READ MORE - NCFL - "It was a tough decision to make being a proud club, but it's one that we stand by": Demons forfeit with no crowds

READ MORE - Saturday Scoreboard, July 31, 2021

FOR the second time in seven weeks Lockington-Bamawm United has demolished White Hills by more than 130 points in a Heathcote District league fizzer.

This time, though, the Demons have no alibi for the hammering they copped off the Cats at Lockington when - unlike their June 12 meeting when they were unable to play their key contingent of Melbourne-based players - they had no restrictions on who they could select.

Even with the Demons fielding a superior team for the re-match, the Cats' winning margin of 134 points narrowly eclipsed the 133 points they won by in round seven.

The 28.11 (179) to 6.9 (45) romp only further enhances the undefeated Cats' standing as the clear premiership favourite, while it continues a worrying slide for the Demons, who following a 6-0 start are now 2-4 in their past six games - during which their percentage has dropped from 241.4 to 120.4 - and have now lost their position in the top three.

It was a day of blowouts in the re-start of the competition following the two-week pause with the four games decided by margins of 134, 129, 121 and 75 points.

In their first game for 28 days given they also had the bye the week before the latest season standstill, the Cats showed no rust, blowing the Demons off the park early with an eight goal to one first quarter.

With 8.4 on the board at quarter-time, the Cats already had what would prove to be a winning score given the Demons could muster just 6.9 for the game.

The ruthless Cats showed no let-up on the Demons, adding seven goals in the second quarter, seven in the third and six in the last.

"To start the way we did was really pleasing... the boys were fresh and raring to go on our home deck," LBU coach Brodie Collins said.

"We played a good brand of footy for four quarters; the work-rate was there and you could see the boys had been putting in the hard yards over the past couple of weeks. Everyone played their role. That was the key and always will be for us."

The Cats - missing only Trent Bacon and Tom Holman from their best side - had no shortage of avenues to goal, with 12 players hitting the scoreboard.

Thomas Leech and Anthony McMahon booted four each and both were among the Cats' best players.

A dismal day for White Hills was further compounded by star forward Jed Lamb (two goals) being yellow carded following a scuffle, plus an ankle injury to Nathan Moffat and centre half-forward Kris Bedford concussed.

"Unfortunately, we just had too many passengers today and too much left to too few," said Demons coach Sam Kerridge, who was named his side's best.

"It was one of those days where what could have gone wrong did. We had a couple of injuries and at one stage were down to 17 on the field because of a yellow card, which doesn't help when you're playing a quality side like Lockington."

The Demons are only a shadow of the free-scoring team that averaged 136 points in their opening six games before the first lockdown pause. In their past six games since they have managed scores of just 45, 50, 65, 64, 53 and 34.

"We're obviously in a bit of a form slump at the moment... we're leaving too much to too few and getting found out," Kerridge said.

"Over the next few weeks we'll find out just how much it means to the boys.

"We know our best is good enough, we showed that in the first half of the year. We've just got to get our mojo back."

The Demons don't have long to regain their spark given they only have two games left before finals.

Reigning premier North Bendigo continues to build ominously towards another finals campaign, with the Bulldogs forcing their way into the top three.

The Bulldogs recorded their biggest win of the season with a 129-point thrashing of Elmore.

North Bendigo had 47 scoring shots to 13 in its 22.25 (157) to 3.10 (28) win at Elmore, which was spearheaded by a seven-goal bag and best-on-ground performance from gun forward Dylan Klemm.

It could have also been a big day in front of the sticks for fellow Bulldogs' forward Shane Harris, who finished with a wayward 1.11.

"It's always hard coming back after a couple of weeks off, so it was good that we were able to put together a strong performance today," North Bendigo coach Matt Dillon said.

The Bulldogs raced to a 34-point lead at quarter-time and extended their advantage at every break as they beat the Bloods for the 18th-consecutive time.

Klemm has been one of the recruits of the season in the HDFNL, with the athletic forward with strong hands having now been named the Bulldogs' best player in six games, while also kicking 31 goals, including two bags of seven against the Bloods.

"Klemmy was super for us and finished off his work with seven goals," Dillon said.

"Sugar (Harris) was also a really good target for us... he would have taken close to 15 marks, but had one of those days where he finished with 1.11."

Aarryn Craig was a prolific ball-winner and also kicked three goals as his stellar season continued, while Mani Thalasinos was another in the engine room to provide plenty of Bulldogs' drive.

The Bloods, whose score of 28 was their lowest of the season, could muster just one goal in each of the first, second and last quarters.

Matthew Nettlefold and Zac Laffy were named best.

Mount Pleasant retained its cherished Cliff and Peter White Shield with a 121-point thrashing of Heathcote at home.

The Blues kicked their highest score since 2007 in their commanding 27.13 (175) to 8.6 (54) win.

The trio of Ben Weightman (seven), Rhys Deacon (five) and Daniel Whiting (four) were able to cash in on the dominance of the Blues' midfield to combine for 16 goals.

The trio were among 11 goalkickers for the Blues, who have now recorded back-to-back triple-figure wins after beating Leitchville-Gunbower by 104 points in their last game before the season pause.

"We had some momentum going into the COVID break and it was good to pick our form up from where we left off," Blues coach Darren Walsh said.

"To me that shows we had blokes keeping themselves fit and doing the right things during the break.

"Our mids today led by Liam Collins, Adam Baird and Billy Mahony were fantastic and it was good to be able to kick the score we did.

"It was a big day for the club being the Cliff and Peter White Shield match and to retain that was really important. It means a lot to us as a club."

The Saints were best served by Billy Price and Thomas Pain (two goals).

Huntly notched its fifth win of the season with a 75-point victory at home over Leitchville-Gunbower.

For the second game in a row triple Cheatley medallist Ryan Semmel kicked five goals for the Hawks in their 16.17 (113) to 6.2 (38) win.

Kyle Hawken (three goals) and assistant coach Tyler Miles also played leading roles in the victory against a young Bombers side that had five players doubling up from the under-18s.

"It's a credit to those five boys to back up from the under-18s and play again in the seniors," Bombers coach Cameron Van Florestein said.

"Oskar Smartt was best-on in the under-18s and then came up and got best-on in the seniors playing all over the ground as a 15-year-old, which was an incredible effort.

"James Barratt was another of those young players who doubled up and did well for us.

"All the boys are working really hard... I can't ask any more of them."

It was a milestone day for veteran Bombers' ruckman Lee Pollock, who played his 350^th career senior game and featured among the side's best players.

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