Kangaroo Flat and Eaglehawk - the sides sitting fourth and fifth on the ladder - both suffered heavy losses, while sixth-placed Sandhurst annihilated Kyneton.

With three rounds remaining, Eaglehawk (104.05 per cent) and Kangaroo Flat (92.91) both have 8-7 records, with the Dragons (100.15) now just one game back.

At the Queen Elizabeth Oval, the Dragons kept themselves in finals contention with their 189-point massacre of Kyneton.

The Dragons, with forward Mark Fitzgerald kicking nine goals, won 32.20 (212) to 3.5 (23) as they increased their percentage by 14.7 against an opponent they defeated by just one point in their first meeting this season in round six.

Sandhurst’s score was its highest since it booted 36.16 (232) against Kyneton in round eight, 2001.

In what was a forgettable day for the struggling Kyneton, the club was forced to forfeit the under-18s because of a lack of numbers, while the reserves also kicked a score of just 3.5 (23) in a 114-point loss.

At Country Vet Oval on a day the club unveiled the newly-named Peter Moroni wing, Golden Square inflicted reigning premier Eaglehawk’s biggest defeat since the 2005 season with its crushing 107-point win against a wasteful Hawks’ side that kicked just three goals from 21 scoring shots.

The Bulldogs won 20.23 (143) to 3.18 (36) in front of the club’s 1979 premiership team.

Top-of-the-ladder South Bendigo travelled to Fulton Hogan Oval to prove a point to Kangaroo Flat - and delivered with a ruthless display in a 119-point win.

The Bloods, who had lost their past two encounters against Kangaroo Flat, crushed the Roos 21.20 (146) to 3.9 (27).

All three Kangaroo Flat goals were kicked by star forward Justin Maddern, who continues to lead the BFL goalkicking with 60.At Gardiner Reserve, Gisborne rebounded from its biggest loss in its BFL history last round to defeat Castlemaine by 57 points, 21.15 (141) to 12.12 (84).

With the victory, the Bulldogs look to have locked up third position as they are now three games, plus 22.9 per cent, clear of the fourth-placed Eaglehawk.

And at Princes Park, Maryborough, led by a 10-goal haul from young forward Matt Brown, registered its fifth win of the season with an 18.18 (126) to 14.10 (94) victory over Strathfieldsaye.