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Golden Square v Maryborough
Maryborough's improved form meant most BFNL fans saw the Magpies clash with Golden Square a danger game for the Bulldogs.
It didn't turn out that way, with Golden Square recording its ninth-straight 100-point plus win over Maryborough.
The Bulldogs kicked 16 goals in the first half on their way to a 25.17 (167) to a 8.6 (54) win.
"We were pretty clinical in the way we went about it,'' Square coach Bernie Haberman said.
"We probably let Maryborough score too easily in the first half, but we tightened up defensively.
"We had 21 scoring shots in both halves - kicked 16.5 in the first half and 9.12 in the second half.
"Overall, it was a good win and, hopefully, we have some good growth to come."
Jayden Burke and Alex Marklew are proving quite the combination for the Bulldogs inside forward 50.
Burke had his best game of the season on Saturday, with seven goals, while Markley kicked six goals on the back of his five-goal haul the previous week against South Bendigo.
They were the beneficiaries of a dominant midfield group.
Ruckman Matt Compston set the tone, while Ryan Hartley, Adam Baird and Liam Barrett collected a mountain of possessions.
With Stewart Crameri and coach Ben Lavars on the sidelines, the Magpies lacked a touch of class and depth.
Lachlan Butler, Matt Bilton and Daniel Vadala tried hard to lift their side, but the Pies didn't have the run to go with the Bulldogs.
South Bendigo v Gisborne
Gisborne scored its biggest win over South Bendigo in five years when it thumped the Bloods by 97 points at Harry Trott Oval.
The Bulldogs set up the win with a six-goal first quarter before cruising to a 25.18 (168) to 11.5 (71) victory.
"The first quarter was the most impressive quarter we've played this year,'' Gisborne coach Clinton Young said.
"With the way the conditions were our contested work was fantastic.
"South Bendigo looked dangerous in patches, but I was really happy with the way the boys played consistently throughout the day and we had a good win."
Midfielder Matt Goodyear had his best game of the season for Gisborne, while the Bulldogs' forwards caused plenty of headaches, with Jake Conolan, Jack Scanlon and Pat McKenna kicking 14 goals between them.
The Bloods' cause wasn't helped by injuries to forward Kaiden Antonowicz (head) and defenders Joel Swatton (hamstring) and Zac Hare (leg).
South Bendigo coach Nathan Horbury said the Bulldogs were the best side the Bloods have played this year.
"Swatton and Hare had roles on Scanlon and McKenna, so that didn't help,'' Horbury said.
"Kaiden was taken out in a contest and was spitting up blood, so we didn't want to take the risk of putting him back on.
"Gisborne were very good in the contest and they were a bit too classy for us."
Kangaroo Flat v Kyneton
Kangaroo Flat broke through for its first win under new coach Rob Bennett when it defeated Castlemaine by 50 points at Dower Park.
The final margin could have bene much greater, but the Roos struggled in front of goal.
Key forward Matt Boland kicked 1.7 in the 10.15 (75) to 3.7 (25) win.
"We should have opened the game up more in the third quarter,'' Bennett said.
"We went forward a lot, but couldn't convert our chances."
The Roos led by one goal at half-time and 18 points at the final change before putting the Pies away with a five-goal to none last quarter.
"It was a relief (to win), but it was also reward for the good things the boys have been doing,'' Bennett said.
"Everything that we set out to do the boys achieved for probably three-and-a-half quarters.
"I was pleased with the way they stuck to the task and got the reward at the end."
While the Roos have a 1-4 record, they haven't been the easiest team to score against.
They restricted the Magpies to three goals on Saturday, with all three coming in a 10-minute period of the second quarter.
"A big focus of ours is to be defensive-minded first and then attack when we do have the footy,'' Bennett said.
"We had our strongest back six of the season for this game and they're getting used to playing with each other.
"I thought they set up really well behind the footy."
For the Roos, Nick Lang dominated in the ruck and midfield ace Jono Lanyon took advantage.
Defender Matt Despott restricted Castlemaine star Angus Monfries to two goals. Monfries left the ground late in the second quarter with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, but returned in the second half.
John Watson, Matt Filo and key defender Damian Atkins were best for the Magpies, who slipped to a 0-5 record.
Strathfieldsaye v Kyneton
The Strathfield Storm show rolled on at Tannery Lane on Saturday.
The unbeaten Storm dished out a 134-point hiding to Kyneton, 23.24 (162) to 4.4 (28).
The Storm's headline act Lachlan Sharp was at his brilliant best with 12 goals.
"Sharpy finished with 12.7 or 12.8, so he should have kicked a few more,'' Storm coach Troy Coates said.
Shannon Geary, who was playing his 150th game for the Storm, and younger brother Kallen provided great drive off half-back.
Shannon Geary went forward in the final quarter and kicked a couple of goals, much to the delight of his Storm team-mates.
"Shannon has had a decorated career with club, so it was great to have a win like that in his milestone game,'' Coates said.
Midfielder Sam Heavyside continued his great form for the Storm, while young duo Caleb Sheahan and Lachlan Gill were impressive.
The undermanned Tigers had no answers for the Storm's relentless pressure.
Patrick McCarthy, Josh Govan and Rhys Magin were their best players.
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