Looking like the top two sides for the vast majority of the season, Mooroopna and Euroa have another run-in with the Cats having finished a game clear on top following a pair of late stumbles by the Magpies.
Euroa looked near-untouchable through the first nine rounds of the season, averaging about 65 goals a game on a long unbeaten start to the year, before it all unravelled in a round 10 trip to Mooroopna.
The Di Hanslow-coached hosts ran the show from moment one on that sunny afternoon as the Magpies experienced their first serious sense of vulnerability, losing their dominant force around goals in Olivia Morris to a shoulder injury for portions of the game.
The 50-34 result that day set the minor premiership race alight for realistically the first time and Mooroopna soon swooped in to race home in pole position after the Magpies suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of fellow finals sides Echuca and Shepparton.
In the world of quintessential sporting cliches, this represents the irresistible force — Euroa’s far and away top-scoring offence (62.2 goals a game) — against the immovable object of Mooroopna’s comfortably league-best defence (33.3 conceded a game).
Magpies coach Ellie Warnock is under no illusions about what it will take to set things right this time around.
“We really lacked intensity during that game,” Warnock said.
“I feel like Mooroopna really came out firing at 100 per cent, resulting in us chasing our tails the remainder of the game.
“Basically, our goal is to come out with that intensity from the get-go, tighten up our defence and the speed of our delivery.
“I’m always confident in my team; I know what they’re capable of and the desire they have to go a step further than last year.
“We have a goal and we know what we need to do to achieve it, however, it certainly won’t be easy.”
With the regular season wrapped up, it’s only natural to go over the numbers and cast one’s eyes over any potential fancies for individual awards.
Morris finished top of the goal charts following a ruthless display in the final round against Benalla and firms as a surefire contender for the Wellman Family Medal.
That said, there’s still a lot more to accomplish before Euroa’s eyes wander in that direction.
“I have no doubt Liv will shine in any big moment and regular game across the season,” Warnock said.
“She’s so reliable and is always putting the team first. The duo between her and Mia Sudomirski only becomes stronger every single week.
“Liv absolutely could be a BnF chance, however, we’ve had a lot of impressive players this season, so it will be an exciting vote.”
Two win-or-go-home finals round out the first week of A-grade finals action with one on Saturday and Sunday.
Echuca and Seymour will converge from opposite sides onto neutral ground at Tatura Park to kick the weekend off, with the defending premier Murray Bombers shaking free of some early-season wobbles to post a league-best unbeaten run of 13 games, accounting for a draw with the Bulldogs.
The Lions have stuttered across their past month of regular-season play, knocking over the two bottom sides, but falling narrowly short against all three finals sides they played in their past five games including Echuca in round 16 and top side Mooroopna a week ago.
Sunday’s clash has two red-hot fancies in Tatura and Shepparton meeting at Victoria Park.
These two sides have charged powerfully into September with the Bulldogs having won their past five clashes, though it’s worth noting only one of those victories — round 14 at Seymour — came against a top-six outfit.
The Bears would have come in off a seven-game winning streak if not for some fascinating late drama at Deakin Reserve in round 17 where Shepparton Swans came from the clouds to snatch a 54-54 draw.
Stacey Thompson’s side would have been plenty heartened by its other outings in this end of the season, though, having knocked over Euroa on the road and come within a goal of taking a result off Mooroopna.
