On Saturday afternoon, there were 18 hungry Cats prowling around the Kennel as Mooroopna stumped up a stunning fourth-quarter effort to put Tatura to the sword.
Though the game was wrapped and sealed by then, John Lamont’s men deserve spoonfuls of merit for refusing to rest on their laurels in the last charge.
And so, the News’ GVL Data analysts returned to the laboratory and put the Mooroopna-Tatura vision under the microscope to view its fourth-quarter atoms in minute detail.
From the bounce, Tatura ruckman Jacob Simpson leapt to give the Bulldogs first use, and the hosts flew forward off a Mitch Elliott bomb.
Mooroopna’s Caden Ratcliffe marked inside the Cats’ defensive 50, and in less than 30 seconds, the ball was flying through Tatura’s sticks down the other end thanks to a rapid seven-disposal chain that cut right through the Bulldogs’ core.
That kind of clean use was a theme of Mooroopna’s last term.
The Cats led the possession count 123-96 and claimed 153 per cent more marks than its counterpart, the contested category leaning 7-1 in the visitors’ favour.
Lamont’s side also claimed three marks inside 50 to Tatura’s none, which alludes to the 36-13 fourth-quarter scoreline as Mooroopna slotted 6.0.
Mooroopna v Tatura - fourth quarter stats
Disposals
Mooroopna: 123
Tatura: 96
Rebound 50s
Mooroopna: 9
Tatura: 5
Forward 50 entry efficiency
Mooroopna: 82 per cent
Tatura: 45 per cent
Goals
Mooroopna: 6
Tatura: 2
The Cats have a slight knack for dropping off after three quarter time, with three of their five final terms reading like this: 0.0, 2.3, 0.2.
Against Tatura, though, the Cats were ravenous.
Midfield bull Coby McCarthy was at the heart of everything for the side in stripes, claiming 13 disposals at 100 per cent efficiency and notching three clearances in the fourth quarter alone.
Further forward, Bryce Rutherford had 11 touches, seven marks and three goal involvements during the Cats’ cavalcade at the death.
Fighters often use the phrase ‘punches in bunches’, but Mooroopna took a leaf out of the pugilist manifesto as Rutherford’s booming effort from 45 set off a dizzying barrage.
The Cats went full Robert Lewandowski mode, drilling five goals in nine minutes to leave Tat flat on the canvas and reinvigorate themselves following a latent two-behind third term.
That sort of second wind will come in handy this Saturday.
Mooroopna heads to Moon Oval to face a jumped-up Rochester outfit fresh off a giant beating performance against Echuca.
Similar to the Cats, the Tigers do not typically bloom late, and if Mooroopna can conjure a fourth-quarter blitz akin to their effort against Tatura, it may just prove the difference.
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