In a week in which Clunes’ future within the Central Highlands Football League has been widely discussed – after it was revealed the club is considering its options due to the difficulty of competing at senior level – the Magpies almost pulled off an upset of epic proportions against the reigning premier.

While Clunes fell to a six-point defeat at the hands of Bungaree, close encounters such as this are all too uncommon in the competition.

In the three rounds this season, the average winning margin across the nine games has been more than 50 points. 

A total of 13 matches have been decided by more than 50 points, with four reaching buffers of more than 100 points.

Round two was the most one-sided of the weekends this season, with an average winning margin of 74.1 points.

Of course, in any league there are always going to be blowout results, but the frequency of these floggings is not good for anyone who truly cares about the health of the 18-team competition.

Let’s compare those results to that of the Ballarat Football League, which has played two rounds so far in 2015.

The round-one matches were decided by an average of 37.6 points, and round two on Anzac Day by 28.2 points.

Meanwhile, over in the Maryborough Castlemaine district league – which the Magpies might one day look to join – round one was decided, on average, by 27.9 points, and round two by 61.7 points.

It’s hard to read too much into these figures so early in the year, but it’s also hard to argue against the need for the Central Highlands board of management to have a good look at the reasons behind Clunes’ rumblings and whether there might be a better format for the 18-team league.

It’s unlikely the Magpies are the only ones with concerns.