It won't erase the pain of last year's grand final defeat, but Buninyong marched to a comprehensive victory over Beaufort in a replay of the 2018 decider on Saturday.
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In a match that lacked excitement, the Bombers made easy work of the undermanned Crows, which were missing a large amount of first-choice players through injury and unavailability.
Buninyong got the early jump on the hosts and was never seriously troubled on its way to a 27-point win.
The result lifted the Bombers back into the Central Highlands Football League top eight and saw the reigning premiers drop to sixth.
Defender Jack Robertson was named Buninyong's best in his 100th senior game for the club.
Despite the win, Bombers coach Shaun O'Loughlin was critical of the display.
"This is about as poorly as we have played all year," O'Loughlin said.
"To get away with a win at Beaufort is a bit of a bonus. We certainly didn't play very well today. But we've got a lot of improvement in us yet."
Crows coach Rohan Brown heaped praise on the determination of his players.
"Proud of them all. The whole 22. A very brave effort," he said and then addressed the frustration with the Crows' long injury list.
"I don't see it as a problem but as a challenge. We're working our way through it. It is what it is."
Over at Hepburn, it was Newlyn which spoiled the party for the Burras' Alan Ware, who was celebrating his 300th club match on Saturday.
The Cats trailed by more than four goals at the final change, but charged home over the top to win by two points.
Gun forward Marcus Darmody was again in top form, booting six goals in the success, while Adam Sewell was named best for the winners.
Waubra has moved two games clear at the top of the ladder following Hepburn's defeat and its easy win over Clunes.
The Roos proved a class above the Magpies on their way to an 81-point victory.
Meanwhile, Mitch Bruns had his best game for new club Skipton in the team's big success at Ballan.
Bruns booted six goals in a 54-point triumph away from home.
That leaves the Skipton boys seventh on the table in their bid to become the first former Lexton Plains club to reach a CHFL senior finals series.
Other victors in round seven on Saturday afternoon were Creswick, Gordon, Learmonth and Springbank.
ROUND SEVEN
Gordon 14.16 (100) d Dunnstown 5.6 (36)
Buninyong 8.5 (53) d Beaufort 3.8 (26)
Newlyn 10.11 (71) d Hepburn 10.9 (69)
Springbank 10.8 (68) d Rokewood-Corindhap 6.4 (40)
Creswick 12.11 (83) d Bungaree 10.7 (67)
Skipton 17.8 (110) d Ballan 8.8 (56)
Waubra 16.16 (112) d Clunes 4.7 (31)
Learmonth 14.19 (103) d Carngham-Linton 8.9 (57)
LADDER
Waubra 256.95 28
Hepburn 163.30 20
Newlyn 139.17 20
Learmonth 111.54 20
Gordon 136.94 16
Beaufort 133.33 16
Skipton 113.35 16
Buninyong 104.27 16
Creswick 81.98 16
Rokewood-Corindhap 105.27 12
Springbank 92.09 12
Bungaree 75.68 12
Daylesford 88.21 8
Ballan 63.24 8
Clunes 56.71 4
Dunnstown 61.73 0
Carngham-Linton 50.77 0