Looking at this fixture before round one, the average fan could be forgiven for thinking a Mooroopna and Shepparton Swans game may be a forgettable Goulburn Valley League match-up.
The Swans weren’t expected to push the envelope in 2024 as they aimed to build a young group capable of playing finals consistently.
However, the Swans’ cygnets have impressed to start the season with an 18-point win over Seymour (which finished second last year) and two close losses against Mansfield and Euroa (clubs who will be pushing for finals).
In Mooroopna’s case, some pundits believed the Cats might drop off after losing gun ruckman Liam Betson (St Joseph’s) and last year’s leading goal-kicker and best-and-fairest winner Jackson Trengove (Cobram) during the off-season.
But Mooroopna has defied expectations as well with an impressive 2-1 start, the one loss coming against Echuca by 14 points away from home.
So who is leading the charge for these two ladder bolters?
There is no need to look any further than the two big men at the Swans and Cats, Mooroopna’s Daniel Johnston and the Swans’ Mark Kovacevic.
The latter is the Swans’ big and bustling ruckman who is creating drive out of the centre for Jedd Wright’s side with his physicality and ruck craft.
The Swans’ ruckman has been integral to his side’s strong clearance game across the first three rounds, with the Swans ranking, on average, first in the league for centre clearances and third for total clearances.
Kovacevic isn’t your old-fashioned, one-trick pony-style ruckman, as his depth and mobility have also been on display this season as he averages 18.7 disposals (13.7 contested), 28.7 hit-outs, 1.3 goals, 6.3 clearances and four goal involvements a game.
The Swans’ big man also ranks first in the league for gathers, averaging 10 a match.
Mark Kovacevic season averages
Disposals: 18.7
Contested possessions: 13.7
Hitouts: 28.7
Clearances: 6.3
Goals: 1.3
Goal involvements: 4
In the opposite corner, the Cats have a dominant big man of their own, a goal-kicking machine key forward in Johnston.
The man with vices for hands has already kicked one bag for the season (nine against Benalla) and is keen to add more scalps to his name as Johnston aims to take the mantle as the premier key forward in the competition.
The Cats’ forward has kicked 18 goals in three games to lead the league — six ahead of second place (Echuca’s Gus Byrne) — and has had the second-most score involvements in the competition with 35.
Johnston also leads the league with marks inside 50 (22) and is ranked tied second for average contested marks (three a game).
Daniel Johnston season averages
Goals: 6
Score involvements: 11.7
Marks inside 50: 7.3
Contested marks: 3
So, as the attention turns to the weekend’s matches, either big man has the opportunity to take charge and win the game for his side.
Will it be the Swans’ multi-tool ruckman, or will the Cats’ colossal target take his chance to stamp his name as the league’s best forward?