Shepp News |
The time is now for Mooroopna.
The Cats’ four scalps — Shepparton, Euroa, Echuca and Mansfield — fill the bottom four placings on the Goulburn Valley Football League ladder.
Their next opponent, Tatura, is the reigning premier, atop the standings and fresh from inflicting Shepparton United’s first defeat of the season.
Mooroopna coach Blake Campbell has braced his players for the significant challenge ahead tomorrow.
‘‘We’ve had a couple of tests against United and the Swans, who we think we’ll be roundabouts with at the end of the season, and we’ve failed against those two sides,’’ Campbell said.
‘‘We haven’t got a scalp yet who we think we’ll be competing with down the track, so it’s a massive game for us.
‘‘The next five weeks are huge for the footy club to see where we’re at.’’
The Cats’ ex-AFL recruit Jason Roe, a key defender, will make his club debut after off-season ankle surgery, while Dan Collyer and James Marks (hamstring) and Karl Lohde and Jake Dignan (unavailable) return.
Ashton Cashion, an Indigenous small forward, will play his first senior game.
Mitch Keddell and Mark Blake, who missed Goulburn Valley’s interleague clash, will also be in Mooroopna’s line-up.
‘‘We’re going to get some consistency from now on with our list,’’ Campbell said.
‘‘I’m not saying we’re going to be in peak form on Saturday, but I just think it’s the start of where we want to get to and start of getting some consistency with our list.
‘‘Everyone knows how important the game is on the weekend.
‘‘It’s going to be wet-weather footy, so it’s not so much going to be a matter of your game plan or what you do, it will be a real mental test to make sure we’re switched on.’’
There is similarly good injury news at Tatura, with Billy Hicks (broken hand) likely to return and Leigh Owen (back tightness) expected to recover in time.
Bulldogs coach Scott Grigg said versatile key-position player Ben Waite (calf) was still a 50-50 proposition.
He also said Tom Durward, one of seven Tatura footballers in Goulburn Valley’s interleague team, would have first crack at Cats forward Daniel Lewis.
‘‘We think we’ve got the right match-up for him. Tom Durward will go to him straight away,’’ Grigg said of Lewis.
‘‘Tom will have a few things he’ll be focusing on to take away Daniel’s attributes.
‘‘Tom’s got the ability to be defensive and offensive, so he’ll make sure when we win the footy he’s still playing his natural game.
‘‘But he’s, obviously, going to have to get back and curb Lewis’ influence when the ball’s going forward.’’
The match also brings together, arguably, the two best ruckmen in the competition in Mooroopna’s Mark Blake and Tatura’s Paul Kirby.
Grigg said there would be a focus on nullifying Blake’s influence at stoppages, where the Bulldogs have been strong this season.
Dignan and Tatura’s Brendon Hollow are also two of the league’s best clearance-winning midfielders.
