Round nine of Kyabram District League senior football served as a proving ground for the elite teams to stamp out another set of challengers, and that’s exactly what happened across Saturday’s play.
A post from the Country Footy Scores Facebook page highlighted the Kyabram District competition as throwing up some of the highest average winning margins anywhere in Victoria, and we saw a fair few beatings this weekend as well.
Top side Murchison-Toolamba led the charge, overcoming a less than dominant start at home to Tallygaroopna and putting the foot down before too much doubt could creep in.
Holding its foe scoreless after the long break, Aidan Lloyd outshone brother James up front for Murchison-Toolamba with five majors in a resounding 13.15 (93) to 2.3 (15) win that could have been by plenty more.
Not to be overshadowed, though, fellow unbeaten side Lancaster embarked on an early slog of its own before similarly pulling away at home to Dookie United.
Zac Cerrone’s explosive goal-kicking touch remained white-hot, now having amassed 27 from his past three games, as Lancaster put up six unanswered goals in the final term to stroll home 15.12 (102) to 5.4 (34).
Coach Tom Davies was pleased to see his side pick up its rhythm over the course of the day.
“Based on past results, we probably expected to be able to put a score on the board if we played our best footy,” Davies said.
“With that said, I thought the scoreboard didn’t totally reflect the contest; Dookie had its fair share of play, but we were able to capitalise on some things in defence.
“It’s just good to play four quarters of consistent footy.”
Of course, special mention had to be made of the man in form as Cerrone blasted his way into the upper echelon of the league goal-kicking charts with a bag of nine against the Thunder.
“Zac’s been a good player for a long time and I think he goes under the radar,” Davies said.
“He’s a three-time best-and-fairest and he’s won our goal-kicking multiple times. He hasn’t traditionally polled well on the league medal night, but I’d hope the umpires start to recognise him.
“He’s been doing it for a while, but never really got that recognition. Hopefully he gets rewarded for his form at the moment.”
Davies keenly looks ahead to the Wombats’ remaining fixtures after the league bye, featuring a handful of clashes that may serve as September previews.
“In that run home, I think we play every side from third to seventh at least once,” Davies said.
“It’s a tougher run, but it means we can build ourselves into finals.
“Shepp East in the final round could be for a top two spot, so we’ve got a lot of quality opposition left to come.”
Speaking of said quality opposition, the Eagles peppered the goals all day long in a thorough beating of Rushworth, notching 37 scoring shots in the wet as three goals to Shannon Campbell and Jordan Gattuso set up a 15.22 (112) to 2.2 (14) thumping.
The result keeps Shepparton East a half-game back from the leading pair once more, but grand finalist Nagambie could pose a sterner threat after the bye.
For the talk of lopsided margins, though, those Lakers served up a proper tussle in the wet on their trip to Stanhope in a clash between two sides in finals places.
Nagambie rebounded from seven straight first-term behinds to set up a classic finish, but the Lions held on to take fourth — at least temporarily — in a 7.8 (50) to 5.18 (48) win.
Harley Constable stole the show for Merrigum in welcoming bottom-placed Undera to the Kennel, with his seven majors powering the Bulldogs to a handy 16.15 (111) to 3.6 (24) result that keeps them knocking on the door for now.
In Saturday’s other result, Girgarre separated itself from Violet Town on the day and on the ladder with a second win of 2024, comfortably prevailing 13.15 (93) to 7.4 (46).
Sunday’s final game of the round saw a derby on the Goulburn Valley’s south end as Avenel sought to reclaim fourth from Stanhope on the road at Longwood.
The Swans duly saluted, taking back their original position by running away after half-time to triumph 15.20 (110) to 7.6 (48).
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