Long season ahead for two EDFL clubs
A LONG season ahead looms for Nilma-Darnum and Catani, with both crashing to heavy defeats in round eight of Ellinbank District football.
The might of an Ellinbank side returning to full flight in its bid to quickly race back up the ladder proved overwhelming for the struggling Bombers.
Ellinbank were in control from the outset, killing the contest by quarter time with 14 goals to one.
The pain didn't stop there with Mark Vassett filling his boots with 16 majors on the way to Ellinbank winning 41-13 (259) to 4-4 (28).
Ten Ellinbank players shared in the scoring with the third term particularly brutal, the visitors putting 18 goals over the goal umpires' hat.
Such was the percentage boost the Bankers leapfrogged three teams into third place on the ladder. Its closer to where pundits would have expected them to be following their slow start to the season.
Joining Vassett in the better players were Zachery Holton, Liam Anderson, Daniel Pratt, Anthony Battista and Ryan Atherton.
Nathan Campbell, Munashe Munjoma, Nick Carrigy, Oxley Huson, Harley Lacunes and Korey Carrison battled away for the Bombers.
BULN BULN bounced back following consecutive losses to record a strong win over Catani, 28-19 (187) to 4-1 (25).
The Lyrebirds booted 10 goals to no score in the first term and were never headed.
While the Blues tightened the contest in the second term, adding two goals to three, the home side put the foot down in the second half to add some much-needed percentage.
Just percentage separates second-placed Trafalgar from fifth-placed Longwarry.
The Lyrebirds added seven goals in the third term and finished strongly with eight majors in the fourth as Tim Stoll stepped up to finish with seven goals.
Hayden Baker continued his role with four goals, while defender Sam Batson enjoyed an opportunity to score to also finish with four majors.
Trent Baker, Jake Pierrehumbert and Matthew Gray were also among the best.
Catani were best served by William Mcgindle, Brett Williams, Chris Power, Michael Ralph, Nathaniel Rodda and Lachlan Free.
A THIRD quarter surge helped Poowong put itself back in the reckoning for a finals berth, overcoming Lang Lang 9-14 (68) to 6-9 (45).
In a seesawing first half, the Magpies hit back in the second term to close the margin to just two points after the Tigers made a strong start with four goals to one in the first.
The Magpies then made their move in the third term to open a 28-point buffer at the final change.
Poowong held firm despite the Tigers winning the final term for an important result to move ahead of its fellow aspirant on the ladder.
The Magpies join the Tigers on one game outside the top five, both having a superior percentage over fifth-placed Longwarry.
Jack Hazendonk, Thomas Robertson, William Lumby, Kurt Newton, Mitchell Vanthof and Jared Mills helped the Magpies to victory.
Keeping the Tigers in the contest were Jackson Ventura, Tyler Guan, Daniel Lewis, Brody Leitch, Brock Duggan and Joshua Brown.