Is it time for Mooroopna’s junior juggernaut to rise?

Twelve months after its 17-and-under side fell at the final hurdle, the Cats are back at Deakin Reserve — this time in the 15-and-under Goulburn Valley League decider against Echuca.

But this time, they’re proudly wearing the favourite’s tag.

Top of the table with 16 wins and just two blemishes, Mooroopna has cut a swathe through the competition in 2025.

Its numbers are imposing: 909 goals scored (second-best attack in the competition) and only 607 conceded (fourth-best defence).

But the stat that most worries opposition coaches is the one attached to Layla Ratcliffe’s name.

The bottom-age shooter — also this year’s joint GVL Jacqui Hudgson Medallist — sits fourth on the league goaling chart with 549, and can shift seamlessly between ends if the Cats need a shake-up.

Beyond Ratcliffe, Emmie Lowe’s versatility and leadership in attack, and Sophie McDonald’s smarts in defence, give Mooroopna a balanced look.

Co-coach Dayna Williams has been careful to keep the group grounded despite their frontrunner status.

“It’s been a very exciting week for the junior girls,” she said.

“Getting straight into the grand final has been good but we definitely haven’t taken the foot off the pedal.

“We’ve worked hard the last two weeks to keep consistency up and make sure they stay really switched on heading into the grand final.”

The Cats zipped through finals in a flash, winning their qualifier and semi to reserve a place in Sunday’s affair with relative ease.

However, Williams believes two losses during the home-and-away season may prove decisive.

“I don’t think it’s the best thing going in undefeated,” she said.

“Those losses came at a really good time for us and we’ve refined a lot of our skills and structures at the right time.”

Standing in their way is Echuca — a familiar foe.

The Cats have played the Murray Bombers three times this season.

Each time, the blue and white have walked off the court victorious.

However, 15 wins, three losses and a semi-final triumph over a red-hot Shepparton United side remind everyone how dangerous this Murray Bombers side can be.

Sarah Head (697 goals) leads the line in attack for Echuca, while Lexie Howard and Eden Maddison were involved in the Murray Bombers’ 15-and-under premiership last season, proving the green machine has match winners all over the court.

“We watched their game on the weekend, they’re obviously a really strong team as well (with) lots of talent in their junior side,” Williams said.

“I think it’ll be a really good match up between the teams and a close game - a competitive game is what you want.

“We’ve done our best to give the girls some good tips around what we’ve noticed about the Echuca girls so they can put their best foot forward in preparation to come up against them.”

Opposition coach Gina Pearson expects a tough fight out of Mooroopna come Sunday.

“There are certain players that we will need to combat, they’ve got a really good goal shooter who’s very strong and a good centre court player, but it’s about learning from our experiences (against them),” she said.

“We’ve got nothing to lose. We haven’t beaten them all year, but they’ve got everything to lose so we’ll go out there and really focus on our own game.

“We know that it takes all 10 of us to get over the line, and we’ll be making sure we utilise everybody’s strengths and attack their weaknesses.”

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Saturday, 5th November 2022

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