Gallery | Euroa soar past Mooroopna for the first time in 2024 to secure GVL grand final spot

Mooroopna finished in first place with a record of 16-2, while Euroa finished close behind in second with a record of 15-3.

Heading into the contest on Sunday afternoon at Deakin Reserve, the Cats were arguably the favourites, having defeated the Magpies twice throughout the season.

The first was in round 10 by 16 goals before Mooroopna downed Euroa again in the semi-final 46-39.

Last weekend, Mooroopna narrowly lost to Echuca by two goals in the semi-final, while Euroa defeated Shepparton 74-60 in a high-scoring affair.

The Magpies’ victory saved Euroa’s season and meant they would try for a third time to defeat Di Hanslow and her rampaging Cats.

Mooroopna started the match in red-hot form, outscoring Euroa 8-1, with Cats star Ash Lancaster netting six straight goals to give her side the upper hand early.

The Magpies ground their way back in the latter stages of the first quarter, cutting the margin back to four (13-9).

In the second term, Euroa found its rhythm outscoring Mooroopna 12-4 early in the quarter before taking a two-goal lead into half time (22-24).

The Magpies started the second half at a frenetic pace, pressuring the Cats constantly across the court.

Mooroopna was not given the time or space to play its usual fast-paced style up the court and was instead forced to pass around the goal end, leading to turnovers.

Euroa’s lead grew to five and stayed around that margin for most of the quarter before a late charge from the Magpies made it an eight-goal lead at the last change of ends.

The fourth quarter played out much like the previous two, with the Magpies’ pressure and intensity relentless.

An entertaining sideshow to the scintillating on-court action was watching Euroa’s Liv Morris and Mooroopna’s Caitlin McLachlan not give one another an inch - literally and figuratively - in the Magpie’s attack end.

Euroa kept Mooroopna at bay during the final term and ran out 16-goal winners (56-40) to book a spot in next Sunday’s grand final against Echuca.

Magpies player-coach Ellie Warnock said she was proud of how her team took on board what they had been instructed after last weekend’s semi-final.

“We talked about so many things during the week and how we needed to improve and the girls were able to implement all of that into our game today,” Warnock said.

“One way we saw to improve was through utilising our rolling subs better and resting our girls on the bench.”

The Magpies’ attack end was potent against the Cats, with Warnock crediting the delivery to their two stars in Morris and Mia Sudomirski.

“Last game, we got caught rushing the ball down the court and trying to throw it into Liv,” she said.

“We always see Liv as our tall and hulking player; we see her and think we need to give it.

“Today we were just so patient and we worked it in and made sure that the pass in was right.

“Liv was incredible, but so was Mia and I think that is what makes us an incredible team is we have two really strong goalers.”

With one game left in the season, Warnock emphasised how excited her squad was to play off for an A-grade flag against a quality side such as the Murray Bombers.

“Echuca is such a tough team; they are so experienced,” she said.

“We have some unfinished business (with them).

“We just need to play like we did today and back each other and I think we will be fine.

“It is going to be a challenge, but we are so thankful for the opportunity.”