The much anticipated clash between two HDFNL premiership contenders was a fizzer on Saturday.
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Lockington-Bamawm United flexed its muscle with a resounding 95-point win over Colbinabbin.
While the Grasshoppers were missing some key players, the 19.9 (123) to 4.4 (28) scoreline was a shock.
After being frustrated at the way his side played in round one, LBU coach Brodie Collins had a broad smile on his face after round Saturday's performance.
"We finally hit our targets and clicked,'' Collins said.
"We made a good start and it was pleasing to see the boys play the way we want to play.
"Colbo had quite a few players out, so we need to find a way to play like that week-in and week-out."
The Cats kicked five goals to none in the opening term and by half-time led by 40 points.
Colbo's Sam Vale was yellow carded in the second quarter and spent 15 minutes on the bench.
Then in the third quarter he was red-carded and the Hoppers spent the rest of the match one player down.
Colbo's score of 4.4 (28) was its lowest total since round 14, 2013, when it kicked the same total - ironically against LBU.
"Our defence was really, really good,'' Collins said.
"The seven players that went through there used the footy well. They didn't just defend, they attacked as well.
Ruckman Bart Phillips had a great game for the Cats, while Jeremy Mundie, Thomas Leech (three goals) and Ben McPhee had big impacts.
On a tough day for the Hoppers, Jed Brain, Steve Tuohey and Hugh McMurtie were their best players.
After only winning one game in 2019, the Huntly Hawks are on the board already in 2021.
The Hawks scored a 13.7 (85) to 9.11 (65) win over Heathcote at Strauch Reserve on Saturday.
"2019 was a lean year for us in terms of wins, so it's nice to get one early,'' Huntly coach Stacy Fiske said.
"Hopefully we'll continue to improve. We've got about 11 new players in the team this year, so it will take us a while to click.
"We'll continue to work hard on things and get better every week."
The Hawks appeared to have the game in control when they led by 32 points at the last break.
However, Heathcote made a charge early in the final quarter and the Hawks needed to dig deep to stop the visitors' momentum.
"In the last quarter Heathcote has a good run on to get within 10 points,'' Fiske said.
"They're a good young team who run hard, so we needed a couple of late goals to get that buffer back.
"I think they'll cause some damage this year. They're a well-structured team."
For the second game in a row midfielder Blayne Ryan-Storey was the standout player for the Hawks.
"In our stats he had 31 possessions, seven tackles and a goal, so that's a pretty good day,'' Fiske said of Ryan-Story.
Jaydon Cowling, Jordan Formosa, Tyler Miles and Jay McDonald also played well for the Hawks.
Heathcote has opened with two competitive performances, but has now wins to show for it.
The Saints best on Saturday were Billy Price, Jake Condon and Ryan Bailey.
North Bendigo coach Matt Dillon said his side has plenty to work on ahead of next week's clash with White Hills.
The Bulldogs scored a 13.14 (92) to 9.13 (67) win over Leitchville-Gunbower at Leitchville on Saturday.
It was far from a clinical performance from the Bulldogs as the young Bombers put up a fight for four quarters.
"We were really wasteful with the footy all day,'' Dillon said.
"We had a chance to get on top early, but we didn't do that and left them hanging in the game.
"To Leitchy's credit they ran hard all day and played the big ground really well.
"We had a lot of the footy, but like last week we were wasteful with it.
"I think we have a side that can use the footy well, so that's something we've got to work on.
"We have to work on our discipline as well because we gave away a lot of free kicks, particularly in our front half. We probably gave away five or six 50m penalties as well.
"It wasn't an exciting win, but we had five first-gamers and they stood up really well."
Premiership player Lachlan Ford suffered a shoulder injury that will put him on the sidelines for at least six weeks, while the Dogs also lost Sam Demeo in the warm-up, which meant Jack Towers made his senior debut after playing in the reserves match.
"It was one of those days where not a lot went right, but we managed to grind out a win,'' Dillon said.
Aarryn Craig, Ryan Gow, Bailey Wingrave and Jordan Ford were best for the Bulldogs.
Teenager Billy Hawken tormented the North defence with four goals to be the Bombers' best player.
Nathan McLellan, Will Brereton and Ayden Walton (four goals) also played well in a much improved effort from the Bombers.
Mount Pleasant co-coach Darren Walsh was happy to pocket the four points in his side's first game of the season against Elmore.
However, the way his side played in the 18.15 (123) to 12.9 (81) victory left Walsh a little frustrated.
"We were far from at our best, but we got the win,'' Walsh said.
"Our intensity was disgraceful in the first quarter. Elmore were really good early and we were beaten around the clearances in the first quarter. We had to give the boys a bit of a spray at quarter time.
"Once we got dirty in the midfield things started to flow for us."
After scores were level at quarter-time, Mounts led by 13 points at half-time and then broke the game open with a seven-goal third term.
Forwards Rhys Deacon and Ben Weightman proved a headache for Elmore all day, kicking 10 goals between them.
Recruit Jack Hamilton, who signed from Pascoe Vale earlier in the week, was best afield with a strong performance in the midfield.
Mounts' cause wasn't helped by the loss of Luke Marchesi (head knock) in the opening seconds of the match.
After a tough three-game stretch to open the season, Elmore has the bye next weekend and an opportunity to regroup.
The Bloods' first half was the best football they've played in the opening three games, but they couldn't maintain the intensity for four quarters against a quality line-up.
Big man Dylan Gordon continued his bright start to the year for Elmore, while their latest recruit Aloysio Ferreira also showed some class with two goals on debut.
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