Like a seagull on an unmanned package of fish and chips, Mansfield swooped on its opportunities when it had to on Sunday.
After a wayward start, the Eagles secured victory over Mooroonpa in the Goulburn Valley League’s second semi-final with a strong finish to the game.
The contest at Kyabram Recreation Reserve ended in thrilling fashion and thanks to the power of GVL Data The News can analyse how they got over the line.
Early on in the contest Mansfield was all over the Cats, with 17 more marks, 11 more clearances and a score/inside 50 percentage of 60 per cent compared to Mooroopna’s 0 per cent, yet it failed to make it count on the scoreboard.
With the Eagles kicking 1.5 (11) in the first quarter, missed chances left the window open for a Cats comeback and that is what occurred.
In the second term Mooroopna flipped its score/inside 50 percentage from 0 to 63 per cent, picked up 36 more touches and kicked five goals, with Mansfield unable to convert its entries.
Yet despite this accurate goal-kicking in the second, the Cats repeated their first quarter efforts in the third, converting none of their eight inside 50 entries into points on the scoreboard.
With much of the other statistics relatively even, it was clear whoever could take their chances in the final quarter would win, and so they did.
In the last term Mansfield outscored Mooroopna despite having one less inside 50, with the Eagles’ defence standing up to produce 10 rebound 50s to protect their goal.
Mansfield v Mooroopna key stats
Disposals
Mansfield 264
Mooroopna 273
Contested possessions
Mansfield 137
Mooroopna 126
Marks
Mansfield 64
Mooroopna 47
Tackles
Mansfield 67
Mooroopna 66
Inside 50s
Mansfield 47
Mooroopna 37