In a battle of top versus third, Carisbrook improved its record to 8-0 with its 14.16 (100) to 6.13 (49) victory over the Steaders.

The Redbacks blew the Steaders away in the first half, leading by 45 points at the main break, 8.9 to 1.6.

The Steaders were more competitive in the second half, but by then the damage had been done.

Nick Robinson, Jonathaon Gray, Jake Bucknall and Jay Anderson were the standouts for the Redbacks, who for the sixth time this season held their opposition to less than 50 points.

Travis Cornwill and Nathan Wright kicked four goals each for the reigning premiers.

Having won its first six games, Newstead’s premiership credentials are now being queried after losing two in a row to Carisbrook and Navarre by a combined 122 points.

Nathan Webster, David Wall, Jay Guthrie and Ashley Webster played well for the Steaders.

● Navarre put the improved Harcourt to the sword, belting the Lions by 120 points.

The Grasshoppers won their seventh game in a row with the comprehensive 27.8 (170) to 7.8 (50) victory over the Lions.

Navarre kept its foot on the pedal all game, kicking seven goals in the first quarter, five in the second, six in the third and nine in the last.

The Lions had no answer for the dominance of  Ben Scott (nine) and  Zane Bigmore (seven), who kicked 16 goals between them for Navarre.

Brian Lovison, Aiden Lee, Ashley Driscoll (three goals) and Jayden Fowkes were others to impress for the Grasshoppers, whose seven wins in a row have all been by at least 50 points.

Harcourt was best served by Christopher Ling, Jack Douglass and Dylan Gibson.

The Lions dropped from fifth to eighth with the 20-goal loss.

● Talbot bounced back to the winners list, defeating Royal Park by six points.

The Hawks set their win up with a dominant first quarter.

They led by 21 points at quarter-time, 6.1 to 2.4.

However, after kicking six goals in the first term, Talbot only kicked five more for the rest of the match, but it was enough to hang on and win 11.7 (73) to 9.13 (67).

The victory ended the Hawks’ two-game losing streak and keeps them seventh as they chase their first finals berth since 2008.

Josh Sullivan, Matthew Smith, Lachlan Fishwick and Nathan Smith were the best for the Hawks.

Royal Park has now lost five games in a row, with the past two of those defeats by margins of six and one point.

Steven Shovan, Tristan Maher, Jarrod O’Connor and Zack Short played well for Bushy, while Brendan Birch kicked three goals.

● A nine-goal haul from Ryan Weir helped Natte Bealiba to a 110-point hiding of Trentham.

Weir kicked five more goals than Trentham did for the game as the Swans won 20.18 (138) to 4.4 (28).

The Swans had the game well in hand when they led by 53 points at half-time, 9.9 to 1.4.

Along with Weir, Daniel Gifford, Matthew Stagg and Zac Perez were dominant for the Swans, whose win was a 200-point turnaround on last year’s elimination final, in which they lost to the Saints by 90 points.

Having been 1-3 earlier in the season, the Swans have now squared their ledger at 4-4.

Lewis Bruton, Daniel Canefield and coach Clayton Scoble toiled hard for the Saints.

Justin Hoffman kicked two of the Saints’ four goals.

● Avoca kept its unbeaten record against Campbells Creek intact.

The Bulldogs kicked away from the Creekers in the final term to win 20.16 (136) to 15.7 (97), improving Avoca’s record to 11-0 against Campbells Creek since joining the competition in 2005.

Avoca had been nine points up at three quarter-time and piled on seven goals to two in the last term in a game of momentum swings.

Coach Adrian Pilgrim, Jesse Britton (two goals), Nathan Coghlan (five goals) and Bradley Martland (two goals) were solid performers for the Bulldogs.

The best for the Creekers – who kicked eight goals in the second term – were Tristan Bennett, coach Sean Smith, Jarrod Hodoras (four goals) and Chris Stone (five goals).

● Maldon ended its two-game losing streak with a 30-point victory over the improving Dunolly, 16.14 (110) to 12.8 (80).

Timothy Conway, Shaun Burchell (four goals), Tommy Horne and Wayne Burchell (two goals) led the way for the Bombers.

In what was a competitive effort from the Eagles, Brett Thomson, Lee Jackson and Joe Thompson were their best. Ashley Grant kicked three goals.

● Lexton cruised to a 22.12 (144) to 4.1 (25) victory over the winless Rovers.

Matt Brown (six) and Robert Mosby (five) kicked 11 goals between them for the Tigers, whose best was Michael Jennings.

In what was their fifth game in a row where they kicked less than four goals, Trent Monk was again the standout for Rovers.