Echuca squeezes out win over Mooroopna in GVL game for the ages

The match was a teaser for what Goulburn Valley League finals have to offer and with Mooroopna taking the spoils over Echuca in a final-round stunner last season, there was a thought of ‘‘could they do it again?’’ rising out of the home stands on Saturday.

But as good teams do Echuca soaked up the heavy pressure and found a way to win and, in doing so, took out a minor premiership as a fitting sweetener heading into finals.

Co-coach Simon Maddox was impressed by the opposition, also stating his charges were not at their best in the 11.14 (80) to 11.9 (75) triumph.

“Credit to Mooroopna, they put us under real pressure ― they had a crack, they were good all day,” Maddox said.

“Sometimes we get in that vibe that we’ve got to go out there and win by 10 goals all the time because that’s what we’re used to, so when you don’t play well you’ve still got to find a way to win.

“Mooroopna didn’t let us play to our absolute optimum, but we still found a way to win the game.”

It was Mooroopna that got off to the better start.

The Cats executed a sweeping forward move which culminated in Jackson Trengove handballing to Daniel Johnston who couldn’t miss from close range.

Up the other end Corbin Anderson found Liam Tenace who produced a strong mark and finish from a set shot and later Mitchell Kemp’s fast twitch fibres were firing as his reaction goal was the spark Echuca needed.

Echuca had brought its stars to town, but the Cats had a few of their own to show off.

Coby James was back from Murray Bushrangers duties and glided all over the ground, his kick directed to Trengove with a 50m penalty allowing him free rein to walk in and kick his first.

The see-sawing nature continued with goals to Riley Smith, Kydan Atkinson, Sam Willoughby, Ben Hicks, Anderson as well as Darcy Russell slotting home to close out the first quarter.

Ten goals, not a bad precursor.

Echuca started the smarter of the sides after the opening break as Cooper Barber steered the Murray Bombers out to a lead.

Keelin Betson pulled a screamer from his locker to get the Cats’ faithful on their feet, but Mooroopna would still trail by 15 points at the half.

Despite no score in the first five minutes of the third quarter, a Russell bomb was spilled over the line before Trengove kicked his second, an important goal from the right pocket.

Not even a car horn bleating during his run up could distract Mooroopna’s big man as he kicked true, but Echuca would go straight back down the other end and convert through Tenace and Jackson Stewart not long after.

The Cats required a rise and they got it.

Johnston chimed in with a crucial goal and Trengove added another before three-quarter time to make it a five-point game.

Tenace made it click with his third, but Trengove brought the biggest cheer of the day with a massive mark and goal to leave Mooroopna straying by a sole goal.

Johnston missed a gilt-edged chance to level the game late on and that was it.

Game over.

And what a game it was.

But while the result went Echuca’s way, Mooroopna coach John Lamont was largely pleased with his side’s output.

“It was a great advertisement for country footy I think,” Lamont said.

“That’s the thing I sort of felt, even in game, I thought these are the games that people want to play in at this level and the sort of game where people want to come and watch.

“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the contest, yeah we’ve gone down, but we hold our spot in the finals and look to recover now.

“We’re not under any illusions, we think they’re the best team in it ― they’re last year’s premiers, they’re up there again, they’ve got really good depth.”

On the flipside, Maddox said there were areas of improvement to work on for his Murray Bombers if they are to go all the way and replicate their 2022 finals form.

“We’ve got to find a way to bring our best footy, just like every other side in the top six will be plotting to do, planning to do, preparing to do next week,” Maddox said.

“Hopefully we’ll go deep and give it a good crack. If you’re off your game by five per cent in this comp, you’re only left with the good sides and you’ll be found wanting.

“You need to be on top of your game because there’s none of the also runs left, there’s only the top six sides left.

“Hopefully that’s a little bit of a poke with a stick or a kick up the bum to say hey boys, we need to make sure we’re on.”