River Rats shifting mindset to take down Mooroopna

Despite gunning for its third consecutive GVHA title, Echuca-Moama is a heavy underdog.

In five prior meetings this year, minor premier Mooroopna has not lost to the River Rats.

The best result Echuca-Moama achieved was a 0-0 draw in round 11, which was also only one of two instances in 2026 where Mooroopna failed to win.

The odds are very much against the local side, which also had a scare in last weekend’s semi-final.

Opponent Shepparton Strikers — a side the River Rats had beaten four times previously — took an early lead.

Given how favoured it was, Echuca-Moama had hoped to use the match to better prepare for a likely grand final against Mooroopna.

But instead, it suddenly needed to dig deep to prevent a shock exit, and the response eventually came.

Unsurprisingly, top goalscorer Courtney Thompson played her part in the comeback, scoring from a short corner.

Georgia Thorpe was the other goalscorer, netting via a deflected effort that grazed the post on the way in.

After Echuca-Moama hit the lead, onlookers would have expected the team to see the result out with ease, but the opposite was true.

The River Rats were penned in throughout the last few minutes, needing to stay focused defensively to protect the lead.

Natalie Durrant and Makayla Pendlebury were standouts in the rearguard as Echuca-Moama held on to a 2-1 win.

The competitiveness of its semi-final contrasted starkly with Mooroopna’s — a 4-0 trouncing of Shepparton Youth Club.

Hardly needing to break a sweat in its qualifier could be an advantage for Mooroopna, which has usurped the River Rats as the team to beat in the women’s competition.

Mooroopna has not been involved in the GVHA recently, instead featuring in the more prestigious, largely Melbourne-based Vic League.

Its side fields a handful of players arguably in a different tier of quality to Echuca-Moama’s, given they have previously played at a higher level.

The gap is not unknown to the River Rats, who will approach the decider with what could be labelled an uncommon mentality.

“We know Mooroopna are going to score, we just have to score one more than them,” EMHC player and club secretary Rebecca Webb said.

To prepare for the challenge, Echuca-Moama focused on defensive marking and transition opportunities against the Strikers.

The side is emphasising being able to break forward quickly from turnovers and ensuring fundamentals are executed.

“Doing what we call playing smart hockey, making the ball do the work and taking our time before we make decisions on where we’re going to put that ball,” Webb said.

Webb conceded being able to turn over Mooroopna for counter-attacks would be a challenge.

Echuca-Moama is also focused on maximising its short corner opportunities, given they are often the best source of goals for an underdog.

But the River Rats possess some star individuals themselves.

As evidenced in the semi-final, Courtney Thompson is key to any success, and her 19 goals in 2026 lead the competition.

It’s also not as if shocks haven’t occurred before.

“People bring their best to a grand final, and you never know what’s going to happen, even if you’re not the favourites,” Webb said.