Following on from their home win over Kyneton in round seven, the Princes Park Pies stretched their lead at Dower Park from eight points at half-time to 43 by the last change.

Playing coach Ben Lavars agreed that the dominant five-goal third term had been the catalyst for the Pies.

"We'd played in patches in those first two quarters - played some good footy and some bad footy, too - but we really wanted to put a whole good term together,'' Lavars said.

"And we did. They've got some really good midfielders, so we were fortunate enough to get on top in that third quarter."

Related: Photo gallery - Kangaroo Flat v Maryborough

Stewart Crameri ranged all over the field for Maryborough from deep in the forward line to the full-back zone and finished with four goals.

Jacob Long and Liam Latch each nailed three goals for the Pies with Matt Boland's four majors the Roos' best in Maryborough's 17.16 (118) to 13.10 (88) win.

The Flat was well in the contest for the opening half. Down by 14 points at the first change the Roos outscored the Pies in the second term, 5.3 to 4.3.

Even though young Maryborough forwards Latch, Jordan Fraser and Long bobbed up regularly in their front half, Dylan Klemm, Daniel Dempster and Kobe Brown replied with important goals for the Roos.

Flat's tough run-with player Ross Turner shut down Matt Bilton yet without much of a contribution from Bilton the Pies had a better spread of goalkickers.

That was really on display in the third term. Luke Bucknall, Bodie Malone and Lachlan Butler kept pumping the ball into the Station Street end forward 50.

And Crameri, Jayden Templeton (2) and Fraser made the most of their opportunities to drill important majors.

At the scoreboard end the visitors' backline restricted the Flat to just three behinds. Daniel Vadala's run and carry out of the defensive 50 inspired his team-mates with the Roos held goalless.

Bilton finally broke clear of Turner and even though he was slung in a tackle still got boot to ball to nail his only goal of the afternoon.

The home side did look a lot more cohesive in the last quarter. They added 6.3 to 4.2 as Corey Greer, Boland (2) and Matthew Despott - from point blank range in the goal square - got his second for the day.

Greer's major was important. He drove home a Flat goal two minutes in to revitalise the home side and that seemed to galvanise the Roos.

But Latch and Long - as they'd done match-long - nailed vital majors to ensure the Magpies stayed in control. It was Maryborough skipper Coby Perry who picked out Long with a perfect pass for the goal which steadied the Pies.

Maryborough hosts Strathfieldsaye next week, while Kangaroo Flat is away to Eaglehawk.

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