Sport

Goulburn Valley League Football Player of the Month: Mooroopna’s Liam Betson

By Josh Huntly

Jul 30, 2026

Mooroopna's Liam Betson. Photo by Aydin Payne

In the air and on the ground, the modern Goulburn Valley League ruckman is a multi-layered force of nature, as adept at influencing the ground ball as they are with their tap work.

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The best epitomisation of that statement through the month of July was through Mooroopna’s Liam Betson, who was close to a one-man army in propelling the Cats’ golden run to finals.

Betson was named the Cats best player in all three games as they picked up crucial wins against Shepparton Swans and Shepparton United, and coming agonisingly close to upsetting the Bears in a two-point defeat.

At the coalface and stacking up the hitouts was their returned superstar.

Betson averaged 23 disposals, eight tackles, and 167 ranking points throughout the month, with his best return coming in a titanic battle against the Bears’ Ash Holland.

He palmed off a mammoth 57 hitouts, but his work around the ground was exemplary, tallying 23 contested possessions in one of the games of the season.

“He’s had a pleasing month,” Mooroopna coach John Lamont said.

“He had a great battle with Ash Holland, who’s perhaps the premier ruck in the competition, and has been for the past couple of years.

“(Liam’s) a massive influence and impacts around the ball for us.”

For Betson, this is the level he’s maintained all season.

In 14 games, his tap-work has been unsurprisingly exemplary, but he also acts akin to a fourth midfielder, averaging 20 disposals, nine clearances, five tackles, and four intercept possessions per game.

He sits fifth in the GVL for overall ranking points, sixth for contested possessions, and sixth for hitouts.

Lamont said his influence boils down to a desire to be competitive.

“He’s in the ruck where it’s just combat, he’s at a lot of contests,” Lamont said.

“If you really look at that ruck position, particularly in winter, the ball’s moving a bit slower with more stoppages.

“The willingness to be in that combative role and be in that from the first minute to the 120th, it’s a hell of a thing.”

With three games to play, the Cats hold that coveted sixth spot with games against Euroa, Mansfield, and Echuca to finish.

And you Bet-son, Liam will be a key piece in Mooroopna’s finals puzzle.