Mooroopna monsters Benalla in a modern-day GVL massacre

John Lamont’s men rebounded from an inaccurate first quarter where they trailed by four points to run over the top of an injury-stricken Saints.

Mooroopna coach Lamont was pleased with his side’s ability to avoid overcomplicating proceedings when the wind was at its back as well as the aspect of 12 individual goal contributors.

“I was really pleased with the even contribution of our blokes,” Lamont said.

“We’d read the cues early that Benalla had some injuries. I think they were down to maybe only one on the bench at half-time.

“We talked about not becoming the Harlem Globetrotters and overpossessing when we got on top and I was really pleased with that because Benalla’s ball use at times was still really good.

“If we were going to drop off pressure, we would’ve been hurt. But generally speaking I felt that our blokes stuck to task on winning their ball, moving it appropriately and keeping good pressure on the opposition.”

Though he went on to kick nine majors for the match, Mooroopna’s Daniel Johnston failed to cash in early, while Benalla youngster Will O’Donoghue pushed the Saints ahead.

Classy ruckman Mark Marriott (two goals) extended the visitors’ lead after latching onto a sky-bound bomb from Jarrad Waite and the Saints were soon on cloud nine as another goal went sailing through the sticks.

Johnston finally kicked one at the third time of asking for Mooroopna’s first major and, shortly after, Dom Gugliotti swung forward, claimed an uncontested grab and kicked sweetly to convert.

Minutes into the second term Darcy Russell split Benalla’s defence with an incisive run and expert finish to give Mooroopna its first lead of the game.

The Cats were more patient and measured with their inside 50 entries, finding the right man — and, often, the right man was Gus Hanrahan.

Hanrahan, formerly of Port Melbourne VFL, kicked a pair of pulsating goals as Mooroopna tallied 40 points to Benalla’s two in the second period, flipping the Saints’ slim lead into a disastrous deficit.

Tom Havers produced a flash kick on the angle from 50 for Benalla’s first goal in nearly 45 minutes during the third quarter; however, by then, the Cats had already bashed the final nail in the coffin.

Johnston continued to add to his bag during the last term to cap a fine display up forward, while Jack Johnston, Jack Lear, Rory Huggard, Xavier Chandler, Coby McCarthy, Jed Woods and Gugliotti were others to catch Lamont’s eye.

For Benalla, Marriott, Wade King and debutant Hamish Willett stood tall during the heavy loss.

“We’ve kicked 139, we’ve probably had a lot of possessions and had really even contributions and that’s what you’re looking for,” Lamont said.

“Early we were inaccurate, Benalla weren’t — they get a little bit of momentum and kick with a slight breeze, we missed a couple of easy ones.

“That can send a bit of a tremor through your team at times, but we got going and I think we’d hit the front by quarter-time.

“I use the word professionalism with their footy to stay on task, I was really pleased with that after the slow start.

“We’d produced opportunities and we didn’t capitalise on them and we wasted a few, but then we got back on task.”