There was no sign whatsoever of, to borrow an American sporting phrase, ‘sophomore slump’ among either Mooroopna or Nagambie’s squads in 2024-25, with the two outfits sitting well clear for virtually the whole second half of the campaign after impressing in their debut seasons.
With Echuca having spoiled the Cats’ party on the biggest stage last year, Sunday morning’s decider at Cooma also serves as the first time two Cricket Shepparton-affiliated outfits have contested a Goulburn Murray Cricket competition final.
The Lakers have been galvanised by a wealth of individual recognition as well, with keeper Kayla Shepherd scooping the Champion Player of the Year and league batting title while Breanna Davison sensationally claimed honours as the season’s best and fairest.
It’s no surprise, on a related note, that both clubs combined for half of the league’s team of the year, unveiled alongside the other awards at Wednesday night’s presentation event.
These have been two free-scoring outfits on their respective days, but make no mistake: the bowling quality on show has been a class above for vast portions of the year as well.
On four separate occasions, including three in a row leading into the festive break, Nagambie was able to hold opposition sides to fewer than 50 runs, being the chasing side three out of those four times.
When Blair Taylor-Lloyd’s outfit had the freedom of space on offence, though, the top order usually delivered with three scores of 150 or more.
As for Jeff Vandermeer’s unbeaten Cats, the bowling stocks came through to restrict sides to 55 or under on three occasions, narrowly exceeding Nagambie’s attacking marker with four 150+ innings this season.
Speaking of Vandermeer, though, the Mooroopna coach was willing to make a surprising revelation about his outlook on Sunday’s clash, given his side has won out thus far.
“Nagambie has probably been the most statistically dominant side since the time we played them,” Vandermeer said.
“They’ve been able to restrict a lot of teams with their bowling, and it’ll be a challenge for our girls.
“You only need one good catch or one run out chance to change the whole game.
“I think we’ve improved from this time last year, and hopefully that keeps them in good stead, but they play the cricket because they enjoy it.”
Of course, you know what you’re getting when you look at past encounters since one side hasn’t lost a game.
Even on a difficult day for batting from Nagambie’s perspective in that round two meeting, Shepherd stood up nonetheless with a defiant 24.
Rather than motivations driven by revenge, though, Taylor-Lloyd was instead solely focused on the group’s progress and morale ahead of its first crack at a title.
“They’re ready for it. I’ve never known a group of people to be so keen for cricket, and a grand final only makes them more so,” Taylor-Lloyd said.
“The girls have hit their straps at the right time, and the group has improved so much even from last season.
“I’m as keen as they are for Sunday, but Mooroopna is a good outfit with a lot of strong cricketers, so it’s going to be a good challenge.
“It’s good for the club having a girls’ team running in finals for the second year in a row, and that a few got invited to the presentation night as well.”
The Nagambie boss appeared caught off-guard by Vandermeer’s suggestion that it was the red and black who would enter the weekend in better form overall.
“Our girls have come good at the right time, and if that’s how it is, we’ll take it,” Taylor-Lloyd said.
“They’ve got four or five good bowlers, so we have to tie a couple of them down.
“We just go with the flow; they’ve got 12 or 13 good cricketers, but we’re looking the same.
“I’m pretty confident and our girls are thriving, so it’s important just for one to get there.
“To win the whole thing would be pretty special, though.”
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