Mansfield has consolidated its spot within the Goulburn Valley League’s premiership hopefuls, delivering a previously first-placed Mooroopna a 15.8 (98) to 10.9 (69) defeat on Saturday.
The Eagles were quick out of the blocks at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, snagging the first three majors in a hot start for the visitors.
But a youthful-looking Cats side, featuring two debutants, Campbell McElhinney and Ben Woods, would claw its way back into the contest, entering the first change a goal behind.
Mooroopna’s forward talisman Chris Nield put on a show in front of his home crowd with a glistening second quarter, keeping his side in the game almost single-handedly with a six-goal haul.
He would then spearhead his side’s resurgence after the main change; the Cats narrowly winning the third quarter to tee up a thrilling final term.
The experience and lethal finishing of Mansfield’s forward weapons came to the fore in the closing stages, Frazer Dale (two) presenting well to kick what was perhaps the match-winner, while goal sneaks Will Foster (five) and Ben Christopher (four) added to the growing tally.
“We needed a game like that, we needed a hard game where we fell behind at stages and had to claw our way back,” Mansfield coach Chad Owens said.
“Then, when we got in front we had to try and kick away which we were able to do.
“It was a really good four-quarter game, it had everything in it, when you’re playing against one of the teams in the top six, it’s going to ebb and flow like that, we were really happy with how our guys went about it.”
Owens said strong contributions from his core group kept the Eagles in control just when the Cats started to gather momentum.
“We won three of the four quarters and the one we lost was only by a point, we were able to get that little mini-break at three-quarter time and then I think we ended up nearly seven goals up at one stage in the last,” he said.
“We had a lot of really good contributors — Dirk Koenen up forward, Tom McDonagh, Frazer Dale was really good.
“Bretty Mahoney’s second half and Jimmy (James) Herridge was really significant, Patty Marks kicked the ball well and Ben Christopher up forward kicked three or four goals and presented really well.”
The only negative to come the Eagles’ way on Saturday was the loss of last season’s best-and-fairest Tas Clingan, who looks set for a stint on the sidelines with a perceived shoulder injury.
Ahead of a daunting trip to the juggernaut that is Echuca this weekend, coach John Lamont said his young Cats were relishing the challenges that are coming their way.
“We’re not too disappointed — two debutants today, we’re really young at the minute and had a few out today,” Lamont said.
“In terms of playing the top six, it was a better performance than it was against Euroa.
“The sun comes up tomorrow, we’ll own what’s happened today and we’re trending the right way, a lot of young blokes got some really good game time, Echuca up next, let’s just look forward to it.”