GVL | Mooroopna finishes with a flurry to battle past Shepparton Swans

Ethan Hunt was stellar for Mooroopna as he collected a game-high 36 disposals, while Jackson Trengove stood up late for the Cats, slotting home two crucial fourth-quarter goals.

Trengove – who played 186 AFL games for Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs – booted home the opening goal of the last quarter to steady the ship after a Swans fightback in the third term, before kicking his third of the night soon after.

“For me, that is probably why Mooroopna want me to be there. When the game is on the line, to be able to step up,” Trengove said.

“I’ve got a lot experience and played a lot of footy, so I think the young boys look for that. It was nice for it to click in that last quarter.

“It was a frustrating first three quarters and I wasn’t hitting the scoreboard the way I would have liked, but to kick a couple in that last, it was good from a personal point of view, but to be able to deliver for my teammates is what I am about.”

Jack Hunt showcased his class as he picked up 19 kicks, and 17 handballs, with nine inside 50s and 12 clearances in a best-on-ground performance.

Trengove’s goals came amid what was a dominant last term for the Cats.

Mooroopna won the clearance count by seven in the fourth quarter, with 12 more intercept possessions and six marks inside 50 to the Swans’ zero.

Mooroopna also scored on 100 per cent of its inside 50 entries, while the Swans were held scoreless on their eight forays into their attacking arc.

After a tough battle played out in tricky, windy conditions, Trengove said it was good to get four points on the board to start the season.

“With all the hard work the boys have done over the pre-season, it doesn’t mean anything until you start playing games and hopefully winning games,” he said.

“The conditions weren’t perfect out there and we were probably a little rusty, but to get the first one out of the way and get a win and four points, it really gets the ball rolling for us this year.”

In a season-opening clash that pitted two finals hopefuls against each other, it was Mooroopna that had the better of the contest early on.

Hunt kicked the opening goal of the game for the Cats, one of three Mooroopna goals in the first term as the home side led by 11 points at the first break.

Another three-goal-to-one second quarter allowed Mooroopna to extend its lead to 19 points at the main change, before the Swans staged a fightback in the third.

Nathan Rachele, Zac Banch and Zac Clohesy kicked truly for the Swans, helping them cut the margin to single digits at the final change with the game suddenly hanging in the balance.

Not impressed with what he saw in the third term, Cats coach John Lamont let his players know exactly how he felt during a lively three-quarter time address.

“John was going off at three-quarter time, and rightly so,” Trengove said.

“In the third quarter I think we thought it was just going to happen for us. We had a 19-point lead at half-time, we mucked around with it a little and they were able to get themselves in the game.

“John obviously wasn’t happy and I think everyone around the ground, even if they didn’t come to his huddle, would have heard him from the grandstand.

“He gave us a stern word to get back to what we know and how we want to be seen to be playing. In that last quarter we got back to that and we were able kick away with a really good win.“

Lamont’s rousing speech worked a treat. His side responded, turning things up a notch and kicking clear to win by 34 points.

“For me, the best thing was the way we were able to stand up and respond when it wasn’t going our way and we weren’t playing the footy we wanted,” Trengove said.

“To then put our heads down in that last quarter and really get some momentum.

“Four points is four points. We want to be ticking as many wins as we can throughout the season and hopefully be around the mark come the end of the year.

“I think as a team, we have a lot of improvement to come from that performance, which is probably the most exciting thing. Hopefully we can build from that performance.”

Liam Betson was dominant in the ruck for Mooroopna with 44 hit-outs, while Bryce Rutherford – one of six Mooroopna debutants – was also impressive with 26 disposals and eight clearances.

For the Swans, Banch was their leading ball-getter with 20 disposals and six clearances, while Quade Johnstone and Andrew Riordan had strong games as well.

Former North Melbourne players Jamie Macmillan (10 disposals, five rebound 50s) and Nathan Hrovat (16 disposals, seven clearances) also made their debuts for the Swans.