Mooroopna all but assures top-four berth with Goulburn Valley League win over Mansfield

Meanwhile, Mooroopna knew there was ground to be gained in the top-four race with Rochester and Echuca meeting one another out west.

Logan Campbell set the tone well for the host with an early major before Jed Woods, for just the fifth time this season albeit now with a goal in consecutive weeks, found the big sticks as well.

Tom Dunstan’s reply ensured both teams would regroup at the first change with only modest success to their names, but a cagey opening round soon gave way to an aggressive second on the scoreboard.

It may not have been the Daniel Johnston show as the Cats’ big man slotted back into the heart of forward 50 following his suspension, but the faithful were more than happy to see him get on the end of one midway through the second term as the sides exchanged blows.

Johnston’s account-opening major made it a three-goal game, but the visitors would clamp the margin down to single figures on more than one occasion before half-time as sides kept to an even spread, with few multiple goal-kickers at the long break.

What followed in the half-hour out of the sheds would have far more closely resembled the response Cats coach John Lamont demanded following humiliation at the hands of Kyabram a week prior.

Mooroopna clicked into high gear in the blink of an eye, riding the wave of a raft of returning senior names to blow the margin open midway through the third term as two Toby Williams goals sandwiched Campbell’s third of the day to push it out beyond 30.

Thirty-seven points down at the final change of ends, Mansfield wasn’t about to rest on what was already done as Jack Hutchins’ men again started landing body shots in a frenzied exchange with their favoured hosts — and the playing coach himself was in the middle of all of it.

Mansfield’s forward connection improved drastically, though the game was largely out of reach, bundling two straight goals over from inside the square with Riley Northcutt benefitting twice in quick succession.

Hutchins was a busy man around the goals as well, becoming a focal point in attack through the last couple of weeks.

It was clearly Mooroopna’s day based off the one-sided showing of the third term, though, and Oliver Hanrahan’s late efforts saw him match Angus with three for the day in the Cats’ 17.15 (117) to 11.12 (78) win.

With the day’s task fulfilled, Lamont reflected on the challenges brought about a week prior and how his side got back to business.

“Some of our play (against Kyabram) was appalling and it wasn’t from our young players,” Lamont said.

“It was particularly disappointing, so we issued some challenges to the boys during the week, because we can’t dish that up.

“We addressed that and I think they responded well. Mansfield played really well in the last quarter but, overall, a job well done.”

Lamont was glad to see spearhead Johnston take his place up front once more, even if he didn’t take the game apart upon return as five different Cats nabbed multiple goals.

Adding that having him in the side “just straightens us up a bit”, the Mooroopna coach noted the swathe of incoming personnel that added their share of stability.

“We had a quarter of the team change this week,” Lamont said.

“We’re still not a perfect team, but it was a positive effort and a good even contribution.

“In terms of picking best players, it was very even and that’s what you need.

“When we last played Rochester, they took us to the cleaners. They’re right up there.

“They’ve beaten us once, so it’s an opportunity to hopefully square the ledger (this week).”

Indeed, with top four essentially locked in with a fortnight to spare, welcoming Rochester to town this week shapes as a monumental challenge in spite of the Tigers’ demoralising defeat to Echuca.

As for the Eagles, now with just a finale against Euroa up their sleeve, Benalla might become their best friend if the Saints can set up a winner-take-all clash by stopping the Magpies next week.

Hutchins is well aware of the difficulties involved.

“We’re showing glimpses of how good we’ve been playing roles, but we haven’t been able to sustain it,” Hutchins said.

“We’ll have a week now to get right with a few of us pretty banged up.

“We showed the way we can play against Euroa earlier in the year and our structures are pretty sound; we’ve just got to be able to fulfill that for four quarters.

“It’s been a tough couple of months with regard to personnel, but we’ve flipped that around by debuting some junior talent who will benefit from the experience.

“I’ll certainly be giving Benalla a call this week.”