The Grasshoppers had just one more scoring shot than the Bulldogs, but emerged with a 14.10 (94) to 10.13 (73) victory at M.J. Morgan Oval.

The win was Colbinabbin’s fourth in a row, while the Bulldogs were beaten for the first time this season.

The Grasshoppers held a five-point lead at half-time before adding eight goals to five after the main break in what was their third win against the Bulldogs in their past four meetings.

“It was a very pleasing result. We ebbed and flowed throughout the day and were probably a bit patchy in areas, but we put that down to North being a really good side and putting pressure on us,” Colbinabbin coach Nick Knight said.

“It was tight most of the game where we’d kick a couple of goals and then North would kick a couple, but in the last quarter we were able to get away from them and we ran it out really well.”

Knight – who kicked three goals – heaped plenty of praise on the Grasshoppers’ backline, which featured Matt McEvoy playing on Sam Barnes and Daniel Carmody with the job on Brady Herdman

McEvoy and Carmody were both among the Grasshoppers’ best six, as were fellow backmen Daniel Hill and Will Morrow, who provided plenty of drive.

North Bendigo coach Rob Bennett says the 21-point margin was flattering.

“We were outplayed apart from probably 20 minutes. They ran harder than us both ways and stuck to their team structures, where as we didn’t stick to what we’ve been trying to work on,” Bennett said.

“Colbo put their head over the footy, whereas a lot of our guys weren’t prepared to do that.”

Herdman, who is being managed through osteitis pubis, kicked four goals for the Bulldogs, while Sean Morris kicked three and was their best player in what was North Bendigo’s 350^th game since it joined the HDFL in 1996.

“Sean has had a super start to the season. He hits the scoreboard, puts his head over the footy, runs hard, you know what you will get out of him every week and it’s disappointing he hasn’t been recognised in the inter-league squad,” Bennett said.

• White Hills won its first game of the season, defeating Heathcote by 15 points at Tint-a-Car Oval.

The Demons led at every break in prevailing 13.12 (90) to 10.15 (75) to help restore a dose of much-needed confidence among the group.

“There were 12 guys today who were new to the club, so it was good for a bit of a morale boost and to get the monkey off the back for the first win,” Demons coach Carl Hardingham said.

“It was pleasing with the way we were able to work through some of the tough periods in the game, which we hadn’t been able to do in the previous three weeks.

“Heathcote had a real crack and hit the ball hard, so I was happy with the way we were able to grind it out.”

Hayden Wright, Mitchell Curtis, Caillum Brady and Lachlan Furness all kicked two goals for the Demons, who had Jake Ward, Jake Dickens and Jack Daley lead their best players.

Rikki Stephens (five) and Mitch Johnson (three) combined for eight of Heathcote’s 10 goals.

The Saints – who twice closed to within a goal during the last quarter – had strong contributors in Jake Condon, Mitchell McLean and James Carroll. On a sour note for the Saints, they lost Daniel Carroll to a shoulder injury.

• For the third game in a row Leitchville-Gunbower won by more than 100 points.

The Bombers demolished Mount Pleasant 23.27 (165) to 6.7 (43) at Toolleen, with the 122-point margin following wins by 108 points against White Hills and 107 points against LBU in their previous two games.

The Bombers squandered plenty of opportunities in the first half in kicking 9.18, but straightened up after the break when they added a more efficient 14.9.

Matt Perri and Ayden Walton each bagged five goals, with the pair again among 12 goalkickers for the Bombers.

“We’re working really hard to run the games out strongly and our fitness is excellent, but we obviously want to sharpen up our kicking at goal,” Bombers coach Matt Hawken said.

“We had nearly 40 inside 50 entries in the first half for just nine goals, so that’s something we need to keep working on.”

Jackson McEwan continued his fine season for the Bombers to be their best, with others to impress including Walton, key defender Ryan Prendergast and Tom German.

The Blues, who were held scoreless in the last quarter, had Carl Thiesz, Pat O’Brien and Jason Shaw battle hard against the odds.

• Elmore shrugged off a determined Lockington-Bamawm United to win by 46 points and square its ledger at 2-2.

The Cats led by five points at half-time, but the Bloods found their radar in front of goal in the second half to win 16.13 (109) to 8.15 (63) at Lockington.

The Bloods kicked 11.3 in the second half after having 5.10 on the board at the break.

“Our first half was very ordinary. We didn’t play the way we wanted to and bad kicking is bad footy, but to the boys credit they responded well after half-time,” Bloods coach Alex Gleeson said.

Phil Lobb (four), Danny Brewster (three) and James Harney (three) kicked 10 goals between them for the Bloods, whose best player was backman Spike Ingley.

The Cats are now the only winless team this season. Marcus Crook and Mick Dobson were their best.