It’s the four-decade reunion of Mooroopna’s fabled 1985 and 1986 Goulburn Valley League campaigns – but they won’t be the only two seasons commemorated.
It will be a bona-fide mega reunion of all footy and netball flags from 1877-2026 with players, coaches, volunteers and the ardent supporter base trading yarns of when Mooroopna scaled the heights.
And it all kicks off on Friday with a pair of the club’s most fabled successes.
The 1985 Cats under playing coach Chris Smith led from start to finish of the GVL grand final against Shepparton United, with eventual best-on-ground Royce Enders, Smith, Leo Darveniza and Gary Cooper (four goals) inspiring a first-half blitz the Dees couldn’t track back from.
The 20.10 (130) to 15.13 (103) win signalled Mooroopna’s first flag in 47 years, and a then 18-year-old Jamie Madgwick reflected on his side getting their hands on a long-awaited Hastie Cup.
“The town was just buzzing, and the celebrations went for many, many days, probably weeks to be honest in the end,” Madgwick said.
“It was funny because I reckon for about a month, we'd get a message on the Friday to say such and such - might be a sponsor or supporters - put on a barrel down the pub, so down we go again.
“It was the fact that we hadn't won a premiership since 1938, so it was a 47-year premiership drought for the senior club.
“I was the baby in the side both years; I was just rapt together to get a gig in it to be honest.”
The first drought was a long one – the next, not so much.
And this time, the seniors weren’t alone on the Deakin Reserve dais on a day that inspired a storied moment in local footy folklore.
Down but not out against repeat opponent United in the 1986 grand final, Smith instructed his Cats to circle up and warm up the vocal cords as they stared down a 24-point deficit at half-time.
“Chris Smith’s half-time stuff is fairly famous within the club,” Madgwick said.
“He actually got us to sing the club song at half-time, and we were all standing there looking at each other thinking Jesus, this is a bit weird and crazy.
“I think it sort of challenged us mentally to get back on track.
“From my recollection I think it started off a bit sluggish because I think the guys were looking at each other thinking, ‘what the hell?’”
The rendition had the desired effect, with Mooroopna booting 8.2 to United’s 3.2 in the third term but it wasn’t until John Moncrieff’s fifth and final goal of the match that the 16-point win confirmed back-to-back gongs.
Cooper again was at the forefront, a hobbled Smith played an inspirational hand again, and Billy Wong’s two third-quarter goals helped kickstart the comeback.
A historic day on the netball courts was also forthcoming.
Mooroopna claimed its maiden A-grade flag with a monumental one-goal win in time on of the clash against Echuca, the club’s sole title in the grade to this day.
The Cats thirds, facing a highly fancied Kyabram outfit, stunned all-comers with a memorable come-from-behind win that made it one of the more successful seasons out at Cat land.
Meanwhile, the modern-day Cats are still in the reckoning to stamp their own legacy.
A game clear in fifth with two to play Mooroopna could drive the final dagger into the Mansfield’s season and, results pending elsewhere, book their ticket to finals.
The thirds are already assured of a place, while the Cats’ endeavour to become the first A-grade premiers in 40 years continues to gather momentum, perched in second with only a solitary defeat to their name.
They’ll be joined by the under-17 and under-15 side with B-grade well-poised to join them.
One FM 98.5’s match day broadcast on Saturday will be between Shepparton United and Echuca, live from Deakin Reserve at 1.30pm.
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