While the win — the Lakers’ seventh straight, all by more than 80 points, would have no doubt been pleasing, the fact that it came at Avenel’s expense would have been an added bonus for Nagamabie, which powered to the 18.14 (122) to 5.10 (40) triumph over the old rival at Nagambie Recreation Reserve.
But in the first half, and for the first time this season, Nagambie looked challenged.
It was the Swans who made the early running, kicking 3.2 (20) to not just match the Lakers in the first term, but lead them at the first huddle, as the home side sprayed a wayward 2.5 through the sticks to trail by three points at the break.
A four-goal-to-two second term the way of the Lakers, though, put them in front 42 to 32 by the main break, and while many were expecting the tight tussle to continue as the two sides resumed play, they were mistaken.
Anthony Haysom’s men blew the game to bits in the premiership quarter with a stunning eight goal display, all while restricting Avenel, which had started so well, to only two points, as the margin ballooned to an even 60 points at the final change.
The Lakers continued on their merry way in the last with another 4.4, while the Swans managed six points, in behinds, as they slumped to a goalless second half despite what had been such a promising start to the contest.
Former Shepparton Swan Tom Preece was named Nagambie’s best in the win, closely followed by game-high goal kicker Kobi Maynard, who booted four, while Paul Fry (one goal), Mark Nolan (one goal), Blake Fothergill (two goals) and Jack Threlfall rounded out the best.
Will Dalton, Lucas McKinnon (both three goals) and Tom Barnes (two goals) rounded out the multiple goal scorers for the Lakers.
For Avenel, Chayse Thomson was deemed the most influential in the loss, while coach Joshua Delaney was the only multiple goalscorer, booting two.
Elsewhere, while Murchison-Toolamba had enjoyed a solid start to the season, it hadn’t quite been the all-conquering Hoppers that the league had come to fear over the past few seasons.
That changed on Saturday, as the back-to-back reigning premier put together a commanding performance against Rushworth, obliterating the Tigers in a mammoth 31.13 (199) to 5.8 (38) victory on the road to quell any doubts about their form.
Travelling to Ironbark Stadium, the Hoppers booted the highest score the league has seen this season to earn the 161-point victory, eclipsing the 31.11 (197) Nagambie kicked in round seven, reminding the rest of the competition how potent they can be.
What makes the score even more remarkable, is that the Hoppers endured a relatively slow start.
Kicking 4.4 to 1.3 in the first term, Murchison-Toolamba led 28-9 at the first break, and few would have envisioned the scale of the devastation that was about to hit Rushworth, with the Tigers still very much in the contest only 17 points in arrears.
By half-time, though, the Tigers would surely have been switching to damage control mode, as the Hoppers blew the contest to smithereens.
A 9.4 quarter from the visitors was impressive in its own right, but the Hoppers restricted the Tigers to three points for the term at the same time, as the margin grew to an astonishing 74 points at the main break.
Murchison-Toolamba kept the foot down in the third term, if only slightly more subdued, kicking another 8.2 to see the advantage extend into triple figures and, while the Tigers managed to put another 2.1 on the board, it was turning into a dirty day, trailing by 111 points with a full term still to play.
Adding insult to injury, the Hoppers had saved their best for the final quarter, too.
A whopping 10.3 was added to the scoreboard by the visitors as they came tantalisingly close to crossing the 200-point barrier for the first time this season, falling short at 199 points, but still making a strong, loud statement, that their challengers will be forced to take notice of.
A pair of spearheads made the most of the day, too, with James and Aidan Lloyd notching double figure bags, kicking 11 and 10 majors, respectively, while taking their season tallies to 33 and 39 apiece to sit third and second, respectively, on the goal-kicking leaderboard.
Around the grounds, Longwood enjoyed a strong 16.15 (111) to 9.7 (61) win over Girgarre on the road, while Shepparton East claimed a big 106-point win over Merrigum at Central Park Recreation Reserve, but the 17.30 (132) to 4.2 (26) scoreline suggests some percentage may have been left on the table.
Stanhope sits on the cusp of the top six after securing the four points over Undera, winning 20.19 (139) to 13.4 (82) to move to seventh, only percentage behind sixth-placed Avenel, while Tallygaroopna sits one win back but with a game in hand following its victory over Violet Town on Saturday, triumphing 14.10 (94) to 11.6 (72).
