From the Shepp News |
One powerful moment at Memorial Oval on Saturday night summed up how Mooroopna was able to shake Euroa’s early challenge.
The Cats sent a deep ball into attack and an inspired Rob Osborne tossed opponent Nathan Harper aside to mark then goal.
It was Osborne’s second of eight majors for the night — and first of four in the second term — and pushed Mooroopna’s buffer out to seven points.
He also slotted the game’s next two goals, one after marking on a lead and the second when on the end of a handball in the square.
Euroa’s coaching staff dragged Harper after the latter.
Key-position prospect Jake McBean was next to face the music and stayed there the rest of the night.
Euroa simply had no other viable options.
The Magpies mounted a brief fightback in the third quarter, but never seriously threatened an under-strength Cats outfit that eventually doubled their score in a 55-point victory.
Mooroopna coach Blake Campbell was thrilled with his players’ performance.
‘‘It was a terrific win. We really built this game up during the week, because we knew how important it was for our season, especially having some key guys out,’’ Campbell said.
‘‘We had five guys out, but the five guys we brought in really contributed and it was a good, even effort across the board with the 21 guys.
‘‘The leaders of the footy club stood up again: big ‘Schirm’ (captain Chris Schirmer), ‘Ossie’, (Daniel) Lewis was sensational in there, ‘Blakey’ (Mark Blake) and Mitch Keddell played his best game for the footy club.’’
The Cats lost fly-in stars Jake Dignan (unavailable), Karl Lohde (hamstring) and Iggy Vallejo (heel) and youngsters Matt Calleri and Liam Cross (both shoulder) from their last-start 42-point win over Shepparton.
Dan Collyer was also playing a day after facing court on an affray charge, while Shayne Lynch and Kane Atkinson were each playing their first game of the year back from respective injuries.
And Euroa was hunting three consecutive wins for the first time since achieving the feat in the final three rounds of the 2009 season.
So much was against Campbell’s side, but it rose to the occasion.
Blake barely lost a ruck tap, Keddell and Cobram recruit Kane Boyer were midfield mainstays and the electrifying Lewis added a new dimension as an on-ball wildcard.
Lewis’ gather and dash out of the middle, followed by a long-range goal, just before half-time was exciting and outstanding. He is a special player.
Schirmer patrolled a defence that gave the Magpies very little.
Joe Sullivan held Ambrose Swindon to one goal.
This was not the same Euroa team that shone on Anzac Day.
The manic tackling and relentless run were missing, but coach David Gleeson said it was disappointing rather than a setback for his rebuilding club.
‘‘Our run and attack off half-back was lacking tonight and our tackling pressure wasn’t where it had been,’’ Gleeson said.
‘‘Our midfielders were down overall
‘‘We’ll try and bounce back next week and make some changes and, hopefully, get a few of the VFL guys back and see how we go.’’
Matt Quinton was the Magpies’ standout.
The interleague squad member started on Lewis then went into the ruck in the third term and provided an instant spark.
Gleeson was also pleased with defender Nick Mason and developing tall Jake McNamara’s role up forward.
Collyer sustained a game-ending hamstring injury in the second term.
