Gallery | Bears edge thriller versus Cats after going behind in final quarter

Mooroopna made the brighter start in the contest, with goals from Ben Woods, Oscar Emanuelli and William Emanuelli giving the Cats a five-point advantage at quarter-time.

Shepparton responded during the second term as spearhead Zac Metcalf began to exert his influence on the battle during teammate Bryce Stephenson’s 100th appearance.

Metcalf booted three goals for the quarter and Liam Broom added another, helping the Bears overturn the deficit and take an eight-point lead into the main break, 6.5 (41) to 5.3 (33).

Shepparton co-coach Jason Wells said the Bears wanted to move the ball with greater urgency as the game progressed.

“The message to the boys was to play a little bit faster,” Wells said.

“From halfway through that third quarter we got momentum, going 13 points clear, and we had an opportunity to kick a goal.

“We had the momentum with 17 men after having one sent off, which actually changed the mindset of the players, which was good.”

Goals from Liam Duguid and Ashley Holland helped Shepparton extend its advantage - but the visitors refused to allow the contest to get away from them.

Captain Ben Hicks and Kobie Issell found the goals for the spirited Cats, who reduced the margin to seven points by the final change, sparking a rousing pep talk from coach John Lamont at three-quarter-time.

“To Mooroopna’s credit, they got back into it just before three-quarter-time with two goals,” Wells said.

“The message to the boys was pretty simple: we have to compete for longer.”

Metcalf kicked his fourth goal to send the Bears 13 points clear early in the final term, but the effects of playing with one fewer rotation soon began to show.

William Emanuelli and Jack Johnston sparked Mooroopna’s charge before Jack Osborne put the Cats six points ahead as the match entered its decisive stages.

“Coaching structure-wise, obviously it takes out a rotation, so we had to move a few things around,” Wells said.

“It meant blokes were having to play another five minutes than they needed to for the game, so it had an impact later in the fourth quarter when Mooroopna was able to get on top again.

“We changed a few things around, but we didn’t want to be overly conservative.”

With the Bears’ lead gone and the game slipping away, Holland stepped forward to kick his second goal and level the scores.

Ned Byrne then registered the go-ahead behind before Liam Teague added another minor score, with Shepparton surviving the remaining moments to secure the four points.

Metcalf led the Bears’ attack with four goals, while Holland finished with two. William Emanuelli was Mooroopna’s only multiple goalkicker with two majors.

Wells said the Cats, alongside Echuca, had consistently posed one of Shepparton’s toughest challenges this season.

“Last time they challenged us and they’ve been the side, alongside Echuca, which has stayed with us the couple of times we’ve played them,” he said.

“You can see the improvement in them. Their physicality around the ball and their ability to use the ball in transition has improved out of sight.”

Wells also praised Mooroopna coach Lamont, who will step down at the end of the season following seven years at the helm.

“I’ve come through the Bushrangers and academy programs, and you understand that the fundamentals and processes are really important,” Wells said.

“Sometimes people think it’s just about winning and losing, but you can see how far he’s brought that group along.

“It’s a fantastic achievement to coach seven years in the GVL. There’s a lot of work that goes into it.

“He’s been great for the region and his young group is only going to get better.”