REIGNING premier Eaglehawk and Maryborough both opened their Bendigo Football-Netball League accounts for 2019 with Good Friday wins.
After unfurling their 2018 premiership flag the Hawks outclassed South Bendigo by 78 points at Canterbury Park, winning 18.17 (125) to 7.6 (48) led by a six-goal haul from forward Sean Williams.
The Hawks put the foot down with 10 goals to three after half-time.
At Princes Park, Maryborough posted its earliest win in a season since 2013 by defeating rivals Castlemaine 12.7 (79) to 9.10 (64).
The 15-point victory was just the third in Maryborough's past 76 games - all of which have come at the expense of Castlemaine.
Star recruit Angus Monfries kicked three of Castlemaine's nine goals.
At the QEO, Strathfieldsaye proved a step above Sandhurst, recording a 46-point victory.
Just as they did against Eaglehawk the previous week, the Storm wasted no time asserting their authority on the contest as they built a 35-point lead at half-time.
Class forward Lachlan Sharp followed up his round one haul of six goals with another bag of six in Strathfieldsaye's 12.17 (89) to 6.7 (43) triumph.
The biggest of the Good Friday margins was Gisborne's decisive 95-point victory over arch-rival Kyneton at Gardiner Reserve.
Fuelled by an 8.5 to 0.3 first quarter and eight goals from gun forward Pat McKenna, the Bulldogs won 21.20 (146) to 7.9 (51) and for the first time since 2014 are 2-0.
Round two of the BFNL will be completed on Saturday when Golden Square hosts Kangaroo Flat at Wade Street.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
