Shepparton’s Luke Smith and Mooroopna’s Cambell McElhinney in action on Saturday.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Shepparton is picking up pace at a frightening rate.
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After hitting their opponents for six all throughout July, the Bears signed off on the month with another typically classy display at Deakin Reserve on Saturday.
Welcoming Mooroopna across the causeway for a wet and wild Goulburn Valley League showdown, Shepparton produced a defensive masterclass to clinch a 63-point triumph and bank its 10th win of the campaign.
Given the Bears’ winning margins of late, the result was hardly a surprise.
But the stringent nature of success points to a sturdy Shepparton side that is bracing itself for a tricky run home, playing Echuca, Mansfield and Seymour to close out the home and away season.
Lewis McShane aced the first major of the day, but the biggest cheer was reserved for prodigy Liam Broom, who marked his senior debut with a goal 12 minutes into the first quarter.
Broom backed it up with another five minutes later and, at quarter-time, the Bears were soaring at 26-4.
The scoring dropped off a touch during the second quarter and Mooroopna finally got off the mark with a goal not long before the main break.
John Lamont’s Cats added another in the third term via Logan Campbell, but a further three goals to Shepparton ensured the Bears’ healthy lead remained intact.
The final quarter was played to a similar tune to the third, seeing Shepparton’s defensive steel keep Mooroopna at bay, while the firepower up forward kept the scoreboard ticking over at an honest pace.
McShane added three to his tally in the 12.14 (86) to 3.5 (23) win, named as one of his side’s best players in tandem with playing co-coach Ted Lindon.
VFL-listed talent Dom Gugliotti and Ethan Hunt gave a fair account of themselves in defeat for the Cats, which keeps Lamont’s charges rooted in ninth.
However, Mooroopna eyes off winnable games against Euroa (eighth) and Shepparton United (11th) before finishing the season off at home against Echuca.
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