Gallery | Mooroopna hosts Shepparton Swans in a five-point GVL thriller

For Swans players, it was an all too familiar tale as they made a late final-quarter charge before running out of time, falling to the Cats by five points, 15.9 (99) to 13.16 (94).

The match was evenly contested throughout most of the four quarters, with a couple of lapses in concentration from the Swans assisting the Cats to a 32-point lead late in the second quarter.

Inaccuracy in front of goal haunted the Swans (five more scoring shots than Mooroopna) as they created plenty of opportunities throughout the game, but failed to capitalise.

Mooroopna started the match firing as key forward Daniel Johnston looked set for a day out as he kicked three first-quarter goals, his work in the air and on the ground causing early headaches for the Swans.

But Swans’ veteran defender Andrew Riordan soon evened the contest and kept Johnston (finished with three goals) quiet for the rest of the game.

The Swans clawed their way back to sit only a couple of goals behind before Mooroopna would kick two or three quick-fire goals and the Swans’ charge would have to start again.

The match continued in this fashion, with Mooroopna’s victory almost in the books as the Cats held a 25-point lead with less than 10 minutes left.

However, in what is becoming a common theme for the Swans’ season, they made a last-ditch effort that nearly got them over the line.

Mooroopna coach John Lamont gave full credit to the Swans, saying he admired their ability to fight to the final siren.

“Nathan Drummond had to come off after a knock to the nose and the blood rule and I thought 17 points up; I didn’t put the cue in the rack, but I thought I won’t inject him back in the game,” he said.

“Then they have gone bang, bang and it could have blown up in my face.

“We are very happy with the win; their losses have all been less than a goal, so they will be absolutely kicking themselves.

“They are quality opposition because all their games have been against finalists from last year, so we are very pleased to have held on and got the four points, but I can’t help but think it got a little bit too close.”

On a picture-perfect day for football, Mooroopna’s clean disposal and willingness not to bomb the ball long was often on display.

Each play coming out of defensive 50 would utilise Mooroopna’s leg speed and feature a series of handballs and short kicks as the Cats zig-zagged the ball from defence to attack.

Lamont said that although this style could be high-risk in terms of overusing it and having more chances for errors, when it works, opposition sides have struggled to defend it.

“We want to maintain possession and there is a risk associated with that in terms of extra possessions,” he said.

“We have got 10 blokes that went out of the side last year.

“There is the well-documented couple, but then there is Jack Hunt and Liam Betson and a number of others, so we have blokes with the L-plates and P-plates on still.

“They are still learning and decision-making about when to handball and when to kick in those situations, so we are still getting better with that.”

The Swans’ first four games this season have all been tight, winning one against Seymour, but losing the other three against Mansfield, Euroa and Mooroopna by less than a goal.

Swans coach Jedd Wright admits there has been a mix of positivity and vexation to start the season.

“It’s frustrating if I am being honest, but our best football is good enough; we just need to be better for longer,” Wright said.

“We are close; we are probably closer than close.

“We had two 15-minute lapses that cost us seven or eight goals and then in the end, if it came down to something, it was just bad goal kicking.”

Next up for Mooroopna is an away trip to Tatura, while the Swans will host Shepparton United at Princess Park.