Bombers (33-14) enabled it to claim victory.

The Murray Bombers now sit one win outside of a spot in the top two.

Tatura secured a four-goal win over a defiant Rochester.

The Bulldogs were led in attack by goal shooter Julia Clarke, who shot 29 goals for the match in their tight win.

Shepparton has claimed a crucial win over Seymour as it has all but secured a spot in the top six this season.

The Bears trailed by one goal at the start of the fourth quarter, but Stacey Thompson’s side was able to reclaim the lead and win at home.

Shepparton United has defeated Kyabram away from home 26-30.

The victory for the Demons and the losses to Seymour and Shepparton Swans means United sits one win outside of the top six.

Unbelievably, a fourth game was decided by a four-goal margin, with Mansfield defeating Benalla 39-43.

Coincidentally, it was the Eagles’ fourth win of the season.