JUST like last year’s grand final, Navarre again had the measure of Carisbrook in Saturday’s Maryborough-Castlemaine District Football League season-opener.
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In the stand-alone start to the season, the Grasshoppers won a low-scoring clash by 14 points, 9.8 (62) to 6.12 (48), at Navarre.
Little separated the two sides for much of the first three quarters, with the Grasshoppers entering the last term just four points up.
The reigning premiers were able to pull away in the final term, kicking 4.1 to 2.3 to secure the victory.
In a game where goals were at a premium, Navarre coach Daniel Parkin kicked three to be one of his side’s best players.
Also playing well for the Grasshoppers - who haven’t lost a game since the 2013 qualifying final against Newstead - were Josh Fowkes, Jesse Hannett, Nicholas Murphy and Sam Kaye.
Carisbrook’s poor conversion cost it the chance of starting the season with a win. The Redbacks had one more scoring shot than the Grasshoppers, squandering the opportunity to apply scoreboard pressure with 1.4 in the third term.
Former coach Luke Treacy (two goals), Kurt Bruechert, Brady Neill and Matthew Jukes led the better players for the Redbacks.
Round one of the MCDFL season continues next weekend when the other six games are played.