A week off in football can be good for rest — mentally and physically — but it can also lead to slow starts and upset victories.
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At quarter-time on Saturday afternoon, Mooroopna fans would have been shocked to see how the scoreline sat against Benalla, which has only won two games in Goulburn Valley League this season.
The Saints burst out of the blocks at home against the Cats, kicking six goals (including the last five of the quarter) to take a 37-14 lead into the first break.
However, Mooroopna was significantly hindered for a 15-minute period when star forward Daniel Johnston was sent off.
Despite Benalla’s early dominance, Mooroopna soon awoke and fought back hard in the second term.
The Cats kicked five goals to none to lead by seven points at half-time.
After returning to the ground from being sent off, powerful key forward Johnston was back to his imposing best against Benalla.
After kicking three goals in his past two Goulburn Valley League matches, Johnston flexed his muscles against the Saints, booting a game-high six goals to feature among the best.
To Benalla’s credit, Jarrad Waite’s players fought bravely against a Mooroopna side that looks destined to go deep into September.
Captain Chris Welsh and gun ruckman Mark Marriott were busy for the Saints, while Waite was a strong target for his side up forward and finished the match with five goals (season-high).
The Saints were only down by 19 points at three-quarter time and, when the home side kicked the first goal of the final quarter to bring the scores to 61-74, an upset victory was still possible.
However, Mooroopna soon regained control and the Cat was out of the bag.
Mooroopna piled on 10 scoring shots to Benalla’s three in the last term to take its lead out past seven goals, eventually winning the match 10.8 (68) to 17.12 (114).
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Benalla's Charlie McCarthy and Mooroopna's Oliver Hanrahan contest a mark. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 2 of 9
Benalla’s Mark Marriott and Mooroopna’s Keelin Betson battle it out in the ruck. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 3 of 9
Benalla's Jordan Wolff boots the ball out of the backline. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 4 of 9
Benalla's Campbell McCoy is put under pressure by Mooroopna players. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 5 of 9
Benalla's Jordan Wolff is tackled by Mooroopna's Ben Butts. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 6 of 9
Benalla's Ryan Storer collects the football. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 7 of 9
Benalla's Henry Hill and Mooroopna's Daniel Johnston fly at one another. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 8 of 9
Benalla's Mark Marriott and Mooroopna's Keelin Betson played out a fascinating duel all day. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 9 of 9
Benalla's Tyler McGregor tries to sell Mooroopna's Oscar Emanuelli candy. Photo by Brenden PaddockMooroopna coach John Lamont said his side learned much from Benalla’s early purple patch.
“We were minus one,” he said
“Our lack of experience, we probably didn’t play those 15 minutes well and Benalla did.
“Their midfield is not to be underestimated — and we don’t think we did — they continued to win their clearances.
“They have a really good young ruckman in young Marriott and good players in (Nick) Mellington, (James) Martiniello and Welsh.
“It was a pretty competitive game of football.”
The Mooroopna coach said Johnston was his own worst critic after being sent off early in the match, but Lamont couldn’t speak more highly of the star forward and his response.
“I was rapt,” Lamont said.
“He is one of our leaders and he was frustrated.
“You can only hurt the opposition on the scoreboard and he did and he responded really well.
“He kicked his six, but he was also involved in a number of others with assists and used his body well to help other players.
“He is an interesting full-forward because while he likes to kick goals, he is more than happy for other blokes to kick goals.”
Mooroopna now sits in fourth place on the ladder — below Echuca, Shepparton and Rochester — with one game in hand.
However, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for the Cats.
Lamont said they had had a high turnover of players for various reasons, especially in defence.
“We played Benalla in round two; of the seven guys that played in the back line that day, we only have one still in the team,” he said.
“That’s enormous as you want your back half to be stable, but because of injury and unavailability, we only have one of them, which is a staggering statistic.
“Those guys in the back line, young guys like Xavier Chandler, Caden Ratcliffe and Kade James, they are really standing up.
“They are learning and making blues, but they are learning and I see the efforts and minutes that are going into those younger players and that is of huge benefit for the club.”
This weekend, Mooroopna will host Tatura, while Benalla is set to play Rochester at Moon Oval.
Cadet Sports Journalist