BOORT and Donald finished in the bottom two on the North Central Football League last year, but both beat the two sides that faced off in the 2012 grand final in a round of upsets on Saturday.
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Last season’s wooden-spooners, Boort, made it two-from-two to start the year when it rallied from a three quarter-time deficit to defeat last year’s runners-up, St Arnaud.
The Magpies had kicked just five goals to three quarter-time and trailed the Saints by 13 points at the last break.
But the Magpies booted five goals to one in the last quarter to record a 16-point victory, 10.13 (73) to 8.9 (57).
Recruit Rhys Crapper was the best for Boort, which under new coach Ricky Easton has taken just two games to equal its tally of wins from last season.
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Samuel Taylor (four goals), Michael Henningsen, Brett McDonald and Ryan McGhie, who has started the season well, were others to play well for Boort.
St Arnaud, which is now 1-2, was best served by Nicholas Baldwin, Samuel Dyke and Josh Chapman.
Liam Cunningham kicked four of their eight goals.
● Reigning premier Wedderburn lost its second game in a row after being upstaged by Donald at Donaldson Park.
The Redbacks were jumped in the first quarter and unable to recover as Donald finished 16.14 (110) to 11.8 (74) victors in what was Donald’s first win of the season.
The Royals held the ascendancy after racing to a 30-point lead at quarter-time.
Co-coach Tom Bell, Scott Wood and Lucas Anderson (three goals) were pivotal in the win for the Royals. Jackson Hogan kicked four goals.
Having lost to Charlton last week, Saturday was the first time since mid-2010 that the Redbacks have suffered back-to-back defeats.
Star forward Brady Herdman (three goals), Danny Benaim (two goals) and Hayden Polglase were the best for the Redbacks.
In a sign of the improvement made by Donald this season and that Wedderburn has come back to the pack, the Royals lost two of their games against the Redbacks last year by more than 100 points.
● The unbeaten Charlton maintained its position at the top of the ladder with a 30-point victory against Wycheproof-Narraport.
The Blues led by 12 points at half-time, but a strong third term was the catalyst for their 14.6 (90) to 9.6 (60) win.
The Blues kicked five goals to one in the third quarter to break the game open.
Carl Thiesz, Rhys Thompson, Ben Walklate and Kieran Sait led the way for the Blues, who had Shaun Lawry kick three goals.
Matt Dillon, Ricky Allan, Joshua White and Boe Bish played well for the Demons.