It was a big, big kick from Sebastian Walsh that sealed the deal in the dying minutes of the clash to give the Bulldogs a six-point win on enemy territory.

Hepburn led at every change – including a 19-point advantage at the main break – but was unable to hold on for victory.

There was plenty of push and shove and in one incident half-way through the second term, Bulldogs player Ken Cummings was red-carded and sent from the field.

But winners are grinners and Daylesford coach Marcus Goonan was a happy man after the final siren.

“I think we were always a chance of winning this game. And I said that all the way through. Like I said, we were a couple of weeks off,” he said in reference to comments he made after last round’s heavy loss to Beaufort.

“We squandered a lot of chances, which was disappointing. That made it really difficult.

“We like it a bit scrappy and probably the best thing was that rain. That probably helped us.”

Hepburn coach Jason Olver said his side had some injury woes after the clash.

“We’ve got a couple of injuries from incidents off the ball which we need to have a little look at,” Olver said.

“There was a red card, but that was fine. I didn’t think too much about that one. Not that I saw it...I don’t know enough about that one.

“We’ll look at them and take it from there, I suppose.”

Hepburn’s performance left a sour taste for Olver.

“Our players got a bit too far ahead of themselves. They were second to be ball and it made them look like a very ordinary football side.”

Elsewhere on Saturday, Beaufort produced another impressive performance to beat Bungaree by 53 points on home soil.

The Crows put the foot down after a sloppy first half, blitzing the Demons with 10 goals to three in the third and fourth terms.

Tim Haase starred for the victors with six goals, while reigning Geoff Taylor Medal winner David Benson was good in the ruck and around the ground to be one of Bungaree’s standouts.

Clunes made it two wins from two games in 2017 with a one-point success against Creswick on Saturday, while other teams to triumph included Buninyong, Gordon, Waubra, Learmonth and Springbank.