GVL | Fourth-quarter burst pushes Mooroopna past Shepparton

What exactly does “pumpkins off, brains on” mean? We may never know. But did Lamont get his point across? Absolutely.

The Cats clearly understood the message, booting four goals to one in the final term to storm home and snare a 14-point victory in Goulburn Valley League.

It was a tight, scrappy game played in rainy conditions, but Mooroopna’s strong finish secured a 9.10 (64) to 7.8 (50) triumph, its second win of the season.

Lamont admitted the Cats weren’t at their best, but said he was glad they came away with the win.

“There was a lot to like without necessarily playing well. It is good to win when we are not playing well,” he said.

“We go from a goal down at three-quarter time to winning by 14 points, so that is really positive. It is not a pretty four points, but it is four points nonetheless.

“We haven’t been at our best, but we still won. We just have to stay positive.”

In the second night game at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve in as many weeks, a light, but persistent drizzle settled in from the opening bounce.

Fans hoping to warm up by the fire as they enjoyed the game were left disappointed – the One FM radio truck parked too close to the fire pit on the main wing, meaning the fireplace remained unlit during the encounter at risk of damaging said truck.

On the field, the Cats and Bears battled it out in a first-half slugfest.

Mooroopna led by a solitary point at quarter-time, with that margin doubling to two points at half-time.

Goals were hard to come by, with each side kicking three majors in a tight first half.

After the break, it looked like the Cats had kicked into gear when two goals in two minutes from Chris Nield and Ethan Hunt gave them a handy lead.

But the Bears battled back, helped by some ill discipline from Mooroopna.

A 50m penalty helped Anthony Andronaco kick his second of the night, before Lachlan Rumbiolo converted following a free kick.

Jordan McGregor then kicked truly from a set shot – again, the result of a free kick – and Shepparton had the lead at three-quarter time.

“It was a very specific thing in the third quarter that was costly, it was tackling,” Lamont said.

“The third quarter was just littered with free kicks against. Just about every Bears goal was a result of a poor tackle on our end.

“It was not an effort thing – we were in there having a go – it was just execution.“

Not impressed by what he saw in the third term, Lamont delivered some passionate words of encouragement in the huddle – including his pumpkin message.

“I was frustrated at three-quarter time and had to give them a bit of a cook,” Lamont said.

It paid off, with the Cats coming out of the blocks like a team possessed.

Hunt goaled to put Mooroopna back in front early, and Jackson Trengove’s third major of the night gave the Cats two goals inside four minutes.

Mooroopna backman Rory Huggard ventured forward and got reward for his effort, toe-poking the Sherrin across the line after it cleared a pack at the top of the square to extend the Cats’ lead.

Zac Metcalf got a goal back for the Bears, but the result was sealed shortly after when Nield booted his third of the night to ice the game for Mooroopna.

Lamont said he was pleased with the way his side responded to the challenge in the fourth term.

“I gave the team three things to focus on in that last quarter and I thought they tightened those areas up,” he said.

“In those conditions, to win it four goals to one in the last quarter, was terrific.”

Hunt – who had a game-high 33 disposals – Ben Hicks and Jed Woods were among the best for Mooroopna, while Bryce Stephenson, Tyler Bell and Izac Artavilla played well for the Bears.

The result has Mooroopna sitting third on the ladder with two wins in as many games, while Shepparton is still searching for its first win after back-to-back defeats.