The Superoos won 12.11 (83) to 8.10 (58) at Karee Wool Riverside Oval to improve to 11-2 in the Loddon Valley league, with the injury scare to Maddern the major talking point out of the game.

“I went up for a mark midway through the second quarter, and the knee jarred when I landed and twisted and cracked,” Maddern said.

“I played on for a bit, but it kept blowing up and I didn’t come back on after half-time.

“It’s now blown up like a balloon and everytime I try to walk it keeps giving way on me.

“I’ll get some scans done and I’m just hoping it’s either pinched or torn cartilage that once it’s settled down I can manage it and get through the rest of the year and then get it cleaned up.

“As for the worst case (ACL), that’s not something I want to think about.”

The Superoos were superb in the first half as they raced to a 52-point lead at the main break, 9.5 to 1.1.

“Our first quarter (5.4 to 0.0) was probably the best quarter of footy we’ve played for the year with our ball movement and taking advantage of Newbridge sticking a couple of players in front of me,” said Maddern, who has kicked 76 of Mitiamo’s 190 goals this year.

“We had guys hitting the scoreboard and I just sat over in the pocket, which was good.”

But after the impressive first half, Maddern watched on as the Superoos were outplayed by Newbridge in the second as the Maroons kicked 7.9 to 3.6 to cut the final margin to 25 points.

“We took our foot off, which has been a habit of ours, but we were able to kick enough goals to keep in front,” Maddern said.

“Newbridge kept coming at us, but switching off for five to 10 minute periods is something we’ve got to continue to address.”

Star onballers Doug Thomas (three goals) and Tyson Sidebottom were the two best for the Superoos, while Luke Lougoon provided plenty of creativity off half-back.

The loss ended Newbridge’s four-game winning streak, but the Maroons remain in the top five on percentage.

Key on-ball duo Brad Comer and Lachlan Ford were the Maroons’ best, while Austin Fithall (three) was their only multiple goalkicker.

• Just as it did a week earlier against Mitiamo, Bridgewater blew away one of its main threats in the second half as it belted Calivil United by 88 points.

The Demons had been within striking distance when they trailed the Mean Machine by 24 points, 11.8 to 8.2, at half-time at Laser Plumbing Bendigo Oval.

However, the Mean Machine slammed on 13.7 to 3.3 in the second half to prevail 24.15 (159) to 11.5 (71) and extend their winning streak to 27.

“We had some really good players right across the ground, but it stemmed from our midfield today and our forwards all fired after what had been a really contested first half,” Bridgewater coach Marc Lindsay said.

The Mean Machine had a spread of 10 goalkickers, led by five from Brad Rohde and four from Ben Galea, while Lindsay chipped in with three.

The best player for Bridgewater was ruckman Josh Metherell, who had a pivotal duel with star Demons’ big man Chris Down.

“Josh was fantastic today… he marked the ball really well, gave our midfield first use and got forward and kicked a goal,” Lindsay said.

“He set himself for a big game against Down. We think he got on top and we were really rapt with his day.”

Smooth-mover Zac East and captain Zeb Broadbent were other standouts for the Mean Machine, who have the bye next week.

Saturday’s 88-point margin means the Mean Machine have beaten every other team by at least 10 goals since they had their first bye in round seven.

Jordan Lea, Alex Powell and Down were named the three best for the Demons in what was the first time in their four losses this year they have been blown out by the opposition.

Key forward Phil Lobb was the Demons’ leading goalkicker with three.

• The recent trend of close games between Marong and Bears Lagoon-Serpentine came to an end.

In their previous five meetings the biggest margin between the two teams had been just 16 points.

However, Saturday was one-sided as the Panthers got the jump on the Bears on the way to a 77-point win – 19.13 (127) to 7.8 (50) – at Discover Marong Oval.

The Panthers kicked eight goals to two in the first quarter, and by half-time were 70 points up as they led 13.7 to 2.3.

“The last time we played them (three point win in round six) it was a real arm-wrestle, so we were happy to have a convincing win today,” Marong coach Damien Lock said.

“It was a fairly consistent effort over the day. Getting the Gregg boys (Corey and Ben) and a couple of others back really strengthened us up and hopefully, it’s a step in the right direction.”

The game was the 250^th senior match for the Panthers’ Brett Rogers.

“It’s a great effort these days to play 250 games at one club,” Lock said.

“He played well… he kicked a goal and had a hand in a few others, but probably most importantly he got through the game well having been struggling a little bit with a calf.”

Ryan Wellington was superb up forward with his marking power and bagged five goals to be the Panthers’ best player.

Richard Tibbett across half-back, young gun Justin Bateson and Damien Webb (four goals) were also strong performers as the Panthers improved to 7-6.

The Bears were best served by James Rippingale, Nick Arthur and the experienced Nathan McNally.

• Pyramid Hill beat Inglewood for the 19^th time in a row and in doing so, is now just percentage outside the top five.

The Bulldogs won 14.9 (93) to 7.7 (49) at Mitchell Park, with the victory set up in the first half.

Having kicked a paltry 1.7 and 0.5 in the first halves of their past two games, this time the Bulldogs hit the ground running as they led 7.2 to 1.3 at the main break.

“Last week we were shocking early… second for the ball and didn’t want to do any of the hard stuff, so I really put it on the boys to lift in that area today and they did,” Bulldogs coach Brad Fawcett said.

“We won the contested footy, used the ball well and got some reward, which was pleasing.”

Jacob Loraine was a handful up forward for the Bulldogs, booting five goals and was named Pyramid Hill’s best.

Steven Gunther (two goals) on a wing and midfielders Billy Micevski, Michael Callinan and Daniel Price were also influential in the victory. 

In a loss that all but kills off what were the Blues’ slim finals hopes, they had better players in Ben Conley, Brandon Worner, Craig Crichton and Jack Crapper.