Travelling to Violet Town on Sunday afternoon for round 13 of the Kyabram District League senior football competition, the ladder-leading Lakers dished out a scarcely believable belting of the Towners to further inflate an already swollen percentage, with much of the damage done off the boot of Tom Barnes.
Celebrating his 50th club game with an incredible 23 goals, Barnes led the Lakers to a huge 47.18 (300) to 0.1 (1) demolition of the Towners, ensuring club stalwart and four-time senior premiership player Mark Nolan’s 250th outing in the red, white and black was capped off in style.
In an ominous start to proceedings, the Lakers booted 8.6 (54) in the first term while keeping the Towners scoreless, but ramped things up in the second term with a 12-goal haul, again restricting the home side to a scoreless quarter, as the scoreboard read 20.10 (130) to 0.0 (0) entering the sheds.
The Towners registered their sole behind for the game in the third term as the situation continued to devolve for the home side, with the Lakers proving insatiable in front of goal, slamming through another 11.6 to cross the 200-point barrier, leading 31.16 (202) to 0.1 (1) with a full quarter of football still to play.
Cruelly, Nagambie’s heaviest scoring term came in the final quarter, as the Lakers continued the relentless goal-fest.
With a stunning 16.2 (98) in the final term alone, the Lakers brought up 300 on the scoreboard at the final siren, sending out yet another reminder of their scoring potency, with eight players kicking multiple goals and 12 total hitting the scoreboard in the win.
But the day belonged to Barnes, whose 23-goal effort takes his season tally to 81 majors from 12 games, a stunning average of 6.75 goals per game, and puts him well within reach of the magical ton with four games remaining.
The feat is still some way short of the KDL’s senior goal-kicking record for a single game, though, which ironically belongs to a Violet Town player in Craig Whelan, who booted 34 goals in the Towners’ 56.22 (358) to 2.5 (17) defeat of Ardmona back in 2012.
Barnes was unsurprisingly named his side’s best in the win, closely followed by David Comi (one goal), Tom Preece (three goals), Blake McKinnon (two goals), Tyson Chapman and Kobi Maynard (four goals).
The win ensures the Lakers remain at the top of the ladder in a commanding position, boasting an 11-1 record and percentage of 432.44, as they look to close out the minor premiership.
Elsewhere, Lancaster crossed the 200-point threshold in a mammoth win over Girgarre, with Morrie Serra booting a perfect 10 in the Wombats’ 31.23 (209) to 2.2 (14) victory, helping them bounce back from their first defeat of the season last week.
Shepparton East also had a big win, accounting for Tallygaroopna on the road with a 17.10 (112) to 8.6 (54) triumph, while Stanhope claimed a solid 15.14 (104) to 13.6 (84) victory over Rushworth to put a game between themselves in sixth and Longwood in seventh.
The game of the round belonged to the clash between Undera and Longwood, though, with the Lions holding on in the face of a fierce Redlegs fightback in the final term to secure a 14.8 (92) to 13.13 (91) victory.
Sunday’s second fixture saw reigning premier Murchison-Toolamba score a huge win over Merrigum, prevailing 21.18 (144) to 3.5 (23), keeping the Bulldogs winless for yet another week.
