Marong proved it is a genuine top three contender in the LVFNL when it upstaged Newbridge in a thriller at Malone Park.
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The much improved Panthers had suffered a one-point loss to Maiden Gully YCW and been competitive in defeat to Pyramid Hill the previous two matches.
They needed a high-profile scalp to make the league stand up and take notice and there's no bigger scalp than the reigning premier.
A Nathan Devanny goal at the 26-minute mark of the final quarter gave the Panthers a five-point lead and they held on to win 13.15 (93) to 12.16 (88).
"We had a couple of opprtunities to beat teams that are around the mark and we fell short, so it's good to get the monkey off our back,'' Marong co-coach Taylor Beard said.
"It was a hard-fought win and I think we learned a few lessons from the loss to Maiden Gully YCW. We chipped the ball around for a couple of minutes at the end and the siren went with the ball on the wing."
The Panthers ensured Newbridge was in for a tough encounter by kicking four goals into the breeze in the first quarter. That helped the home side set up a 15-point lead at half-time.
Newbridge turned the game around with a six-goal to two third term to grab an eight-point lead going into the final quarter.
Beard described the final term as an "arm-wrestle", with the Panthers adding 3.5 to 1.4 to clinch victory.
"Internally, we've always felt we'd taken a giant step,'' Beard said.
"We feel as though we're on the path, but there's still plenty of work to do."
Midfielder Kyle Manley was superb for the Panthers, Adam Ward continued his good form and key defender Harry Graham restricted Newbridge star Cam Rinaldi to two goals.
The Maroons were best served by coach Brad Comer, Brendan Josey and Chris McLean.
The Panthers moved to third place with a 3-2 record, while the Maroons slipped to fifth with two wins and two losses from four games.
For the second time in as many games Maiden Gully YCW won by less than a kick.
This time around the Eagles edged out Calivil United 10.17 (77) to 11.8 (74).
The game looked over when the Eagles raced to a 32-point lead at the main break.
Calivil United stormed back into the content on the back of its best quarter of the season.
The Demons added 7.4 to 1.2 to grab a narrow lead with a quarter to play.
Back-to-back goals gave the Eagles a nine-point lead entering time-on of the final term before the Demons responded with a goal to set up a grandstand finish.
With 20 seconds to go the Demons kicked the ball deep inside forward 50 to a pack, but they couldn't take a mark and the Eagles held on.
"We let ourselves down in the second quarter when we were completely outplayed,'' Calivil United coach Andrew Freemantle said.
"We showed some fight and spirit in the second half, but we couldn't quite get over the line."
Matt Waterson, Darby Graham, Dylan Morris and Galen Munari stood up for the Eagles, while Luke Gray kicked three goals.
On-baller Levi Moss won a mountain of possessions for Calivil United. Jake Hall split his time between the midfield and forward 50 and kicked four goals.
A seven-goal haul from Darren Clutton led Bridgewater to a 16-point win over Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
Clutton's performance was the difference between the two teams as the Mean Machine edged out the Bears 14.12 (96) to 11.16 (82).
"We set ourselves up by kicking four goals into the breeze in the first quarter,'' Bridgewater coach Dale Cameron said.
"We opened the game up in the second quarter and played some really good footy to kick six goals.
"Serpentine, to their credit, came hard at us in the third quarter and they probably should have been in front had they kicked straight.
"We held on strong and were very happy to get the four points in an important game for us."
Clutton aside, Cameron said the Mean Machine's best players were their defenders.
"Joey Mayes and Matt Bourke were outstanding down back and took some great intercept marks,'' Cameron said.
"Tommy Gill was good off half-back and young Jimmy Naughton did a great job as well. Everyone played their part over the four quarters which was pleasing."
Nathan Twigg, Harry and Charlie Gadsden and Matthew Gibbs were best for a Bears' side that missed a golden opportunity to grab four points ahead of a testing period of the draw.
Top team Pyramid Hill defeated Inglewood for the 24th game in a row.
The Bulldogs produced the best first quarter of the season - 11.7 to no score - on their way to a commanding 24.24 (168) to 3.5 (23) win.
The Bulldogs had 11 individual goalkickers, headlined by six goals from Bailey George in a best on ground performance.
On a day when the club had few poor players, Scott Mann, Gavin James, Steve Gunther and Aidan Murphy stood out for the Bulldogs.
It was a poor day for the Blues, with Lachlan Sidebottom, Brae Mensforth and Daniel Lloyd their best.
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