Demons keep in touch with five
Koo wee rup kept in touch with the West Gippsland football top five, with a strong second half helping them to edge out Bunyip 12-17 (89) to 9-7 (61).
The Demons continued their recent habit of coming from behind at half time, scoring eight goals to three after the main break to comfortably take the match in the end.
Better accuracy had allowed the Bulldogs to take a nine-point lead at half time and were still in touch at the final change before the Demons ran the game out better.
The loss consigned Bunyip to a 0-5 start, sitting at the bottom of the ladder.
Mitchell Collins and Anthony Giuliano each kicked three goals for the Demons, with Ben Kerrigan, Nathan Muratore, Troy Dolan, Jesse Hand, Rory Connelly and Lachlan Walden also prominent.
Jason Fisher was the main target up forward for Bunyip, finishing with four goals. Other better players for the Bulldogs were Ben Jostlear, Joel Gibson, Sam O’Sullivan, Jeb McLeod and Nathan Lieshout.
Cobras outright third
Cora Lynn moved to outright third on the ladder, but had to fight hard against a winless Korumburra-Bena in atrocious conditions, 7-19 (61) to 6-17 (53).
Both sides had difficulty scoring goals at Korumburra Showgrounds, with the home team taking a narrow 1-10 to 2-2 lead into half time following a second term where both sides failed to score.
The match opened up in the third term, the Giants kicking five goals to four to take a six-point lead into the final change and threaten to cause a boilover.
But the Cobras were able to attack in the final term, adding 1-9 while restricting the Giants to one behind.
Ryan Gillis kicked two goals in a difficult day to score, while William Thomas, Jackson Dalton, Kevin Vandenberghe, Chris Johnson and Brayden Weller also helped to will the Cobras across the line.
Ben Fitzpatrick, Brock Dorling, Michael Cooke, Luke Van Rooye, John Amaya and Cameron Trewin ensured the Giants were competitive until the end.
Magpies flying
Dalyston comfortably accounted for Nar Nar Goon, 15-8 (98) to 4-6 (30).
The Magpies kept the Goon to one goal each quarter, and had the match well and truly in their keeping at threequarter-time with a 50-point lead.
With all the early season hype centred around Inverloch-Kongwak and Kilcunda Bass, the Magpies have been flying under the radar and sit at the top of the table undefeated.
Michael Kraska kicked five goals, while Kyle Kirk, Dean Wylie, Blake Carew, Michael Marotta, Darcy Brosnan and Todd Burley also helped the Magpies score a big win.
The Goon were best served by Brent Hughes, Matthew Stevens, Zac Stewart, Trent Armour and Nicholas Henwood.
Island in five
Phillip Island recovered from a slow start to overcome Garfield and climb into the top five, winning 10-10 (70) to 7-7 (49).
With a spot in the top five up for grabs, the Stars took an 11-point lead into quarter time, but the Bulldogs had the edge from that point. Kicking four goals to one in the second term to hit the front, the Island held a narrow lead from that point.
Jack Taylor kicked four goals, while Hayden Moore, Jaymie Youle, Rhett O’Hara, Jarrod Witnish and Aaron Edwards also helped keep the Stars at bay.
Darcy Payne kicked four goals for the Stars, with Ned Marsh, Tyson Payne, Jarryd Drew, Dean Johnson, Angus Mitchell and Jonathan Sauze keeping the visitor in the contest.
Panthers too good
In the match that many West Gippsland football fans and pundits had been waiting for, Kilcunda-Bass proved too strong for Inverloch-Kongwak, 1115 (81) to 6-7 (43).
The Panthers held a nine-point lead at half time, with the match between the two sides billed as competition front runners living up to its hype to that point.
A blistering third term by the Panthers left the Sea Eagles stunned on their home ground, the visitor slamming home seven goals to two to open up a 45-point lead and have the match in their keeping.
The match petered out in the final term, the Panthers leaving having made a statement.
Luke James led the third quarter charge, finishing with three majors. Chris Endres, Daniel Mock, Aiden Paton, Danny Wells and Angus Harrison also helped the Panthers build a big lead.
Shem Hawking, Clinton McCaughan, Lewis Rankin, Ryan Sparkes, Cameron Allum and Corey Casey kept the Sea Eagles in the match to half time.