‘‘We really increased our pressure after quarter-time ... (and we needed to) because there was reason for concern,’’ Grigg said.

‘‘It was an attitude adjustment; it wasn’t about structural or skill-level adjustment.

‘‘It was a good win, especially with their ability to adjust within, because sometimes when quality teams start poorly they find it hard to find something.

‘‘We had a few blokes who weren’t 100 per cent and they still gave us something. It was a really gutsy effort.’’

Mooroopna was 16 points up when Chris Schirmer hit the post with a long set shot early in the second quarter.

But the Bulldogs, who were without Brendon Hollow and Ben Waite (both calf), responded with the next 10 scoring shots — three for maximum points — as they starved the Cats of the ball and relentlessly ran forward.

Tatura’s famed defence, under constant pressure in the opening term courtesy of Mooroopna’s 17 inside-50 entries, suddenly had more time to focus on offence.

The Bulldogs statistics showed the Cats pierced their attacking 50m arc just four times in each of the second and third terms.

Mooroopna centre half-forward Daniel Lewis, clearly on top early against Tom Durward, found himself in the middle as his coach Blake Campbell desperately tried to wrest back control.

Fellow Cats forward Rob Osborne would also have been pleased with his work to quarter-time, including two majors opposed to Jayden Young, but had few opportunities thereafter.

Tatura veteran Linc Wellington encapsulated the change in the game’s fortunes.

Daryl Harrison lowered Wellington’s colours in the first term, but the Bulldogs champion went on to be best afield.

Tatura big man Paul Kirby also shaded Mooroopna counterpart Mark Blake, who won the lion’s share of the hit-outs, but failed to match the interleague representative’s impact across the ground.

‘‘It’s their ability to contest at any level, whether it’s at stoppages, around the ground, in marks or ground-level balls (that makes them so good),’’ Grigg said of Wellington and Kirby.

‘‘Their ability to will themselves to compete sets the tone for the group.’’

Alec Young (three goals) and Tom Sullivan (two) were other pivotal Bulldogs performers — up forward or when roaming further afield — while Tom Miller, Tim Lanyon and Rhodes Cousland were damaging down back.

Cats on-ballers Mitch Keddell and Jake Dignan racked up more than 50 disposals between them, Schirmer defied the conditions to have an impact and Kane Boyer was serviceable in defence.

‘‘We pride ourselves on our accountably, but too many blokes were not prepared to go to their guys,’’ Campbell said.

‘‘The score flattered us, but I still reckon we can compete with those sorts of sides. We were probably too top heavy in the end and they ran harder than us.

‘‘It was not a day for the big fellas ... but we play them again in six weeks and we will definitely set up a lot differently if it’s a wet day again.’’

Karl Lohde suffered a game-ending calf injury in the third quarter and Campbell said his loss exacerbated his side’s lack of midfield rotations.