Gallery | Tuddenham kicks five to inspire Cats to finals victory over Seymour
Mooroopna has kept its Goulburn Valley League premiership hopes alive by the barest of margins, surviving a pulsating elimination final against Seymour to set up a blockbuster derby with Shepparton.
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The Cats edged the Lions by three points, 12.8 (80) to 11.11 (77), at Tatura Park on August 29, to earn passage into the first semi-final.
Seymour had entered the finals from third position after securing its place with a final-round victory over Tatura, but the sixth-placed Cats ensured ladder position counted for little when September arrived.
Harrison Bell kicked the opening goal for Mooroopna before Seymour spearhead Riley Mason responded with two majors, but Dan Tuddenham’s two first-quarter goals helped the Cats take a slender 3.3 (21) to 3.2 (20) advantage into quarter-time.
The Lions then seized control in the second term.
Mason added another three goals to take his tally to five before half-time, while Rory Kennedy and Jaron Murphy also struck as Seymour piled on 6.4 for the quarter.
By the main break the Lions had opened up a 15-point advantage, 9.6 (60) to 7.3 (45), with Mooroopna kept in the contest by Tuddenham, who continued his own influential afternoon in attack.
The match turned dramatically after half-time and Seymour was held goalless during the third quarter, managing just three behinds, while Mooroopna chipped away with three goals of its own.
Tuddenham added another major before Bell and Jack Johnston struck late in the term, the Cats turning a 15-point half-time deficit into a two-point three-quarter-time advantage, 9.11 (65) to 9.9 (63).
With a season on the line, the final term delivered accordingly.
Jack Murphy's goal restored Seymour's lead early in the quarter, only for Johnston to respond for Mooroopna as the teams continued to trade blows.
Kennedy then put the Lions back in front, but Mooroopna refused to go away.
Tuddenham was immense in Mooroopna’s victory, booting five goals to match Mason’s five at the opposite end, as the Cats found the decisive response and held their nerve through a frantic finish.
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Mooroopna's Dan Tuddenham kicked five goals in Saturday's elimination final. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 13
Seymour's Huw Jones gets boot to ball as Mooroopna's Toby Williams latches on. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 13
Seymour's Lachlan Giles stands the mark. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 13
Seymour's Huw Jones sends the Sherrin out of Lion defensive territory. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 13
Mooroopna's Reeve Evans appeals to the umpire. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 13
Seymour's Dylan Cook looks for a long target. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 7 of 13
Seymour's Lachlan Giles runs down Mooroopna's Reeve Evans. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 8 of 13
Seymour's Jesse Brock gets some hang time over Mooroopna's Liam Betson. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 9 of 13
Seymour's Nicholas Quigg patrols the wing. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 10 of 13
Seymour's Nathan Beattie gives a handball out of the centre. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 11 of 13
Mooroopna's Jed Woods approaches the forward line. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 12 of 13
Seymour's Dylan Cook hurries a kick away. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 13 of 13
Mooroopna's Rory Huggard holds up play. Photo by Rechelle ZammitMeanwhile, Johnston finished with three majors, as Bell, Oscar Emanuelli, Kobie Issell and Jed Woods also contributed one apiece for the Cats.
Reflecting on the performance, Cats coach John Lamont was pleased with the determined efforts of his players.
“It was a great day for football, two pretty evenly-matched teams and Seymour have had a really great year,” he said.
“We wanted to make sure we started well, which we did, and it was pretty even in the first quarter.
“They kicked out quite a lead in that second quarter but we got two late goals back just before half-time after they kicked six for the quarter.
“So, that was really important as the third quarter then really swung the balance and we got our noses in front, before a really tight last quarter.
“Riley Mason had a shot for goal with about 40 seconds to go, with us four points up, and missed - so it’s the kind of luck you need.”
The victory sends Mooroopna into the first semi-final and sets up a mouth-watering Goulburn Valley derby against Shepparton.
“The boys got a lot of satisfaction and joy from the result,” Lamont added.