Mooroopna's Jack Osborne.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Lead, follow or get out of the way.
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It’s one of the mantra’s spurring Mooroopna’s eye-catching resurgence.
The Cats were 2-5 a little more than a month ago and looked a fair pace off challenging for a spot in the Goulburn Valley League top six.
But after notching their fifth win in their past six starts, it doesn’t appear the Cats will be getting out of the way any time soon.
John Lamont’s men jumped into the six with a stirring 27-point win over the Shepparton Swans at Princess Park, firing off the first five goals of a low-scoring encounter as the Swans failed to register a major in the first half.
Mooroopna’s Betson brothers Liam and Keelin were influential once again, but Adam Fichera, Will Dwyer and Zac Clohesy saw the Swans stage a mini revival in the third quarter.
The Cats finished the stronger side in a defence-first display, running out 10.6 (66) to 5.9 (39) winners for their third victory in a row.
“Tremendously positive, strong approach from our blokes,” Lamont said.
“We played Swans in round one and were beaten at our ground.
“We’re a little bit disappointed that we didn't finish that game off. It was a bit of a missed opportunity we felt.
“The competition is incredibly even, so there's a lot of eight-point games - this was one of them.”
Mid-season recruit Harrison Bell led the Mooroopna goal-kickers with two majors after booting three on debut last week, while Joeve Cooper kicked two for the Swans.
“In the conditions, I thought the Betson boys were significant,” Lamont said.
“Dom Gugliotti, Coby James, and Mac Calleja are in the back half defended really well.
“We're a young group, and our youngsters are really continuing to improve and mature in their footy.”
James, a former Murray Bushrangers and Victoria Country representative, is a key part of the young core Lamont speaks so highly of — and he marked his 50th game in style, racking up 22 disposals and a goal.
“We've played him inside mid, outside mid, but he's really found his niche in the last six weeks across halfback for us,” Lamont said.
“He’s been defending well, he's got a good turn of foot and a good change of direction.
“He’s got a couple of partners in crime down there in (Ben) Hicks, (Rory) Huggard, (Dom) Gugliotti. They've worked really well together.”
The Cats now sit a game clear in sixth place, with a stern test awaiting them on the other side of the interleague bye.
Mooroopna heads to Deakin Reserve to tackle ladder leader Shepparton Bear, while the Swans, fourth, host Shepparton United.
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