We all know the old adage, a week is a long time in football.

Those words couldn’t ring truer for Mooroopna after claiming a round 15 Goulburn Valley League win over Shepparton United at Deakin Reserve, seven days after its gutting two-point loss to Shepparton at the same venue.

Shepparton United’s Timothy Looby kicked the game’s opener but after that, it was all the Cats.

Mooroopna was strongly set up in defence, and corralled and pressured each time the Demons had possession in their forward half.

After close initial proceedings, late in the second quarter was when the game began to break open.

A third first half goal to Jack Johnston provided a 19-point margin, before a free kick followed by a 50 metre penalty handed Jack Osborne his first of three for the afternoon, creating a handy 27-point buffer at half time, 2.4 (16) to 6.7 (43).

United was held to two behinds in the term, while Mooroopna had kicked three goals to expand on its seven-point quarter-time lead.

“Our contested work and clearances were critical there,” Mooroopna coach John Lamont said post-game.

“I reckon we were pretty even in the second quarter with clearances, but the clearances that United got were under pressure, so that gave our backline a chance.”

Matthew Casey made his second contribution to the goals tally seven minutes into the third term after he and Mooroopna exchanged behinds before a 14-minute dry spell was broken by Mooroopna’s Noah Williams, who swooped on a loose ball inside 50 and snapped the Sherrin through the Skene St end’s middle posts.

The Cats charge continued through Harrison Bell but a late surge from United presented a chance to leave the door ajar.

Demon Samuel Mcinneny clunked a contested mark and nailed a set shot, before Zavier Maher ran to the arc and slotted a goal on the run.

At 23 points, there was still a sniff for United - but red time goals in the dying stages reversed any good by the Demons.

A flawless piece of ruck craft from Liam Betson saw him tap the ball directly to Ben Woods streaming through the deep forward 50 stoppage with pace for a goal, before an infringement handed Mooroopna a kick inside 50 from the centre circle - marked strongly by Oscar Emanuelli, who converted, the margin out to 35 at the final change.

The Demons didn’t roll over without a fight, but it was defensive dominance that told the tale, Mooroopna’s intercept marks and spoils hampering any United entry.

United’s spirit was broken as Jack Osborne made amends for an earlier miss in an identical spot, sliding a right to left drop punt through, as the Cats would cruise home to a 12.15 (87) to 8.12 (60) win.

Lamont was “elated” after the game, and spoke passionately about the effort from his men.

“They were terrific, all credit to the players today,” he said.

“We came up with a few plans on how we thought we needed to play to beat United, who had come off a terrific win against the Swans.

“The challenge was there for the boys, and they executed.”

After a bye in round 16’s split round, the Cats will return to play Euroa - a side that beat them last time out and are in season-spoiling form with its third-consecutive win coming against Seymour on Saturday.

“We are playing consequence-heavy games of footy,” Lamont said.

“We will freshen up at the bye, but we’ve got to win at least two of our last three... the pressure’s on, we’re not shying away from that.

“We’ve said ‘let’s embrace it’.”

Meanwhile, Shepparton United will look to respond against Tatura at Tatura Park next week.

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Thursday, 17th February 2028

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