GOLDEN Square recorded the biggest win in a Bendigo Football League game for nine years on Saturday with its 238-point thumping of Maryborough at MyJet Oval.
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Led by 16 goals from superstar Corey Jones, the Bulldogs crushed the Magpies 40.20 (260) to 3.4 (22).
It was the biggest margin in a BFL game since Golden Square beat North City by 249 points in round 18, 2006.
On what was a dark day for Maryborough, which also forfeited its reserves, the Magpies were already 91 points down at quarter-time as they trailed 15.7 to 1.0.
By that stage Jones had already bagged eight goals – all coming between the 12 and 28-minute marks of the first quarter – as he feasted on the Bulldogs’ dominance out of the middle.
Jones finished with a remarkably accurate 16.3, at one stage kicking 11 straight without a miss.
The 238-point loss – Maryborough’s biggest since rejoining the BFL in 1992 – continues a winless season for the Magpies, whose average losing margin is now 111 points.
Maryborough, which in the corresponding round last year beat Golden Square, had seven players double up from the under-18s, and they only had a brief rest with the senior game having been brought forward to 1.10pm.
“It was obviously a disappointing day, but I’ve seen clubs thumped like that and three years later win a premiership,” Magpies coach Jamie Bond said.
“Clubs go on, but you look at Maryborough and we are a town that has four AFL players (Stewart Crameri, Troy Chaplin, Jed Adcock and Jake Stringer) and that’s why I’m helping keep the club going… so the kids have got a chance.”
Square boosted its percentage from 170.9 to 195.6.
“Clearly Maryborough is going through some tough times, but they are persistent in fronting up each week and doing what they can to win a game,” Bulldogs coach Nick Carter said.
“There’s definitely spirit there, they probably just need a bit more cattle.”
While Jones’ 16 goals captured the headlines, Bulldogs youngster Riley Saunders kicked five, including a superb snap over his shoulder in the first term.