Mooroopna’s mantle as queens of the current Goulburn Valley League A-grade netball campaign will be given a serious shake on Saturday.
The undefeated Cats scraped through a skirmish with bottom side Mansfield in round nine and next up on the hit list is fifth-placed Echuca at Victoria Park.
It marks the first time Di Hanslow’s side has played a top six team since an inspired 35-23 win over flag-holder Seymour in round four, but the Mooroopna brainstrust admitted her outfit needed to up its game from the most recent performance.
“A game like that shows us that sitting at the top of the ladder might be flattering us a little bit,” Hanslow said.
“Particularly when our defence is doing really well, we’ve just got to be able to find a way to shoot more goals and capitalise more.
“We’ve got to make sure that we’re building in that area otherwise we’ll struggle to be contenders.”
Hanslow conceded Mooroopna’s goaling pair of Hannah Onley and Jazmin Clark were still building combinations having not played a great deal of netball together, with Clark’s premier position in the midcourt.
Young Eliza Gezler also earned some needed court time against the Eagles and all three will have their work cut out against the seasoned Echuca heads of Ash Mangan and Lauren Jones in defence.
Last time these two sides squared off Mooroopna took the spoils, emerging a five-goal winner in the final game of the 2022 home and away season.
Echuca will surely be out for revenge and feels it holds an edge over a visiting Cats outfit in the experience department with Mangan and Jones as well as shooting duo Belinda Lees and Sheridan Townrow.
However, victory for the Cats would have it reach an opening streak not matched since 2018.
Shepparton is the only side in the past five years to rack up nine wins from the first nine games of the season during a campaign where it failed to drop points until the grand final, going down by a single goal to Echuca.
The Bears currently sit sixth and hold a 4-3-1 record, meeting Benalla at Deakin Reserve on Saturday.
Tracey Brereton’s charges came off second best in a goal-heavy game against Seymour in round eight, and will fancy a return to the winners’ list when taking on a 1-7 Saints outfit.
Elsewhere, Euroa treks to Moon Oval to face Rochester, the Magpies among a three-horse race for second with Tatura and Seymour, which faces off at Tatura.
The Bulldogs have gained remarkable traction in 2023 to reverse last season’s 11th placing, but acumen will be required when they host the reigning premier.
Lastly, Shepparton United heads to Mansfield, while Shepparton Swans and Kyabram do battle.