The Eagles – who haven’t played finals since 2011 – further enhanced their flag credentials with a 12-point victory over Newbridge on Saturday.

The Eagles replaced the Maroons in top spot with their 14.11 (95) to 11.17 (83) triumph at Newbridge.

“The boys did a fantastic job and were up for the contest all day,” Eagles coach Wayne Mitrovic said.

The Eagles made a strong start to the contest, establishing a 19-point advantage at quarter-time and from there were never headed.

Among they key performers in the win for the Eagles was defender Hamish McCartney, who had the job on in-form Newbridge forward Jordan Gilboy, who was held to two goals.

“Hamish did a super job, but the effort of the entire back six was fantastic,” Mitrovic said.

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“Newbridge bats really deep in its forward line and has a lot of options, but our backline was able to hold up really well.”

Among those Eagles’ defenders was veteran Steve Turner, who battled a sore ankle to contain Rhys Ford to one goal.

Mitrovic and Luke Gray kicked four goals each for the Eagles.

Having won no more than five games in their previous six years, the Eagles are 7-1 at the halfway mark of the season and shaping up strongly for a tilt at their first premiership since 2002.

“To be honest, it’s a bit of a shock we’re in the position we are. At the start of the year you hope to improve, but no way would I have thought we’d be where we are, so I’m very happy,” Mitrovic said.

The defeat was the Maroons’ second of the season and ended a six-game winning streak.

In both losses to the Eagles and Pyramid Hill in round one Newbridge has had more scoring shots than its opposition, but kicked a combined 15.33 – 4.16 and 11.17 – that has been costly.

Tyler Romeril and coach Brad Comer, who each kicked one goal, led the better players for the Maroons.

Inaccuracy continues to plague Mitiamo, but the Superoos are back in the top five after surviving a scare from Inglewood.

The Superoos trailed the Blues by 16 points at three quarter-time, but kicked 7.7 to 0.1 in the final term to win 14.20 (104) to 11.6 (72) at Inglewood.

The off-target Mitiamo has kicked 14.20, 18.19, 9.15 and 5.12 in its past four games.

“It’s good to get the four points, but it would have been nice to kick straighter and win a bit easier,” Mitiamo coach Andy Grant said.

“Our set-shot goalkicking has been alright, but it’s just those crumbing chances and shots on the run that you need to kick 70 per cent of, but we’re only kicking 20 per cent.

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“It’s something that’s happening every week, but we’ll keep working away at it and eventually we have to kick more goals than points one week.”

The game was delayed for 20 minutes during the final quarter following a serious injury to Mitiamo ruckman Nathan Twigg.

“Twiggy dislocated his ankle, so unfortunately, he will be gone for the year,” Grant said.

“Unfortunately, it hasn’t been a great year for Twiggy… his knee kept him out for a couple of weeks and now he has done this.”

The midfield trio of co-captain Terry Reeves, Aaron McKean and Lucas Matthews were the best for the Superoos, who had Lachlan Drummond kick four goals.

Inglewood produced its highest scoring third quarter since 2009 when it booted 7.1 to 0.3, erasing a 24-point half-time deficit to build a 16-point lead at the final change.

“For three quarters we were right in the game. Our intensity was really good and we were able to spread well, but we were out on our legs in the last quarter and lacked a bit of composure,” Blues coach Ryan McNish said.

The Blues’ standout was wingman Sani Egan, who played what McNish labelled the best game he has seen from an Inglewood player since he re-joined the club last year.

In his return to the Blues’ side Lachlan Sidebottom kicked four goals – the bulk of which came in the third quarter.

Calivil United won a hard-fought clash at home against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine by 17 points.

With both sides going into the game with 3-4 records, it was the reigning premier Demons who evened their ledger at 4-4 with a 14.9 (93) to 11.10 (76) win.

Sam Brinsmead and Vincent Rodi (three goals) headed the best players for the Demons.

It was a case of one that got away for the Bears, who had led by 20 points during the third term.

“Unfortunately, we allowed Calivil to control the game for the last quarter-and-a-half after we had got 20 points up,” Bears coach Greg Gadsden said.

“They kicked seven of the last eight goals of the game, which was disappointing.

“Calivil played a very good, open running game and also chipped the ball around well and our guys just didn’t man up enough to stop it.”

A concern for the Bears out of the game is a neck injury suffered by one of their most consistent players this year in midfielder Nick Arthur, plus veteran Nathan McNally (eye).

Bridgewater put an end to its four-game losing streak, bouncing back with a 57-point victory at home over Marong.

Having been six points down at half-time, the Mean Machine slammed on 13 goals to three after the main break to prevail 20.12 (132) to 11.9 (75) – capping a round in which all the losing teams scored 11 goals.

“It was a really good team win and we started getting back to the way we want to play,” Bridgewater coach Dale Cameron said.

“Marong had the momentum at half-time after they had a really good second quarter, but to our boys’ credit, they responded really well.”

Tall forward Josh Metherell and on-baller Tom Broadbent kicked four goals each for Bridgewater, which named two of its inclusions in the pacy Peter Rothacker on a wing and Liam Jacques through the midfield as its best two players.

Of the Panthers’ 11 goals, they booted seven in the second term as they responded to a slow start in which they were 26 points in arrears at quarter-time.

Sam Harvey slotted four goals for the Panthers and was their best player.