By Tim O'Connor

A depleted Dunnstown couldn’t match the might of Buninyong, slumping to a heavy defeat on home soil on Saturday.

The Towners, which were missing a number of key players through injury and unavailability, booted just two goals in the 55-point loss.

Onballer Sam Russell was a standout for the Bombers and was named their best, while Jake Dunne, Jarrod Rodgers and Jack Romeril all kicked two goals.

Winning coach Jarrod Morgan said it was a good even performance from his charges, which now get set for a huge home encounter against red-hot Beaufort next weekend.

Dunnstown coach Justin Abrams said his team was good defensively – conceding just three goals in the second half – but struggled to score with important players out of the line-up.

Joe Stefani and Jackson Brown were rated the best players for the Towners, which travel to take on Ballan next Saturday.

Hepburn 12.22 (94) d Bungaree 12.11 (83)

By Tim O'Connor

Hepburn had 11 more scoring shots than Bungaree on Saturday, but only managed to sneak home by 11 points at the final siren.

The Demons even hit the lead during the last quarter, but couldn’t hold on as the reigning premiers kicked clear to continue an unbeaten start to the title defence.

Andy McKay again starred with three goals, while brother Brad also kicked a trio of majors.

The Demons lost defender Jason Linke – named for his first game of the year – in the warm-up with a hamstring injury, while key forward Cameron Jackson hurt his ankle during the match.

Forward Luke Mirtschin kicked five goals, while Matt Geary went into attack and converted two to be one of the Demons’ best.

Newlyn 13.11 (89) d Rokewood-Corindhap 5.11 (41)

By Tim O'Connor

Newlyn broke clear inside the first half to deal Rokewood-Corindhap a 48-point defeat on Saturday.

The Cats were led by ruckman Jarrod Fryar as well as Dylan Fishwick (three goals) and Dan Wehrung (two goals).

Grasshoppers coach Damon Delaney was pleased with the efforts of young Marcus Rainsford, who started on a wing and then marked Wehrung. Jackson O’Neil was another standout for the hosts in defence.

Springbank 7.7 (49) d Ballan 6.4 (40)

By Tim O'Connor

Ballan remains winless in 2018 after another gallant defeat on Saturday.

The Blues pushed Springbank, but eventually fell to a nine-point loss at Wallace.

Michael Searl was arguably best for the winners in attack, while Sam Hitchings and Matt Rollo were good for the visitors.

The Blues lost key onballer Darren Tanti early in the game to a hamstring injury and he looks likely to be sidelined for the round four clash with Dunnstown next weekend.

Carngham-Linton 15.14 (104) d Clunes 8.12 (60)

By Tim O'Connor

Carngham-Linton snapped up its opportunity to inflict more pain on a battling Clunes outfit, winning Saturday’s encounter by 44 points.

The Saints had been beaten by Creswick and Springbank in the early rounds, but proved too good for the Magpies at Linton.

Carngham-Linton led the contest by just two points at half time and extended that advantage to 16 points by the final change. A six-goals-to-two last term put the icing on the cake and secured the team’s first win of the season.

Saints coach Matt Beaston said his players were starting to become more predictable to each other and show better cohesion.

“What we are putting in place as a coaching group is starting to work with the playing group,” Beaston told The Courier.

Carngham-Linton onballer Beau Ketchen was best for the winners and collected the ANZAC medal for his efforts, while Beaston also praised the performances of defender James Nichols and Wayne Bruty, who played through the midfield and down back.

Ross Waters and Luke Parker were the main dangers in attack, kicking four and three goals respectively.

The result was the third defeat in succession for the Magpies, which appear set for a long season.

Mark Paramonov booted two goals for Clunes, which rated Mykel Smith and Lachlan Wrigley as the standout performers.

From next weekend things really start to get hard for the Magpies, which have games against Springbank and Learmonth split by the bye.

Carngham-Linton has the bye next Saturday before another home clash against Learmonth in round five. The Saints then travel to take on Newlyn.

Waubra 14.12 (96) d Daylesford 6.12 (48)

By Tim O'Connor

Waubra got some revenge on its elimination final loss to Daylesford last year with a convincing 48-point victory on home soil.

Daylesford led the contest at half time and trailed by just 11 points at the final change before Waubra stormed clear with seven majors in the last quarter.

James Lukich and Dean Robertson played well for the Roos, while coach Zac Tisdale booted five of the Bulldogs’ six goals. Emlyn Nettleton was another standout for the visitors.

Beaufort 14.12 (96) d Gordon 7.5 (47)

By Tim O'Connor

As quick as a flash, Beaufort had settled Saturday’s battle with Gordon.

The red-hot Crows showed those at the ground why they’re regarded as one of the key Central Highlands Football League premiership contenders with a damaging first quarter display.

Beaufort simply dominated the opening term, with the hosts' pressure, play-on-at-all-costs style and classy ball movement resulting in an eight-goals-to-zip lead at the change.

From there, things tightened up, but the Eagles were never able to mount a serious challenge for the lead.

“The boys were sensational early,” Crows coach Rohan Brown said.

“It was a focus of ours. We have probably been a little bit off in that area the last two weeks, so the boys put it on themselves as a group to really start well in the first 15 minutes of every quarter.

“The way they moved the ball, they attacked the contest and the pressure was outstanding.”

Tim Haase was brilliant as a lead-up forward for the winners, kicking five goals, while prime movers Tom Stapleton and Nick Sullivan and defender Brendan Howard were among the many Crows players to shine.

Gordon was disappointing, but the likes of Matt Raworth and Tye Murphy had strong games in the midfield and Taylem Wason collected plenty of the ball in defence. Mick Nolan was another to give plenty of effort and he performed well around the ground.

Sullivan, who has joined the Crows as an assistant coach to Brown this year, said the team started the match with a high level of intensity.

“I reckon they (Gordon) might have been just slightly off, but we knew they were going to come all day. There was never going to be a period where they would throw the towel in,” Sullivan told The Courier.

“We knew we were in for a four-quarter performance and to come away with that scoreline, we would have taken it at the start of the day.”

Gordon coach Ron Watt admitted it was an impressive display from the Beaufort side.

“No doubt that they are a really good team and they just showed us how we need to play in the first quarter,” Watt said.

Watt said he was disappointed by his charges’ inability to stop the Crows’ outside run in the opening term, but pleased the side could stem the flow of Beaufort goals after quarter time.

Next Saturday, Gordon is at home to reigning premiers Hepburn and Beaufort must make the trip to take on Buninyong.

Learmonth 17.13 (115) d Skipton 3.6 (24)

By John McGregor

​Learmonth gave Skipton a hit to its aspirations on Saturday with a 91-point drubbing.

The Lakies were unstoppable and unravelled the Emus’ confidence after a promising first-up win for the Central Highlands Football League season in round one.

It was Learmonth which had the poise and daring to take on Skipton at home and demolish all challenges.

Lakies players rampaged across all lines – defence, midfield and up forward.

Leading the assault on the scoreboard was Brenton Powell with five goals and coach Nick Willox with four.

Hungry for action were Vincent White and Todd Curran, who bagged two each, while singles went to Jake O’Donnell, Jason Rae, Brodrick Campbell and James Pratt.

No surprise that Powell, Rae and Willox led the club’s best on ground votes, ably backed up by skipper Kyle Mackay, Zac Tunbridge and Dylan Page.

A serious eye injury saw Jackson taken by ambulance to hospital, while Pratt was helped from the field with an ankle issue in the first half and didn’t return.

Skipton was pumped going into this clash, but will have to go back to the drawing board after a comprehensive defeat.

After a torrid 10 minutes at the start of the first term where it seemed the game could go any way, it was Learmonth that kicked away.

Skipton’s Andrew Pitson booted his side’s first goal in the first quarter, but the Emus could only manage another two from Kal Dubbeldam for the rest of the afternoon.

Among the Emus’ best were Xavier Lourey, Josh Draffin, Jack Peeters, Andrew Fay and Mike Young.

Willox saw “good signs” in the Lakies’ victory.

“Everyone’s starting to understand their role in the team. Whether you’re forward putting the pressure on or in the midfield working back helping out the backline. They’re all starting to gel together,” he said.

Skipton coach Greg Middleton said he was still “willing his charges on” going into the last quarter of the match.

“We played pretty poorly. I don’t mind losing if we play alright. But, as bad as we were at three-quarter-time, we could’ve closed in on them, held them and got within five or six goals,” Middleton said.

The second-straight victory sees the Lakies sixth on the ladder, while the defeat leaves the Emus in ninth position.

Looking ahead and Learmonth has a run of winnable games against Creswick, Carngham-Linton and Clunes, while Skipton has a more difficult sequence that includes battles with Newlyn, Daylesford and Bungaree.