Echuca has extracted revenge against the only team that defeated it in 2022 after topping Mooroopna in a top-four clash on Saturday afternoon.
The Cats’ remarkable six-point triumph in round 18 was the only blemish on the Murray Bombers’ record last year, but it was the bottle greens who prevailed by 43 points in their first meeting since.
Samuel Reid and Cam Valentine were instrumental in the midfield and down back for Echuca, while Corbin Anderson booted five goals up forward as the Murray Bombers earned their ninth consecutive win.
A Jackson Trengove goal for Mooroopna early in the third term levelled the score, but Echuca found another gear as it pulled away to run out a 14.9 (93) to 7.8 (50) victor.
Despite a result that has had his side drop down to sixth spot on the Goulburn Valley League ladder, Cats coach John Lamont was upbeat about Mooroopna’s showing against the reigning premier.
“I’m not too disappointed,” Lamont said.
“Early in the third quarter the scores were level. We were in the game, we were competing well.
“We didn’t take some half chances that might have helped and then in some critical moments we made some blues and they capitalised.
“It is positive enough, there is plenty to work on. They are a good team and they play with a level of confidence when you are the reigning premier and undefeated.
“We needed to take a couple of half chances and get a bit of scoreboard pressure on them and we never could. In the end, they ran away with a seven-goal win.”
There was a finals-like intensity from the opening bounce at Victoria Park in Echuca as two sides who could well meet again come September faced off.
It was a tight first quarter, but Anderson’s first of five majors for the day and an acrobatic finish from Cooper Barber had the home side hold a five-point lead at quarter-time.
The margin grew out to 20 points in the second term, but it could have been more if the Murray Bombers had converted a pair of gettable set shots.
Echuca had been on top, but Mooroopna made it pay for those missed opportunities as quick goals late in the quarter from Chris Nield and Darcy Russell had the Cats down by seven at the main break.
Trengove’s first of the afternoon four minutes into the third quarter then brought the Cats level, with the contest well and truly up for grabs.
But two minutes later, Hugh Byrne’s goal put the Murray Bombers back in front, a lead they would not again relinquish.
It was the first of four goals in a five-minute spell – three from Byrne and one from Anderson – that had Echuca wrestle back the ascendency.
Leading again by 20 points at the final change, a five-goal-to-one last quarter had the bottle greens kick clear and extend their winning streak to nine on the trot.
Reid was instrumental for Echuca in the middle with 26 possessions, seven marks, six clearances and six inside 50s in a best-on-ground performance.
Valentine too was key across half-back, playing an important role with a game-high four intercept marks to go with his 25 disposals.
Keelin Betson (23 disposals) and Bryce Rutherford (20) saw the most of the footy for the Cats, while Trengove and Nield had three goals and two goals, respectively.
Cats midfielder Ethan Hunt had plenty of touches again too, with his 19 possessions meaning he has double digit disposals in all nine games this season.
However, the Murray Bombers were able to limit his influence, keeping him to his lowest possession total this season.
Saturday’s defeat is the third time Mooroopna has lost to a fellow top-six side this year, with the Cats having also fallen to Seymour and Kyabram earlier in the campaign.
But Lamont said there was clear improvement on Saturday compared to those previous outings against the Lions and Bombers.
“All is not lost. It was another step forward,” he said.
“I think it is a step forward in terms of the growth of our group, and that is why next week will be important to us.
“We need to own what has happened. We created opportunities and we made some things happen, we just didn’t capitalise. I’m not too disappointed, there is some positive stuff from today.
“It was tough, it was competitive, they are the sort of games you want to play in and we have another one next week against Euroa. We are looking forward to that.”
Mooroopna will travel to take on Euroa in round 10, while Echuca will hit the road to face off against Seymour in a first-versus-second blockbuster.