The Bulldogs were ultra-impressive in demolishing the Bombers by 73 points, 22.11 (143) to 11.4 (70) – North Bendigo’s 25^th win in a row at Atkins Street.

“We knew Leitchy was missing some very good players today, but to still come out and win as convincingly as we did was very pleasing,” North Bendigo coach Matt Dillon said.

“We worked really hard across all four quarters and that was the most pleasing part of today against a top quality side.”

The Bulldogs broke the game wide open with a brilliant second term, piling on 9.2 to 4.2 to turn what had been an eight-point quarter-time lead into a 38-point advantage at the long break.

The Bulldogs had 11 players kick goals, including Sean Morris (five), Tyson Findlay (four) and mid-season recruit Sean Christopher (four), with the trio combining to outscore the Bombers off their own boot.

The best for the Bulldogs, who have won six in a row, was their dual premiership captain in Jordan Ford.

“He played a really good role for us on the wing in being able to nullify Tim Lincoln,” Dillon said.

“And he won a lot of the ball himself.” 

North Bendigo’s gun ruckman Troy Kelm took his place in the side a week after a quad concern, but Dillon concedes he’s likely to miss next Saturday’s game against Mount Pleasant.

The result ended a run of four losses in a row for North Bendigo against Leitchville-Gunbower, which dropped from first to third.

The Bulldogs have now beaten two of their fellow “big four” rivals in consecutive games, having last week defeated Colbinabbin by 31 points.

“We have always been confident our best footy would be good enough to match it with the top sides,” Dillon said.

“But the past two weeks with some good margins have shored up the belief in the group.”

The 73-point hiding was the Bombers’ biggest since they lost to the Bulldogs by 76 in round eight of 2014.

“We had a very young side today and North really rose to the occasion,” Bombers coach Michael Pilcher said.

“It was always going to be a tough battle for us, but I thought there were times throughout the game where we competed well.

“But we struggled to get clean entries inside 50 and weren’t able to get Jake Vandongen (key forward) many chances to score and our other rotating forwards didn’t get a lot of opportunity as well.

“Full credit to North… but they beat us by 11 goals there last year and we know how the season ended up panning out (Leitchville-Gunbower beat North Bendigo in the grand final).

“We will work on getting back to basics and trying to find some form again.”

Midfielder Jack Gleeson’s purple patch of form continued as he was named the Bombers’ best for the fourth time in their past six games, while Tim Lincoln was their leading goalkicker with four.

Lockington-Bamawm United took a major step towards its return to the finals for the first time since 2014 with a win at home over Mount Pleasant.

The fifth-placed Cats now have a two-game buffer over the Blues after their 12.11 (83) to 8.3 (51) victory.

The Blues led by four points at the last change, bit didn’t score in the final quarter, while the Cats added 5.6 to break away and win by 32 points.

“We honed in before the game that the reward if we were able to get over the line would be the chance to get a handy break on Mounts,” Cats coach Kahl Oliver said.

“We reiterated that message again at three quarter-time when we were down that we needed to play one good quarter of footy to give us a really good opportunity to play finals and we were able to do that.”

Bart Phillips and Jakson Gibbs in defence were the two best for the Cats, who had Ricky Walsh and Lachlan Collins kick three goals each.

The Cats were without key player Jarod Bacon (knee) for the second game in a row, but Oliver expects him to return for next Saturday’s clash with Huntly.

The improved Cats with a 5-4 record have now had their most wins in a season since their last premiership season of 2014.

Tom Pontell and ruckman Mitch Bennett led the best players for the Blues, who while beaten shaved seven goals off their 73-point losing margin to the Cats in round one.

Just 14-years-old, Hugh Hamilton had a senior debut to remember by kicking five goals in Colbinabbin’s 121-point win over Elmore.

The Grasshoppers had 47 scoring shots to six in their 20.27 (147) to 4.2 (26) win at Elmore, with the performance of Hamilton – who turns 15 in September – a highlight for the visitors.

“We played him across half-forward and in the forward pocket and he had a really good day first-up,” Colbinabbin coach Nick Knight said.

“We think it’s really good for his development to play some senior footy.”

The first quarter was one of missed opportunities for the Grasshoppers, who had 2.11 on the board at the first break.

They found their radar though in the second term with 9.4 and by half-time were already 74 points in front.

“It was a good response from the boys to last week’s loss against North. We had 70 inside 50s and 47 scoring shots, but obviously kicking 20.27 we would like to have converted a bit better,” Knight said.

Midfielder Mitch Bright and ruckman Hadleigh Sirett have been two of the Grasshoppers’ most consistent players this season and were again standouts, as was Knight, who kicked two goals.

The defeat was Elmore’s 14^th in a row against Colbinabbin. The Bloods’ cause wasn’t helped by the absence of focal point James Harney (rolled ankle).

“We let them get a bit of a roll-on in the second quarter, but apart from that, I thought the boys battled hard today,” Bloods coach Danny Brewster said.

The best for the Bloods was Ben Makepeace, who continued a solid month of form.

“He has been really solid for us playing midfield/forward. He has elite skills and battled hard all day,” said Brewster, who was one of the Bloods’ best.

Huntly kicked nine of the last 10 goals of the game to run away with a 56-point win over White Hills and return to the top of the ladder with a one-game break.

The plucky Demons were within seven points of the Hawks after kicking the first two goals of the third term.

But the Hawks lifted a gear when challenged, going on to win 17.12 (114) to 8.10 (58) at White Hills. 

Chris Gleeson was again in good touch in attack for Huntly, kicking five goals and now has 28 in the Hawks’ past five games.

The Hawks also had Braidy Dickens slot four and Ryan Semmel, who was one of his side’s best, chip in with three.

The Demons, who have had plenty of struggles getting out of the blocks this season, were again forced to play catch-up football after trailing by 32 points at quarter-time, 5.4 to 0.2.

But they fought back solidly with a 5.4 to 3.2 second quarter to close the gap to 18 points at half-time, and then added two more goals in the third term before the floodgates opened.

“After getting back within seven points during the third quarter, it was disappointing they kicked seven unanswered goals over the rest of the quarter and that’s what cost us,” Demons coach Brent Millar said.

“But I thought we fought on pretty well in the last quarter.”

White Hills’ two best were the no-fuss Rhys Irwin and Ryley Dickens against his former side.