A draw and a loss on the board after two rounds for the Bloods, who were Jekkyl and Hyde last week against Sandhurst when they led by 20 points during the third quarter, before losing by 27.

That’s two weeks in a row the Bloods have had half-time leads, but don’t have a win to show for it ahead of the trip to Maryborough, which is coming off a 118-point loss to Golden Square last week.

Last time: South Bendigo 23.17 (155) d Maryborough 9.7 (61).

Since 1995: South Bendigo 35; Maryborough 14.

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How well are the Hawks going at the moment? Started the season with a victory over reigning premier Strathfieldsaye and then obliterated Castlemaine by 212 points last Saturday.

They are back on their home turf at Canterbury Park where they have won their past 10 games.

A second trip in a row up the Calder for Gisborne to face another of last season’s grand finalists following last Saturday’s 51-point loss to Strathfieldsaye.

The Bulldogs have managed scores of just 53, 40, 30 and 47 in their past four games against Eaglehawk. They are going to need to improve markedly on that if they are to push the Hawks.

Last time: Eaglehawk 20.10 (130) d Gisborne 7.11 (53).

Head to Head: Gisborne 24; Eaglehawk 23.

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There will be plenty of attention on the Magpies this weekend to see how they respond from last week’s 212-point shellacking from Eaglehawk.

“A result like today obviously hurts, but it’s now all about how we respond and that’s going to be the big test,” Magpies coach Derrick Filo said in the wake of last Saturday’s debacle.

While the Magpies will be massive underdogs against an opponent they haven’t beaten since 2005, their response needs to be a spirited showing of effort where they at least make Golden Square players walk off the ground knowing they’ve played a game of senior football.

Last time: Golden Square 26.17 (173) d Castlemaine 5.5 (35).

Since 1995: Golden Square 33; Castlemaine 14.

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Shapes as the match of the round under lights at Kyneton.

The Tigers showed the scoring power they still possess this year when they booted 27 goals in an 86-point win over Kangaroo Flat last week to open their account for 2018, but the competition will be much stiffer this week in the form of the Storm, who also won their first game last week.

Last time: Strathfieldsaye 23.20 (158) d Kyneton 8.1 (49).

Head to Head: Strathfieldsaye 14; Kyneton 2.

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It has been a flat start to the season for the Roos with back-to-back losses against Gisborne and Kyneton by a combined 159 points and now an assignment at the QEO against one of their long-time nemesis in Sandhurst, which got better the longer the game wore on against South Bendigo last week after a sluggish first half.

Last time: Sandhurst 19.13 (127) d Kangaroo Flat 7.12 (54).

Since 1995: Sandhurst 36; Kangaroo Flat 13.

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It has been a challenging start to the season for the Bloods, who come 5pm on Saturday will have played three of the “big four” in their opening four games.

The Bloods have already copped heavy losses against Colbinabbin (97 points) and Leitchville-Gunbower (110) and it could be another one handed out from the undefeated Hawks, who are soaring early.

Last time: Huntly 27.16 (178) d Elmore 8.7 (55).

Since 1995: Elmore 30; Huntly 19.

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The Bulldogs are heavily favoured to bounce back from last week’s 17-point defeat to Huntly to square their ledger at 2-2 against the developing White Hills that has started its season 0-2.

The Bulldogs have made a habit in recent years of rebounding from losses. They haven’t lost consecutive games since 2013, while from 2014 onwards they have won by an average of 101 points the week after a defeat.

Last time: North Bendigo 16.16 (112) d White Hills 11.13 (79).

Head to Head: North Bendigo 32; White Hills 18.

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No signs of any premiership hangover from the Bombers, who have already outscored their opposition 60 goals to 13 in three games.

It’s clear the Bombers are going to be right there when the whips are cracking again this season, while it’s the first big test to gauge the improvement in Colbinabbin, whose first two games have been against two of the lower sides in Elmore and Heathcote.

Last time: Leitchville-Gunbower 10.16 (76) d Colbinabbin 3.6 (24).

Head to Head: Leitchville-Gunbower 11; Colbinabbin 7.

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The annual Cliff and Peter White Shield battle is one of the biggest days on the calendar for the two clubs, with the silverware currently held by Heathcote.

The Blues head into the game off the back of their first win since May, last year, when they beat Elmore last week, while the Saints have managed just three goals in their opening two matches.

Last time: Heathcote 16.16 (112) d Mount Pleasant 5.19 (49).

Since 1995: Mount Pleasant 33; Heathcote 15; Drawn 1.

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A positive start to the year for the Bulldogs with a pair of wins over Newbridge and Bears Lagoon-Serpentine, who had been two teams with pre-season hype.

They almost paid a hefty price for taking their foot off the pedal against the Bears last week when they led by 39 points in the last quarter, only to scrape home by one.

At 0-2 the Panthers back on their home turf will be hungry to open their account and kickstart their season in the Michael Herrick Memorial Game.

Last time: Pyramid Hill 25.10 (160) d Marong 5.3 (33).

Since 1995: Pyramid Hill 37; Marong 13.

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The signs for 2018 didn’t bode well for the Blues with a 155-point thrashing from Bridgewater in their first game of the season last week.

It will clearly take a massive turnaround for the Blues to compete with the reigning premier Demons, who coach Anthony Dennis concedes have been patchy in their first two games.

Last time: Calivil United 23.17 (155) d Inglewood 4.6 (30).

Since 1995: Calivil United 41; Inglewood 7.

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Match of the round status for the Superoos and Eagles, who are both undefeated and occupying the top two spots on the ladder.

The Eagles are 2-0 for the first time since 2009, but you have to go back a further decade to 1999 for the last time they made a 3-0 opening to a season, which is an opportunity Saturday presents.

Meanwhile, the Superoos already have the scalps of both of last year’s grand finalists – Bridgewater and Calivil United – under their belt.

Last time: Mitiamo 19.12 (126) d Maiden Gully YCW 5.5 (35).

Since 1995: Mitiamo 32; Maiden Gully YCW 23.

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With the bye last week the Maroons have had plenty of time to stew on their round one loss to Pyramid Hill when they kicked 4.16.

They come up against the Bears, who will be desperate to avoid dropping to 0-3.

The Bears must improve their starts, having trailed by 24 and 21 points at half-time in their two losses to Maiden Gully YCW and Pyramid Hill.

Last time: Newbridge 8.15 (63) d BL-Serpentine 7.5 (47).

Since 1995: BL-Serpentine 25; Newbridge 24.