Following a cold and muddy day at the footy in round 11, the weather gods looked down fondly in round 12 and the Central Highlands Football League winners took advantage.
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Four teams grabbed wins by 100 points or more, important for some as they push toward the finals.
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Buninyong four quarter dominance
Buninyong's stars landed the first punch against Clunes and the Magpies never got off the mat, going down by 163 points.
Caius Barrenger led the way with eight goals, Derick Micallef kicked six and Jarrod Rodgers kicked four as the Bombers won easily 30.12 (192) to 4.5 (29).
Both teams tried to move the ball quick out of the gate, playing on after a mark at every chance to launch an attack as quick and deep inside 50 as possible.
Neither side was able to capitalise early, the final kick inside 50 just a little off.
When the floodgates opened for Buninyong, however, they opened wide.
Clunes never fired a shot as Micallef kicked four first quarter goals, Rodgers snagged two and Luke Cullen kicked three on the way to a 50-point lead at quarter-time.
It grew to 91 points at half-time and 126 points at three-quarter time, Buninyong ruthless in its performance.
Coach Shaun O'Loughlin told The Courier he was impressed with his side's display.
"We were happy. We've been working really hard, our training's been good for probably the last month, been really focused on how we want to play," he said.
"I think we got good reward for that today, the boys from start to finish really worked hard for each other and played with the method that we want to play with."
The loss all but ends Clunes' finals hopes, now outside the top eight with a tough run home.
Clunes 1.1, 1.2, 3.4, 4.5 (29)
Buninyong 9.3, 15.9, 23.10, 30.12 (192)
GOALS, Clunes: J. Fazio 2, M. Paramonov, R. Thompson
Buninyong: C. Barrenger 8, D. Micallef 6, J. Rodgers 4, L. Cullen 3, J. Atkinson 2, T. Ross 2, L. Stewart 2, L. Rigby, M. Warner, A. Ebery
BEST, Clunes: D. Fazio, N. Luka, A. Thompson, M. Paramonov, J. Thompson , L. Davidson
Buninyong: C. Barrenger, D. Micallef, J. Marshall , H. Donald, L. Cullen, J. Robertson
Towners hit top four with win over Wickers
Dunnstown's in a position where its season's destiny is in its own hands and the Towners did what they needed to, defeating Creswick by 61 points.
Matthew Bullus kicked eight goals in a best-on-ground performance as Dunnstown kicked away 15.16 (106) to 7.3 (45).
Creswick held its own in the opening term, only seven points down at the first break.
A five goal to one second quarter broke the game open, however, and it was smooth sailing for Dunnstown in the second-half.
The win lands the Towners inside the top four following Waubra's 12-point loss to Skipton.
Creswick 1.0, 2.2, 4.3, 7.3 (45)
Dunnstown 2.1, 7.7, 11.11, 15.16 (106)
GOALS, Creswick: R. Pearson 2, A. Sedgwick 2, L. Blake 2, D. Whitfield
Dunnstown: M. Bulluss 8, R. Adams 2, A. Thompson, B. Cracknell, J. Stefani, K. Forde, C. Ronan
BEST, Creswick: A. Sedgwick, L. Blake, K. Irvan, M. Phillips, J. Antonio, J. Mason
Dunnstown: M. Bulluss, K. Forde, J. Renga, R. Adams
Gordon land biggest win of the season so far
Gordon recorded the biggest win of the CHFL season to date, beating Ballan by 262 points.
Shannon Byrnes enjoyed his best game for the Eagles on the scoreboard, kicking eight goals.
Ashley Munari snagged seven of his own and co-coach Adam Toohey kicked four.
13 others hit the scoreboard for the Eagles in a dominant display.
The game was played for the Kevin Murphy-Connie Mahar Shield, Connor Ascough winning the best-on-ground medal for his performance.
Ballan 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4 (16)
Gordon 7.13, 19.16, 27.22, 42.26 (278)
GOALS, Ballan: J. Hammond , B. Richie\
Gordon: S. Byrnes 8, A. Munari 7, A. Toohey 4, J. Clampit 4, D. Pascoe 3, M. Griffiths 2, C. Ascough 2, Z. Ryan 2, C. Reynolds 2, B. Horsham 2, G. Clifford, R. Clampit, L. Reynolds, C. Elliott, J. Evans, M. Gunnell
BEST, Ballan: H. Bongart, L. Conlan, C. Brown, T. McGregor, H. Thompson, E. Shaw
Gordon: T. Murphy, C. Ascough, C. Elliott, D. Pascoe, I. McCabe, Z. Ryan
Newlyn claim important win
It was a game Newlyn needed to win for its top eight hopes and the Cats delivered, 16-point victors over Learmonth.
Dan Wehrung was superb with six goals as the visitors won 11.11 (77) to 9.7 (61).
Following a five-point lead at quarter-time, Newlyn raced out to a 23-point lead at half-time which is where it stayed for the majority of the game.
Learmonth remained in the contest but couldn't reel in the deficit.
The win gives Newlyn new life in its push for the top eight, climbing to ninth.
Learmonth 2.2, 4.4, 6.5, 9.7 (61)
Newlyn 3.1, 8.3, 9.6, 11.11 (77)
GOALS, Learmonth: J. Walters 3, J. Pratt 2, N. Gittings 2, J. Laidlaw 2
Newlyn: D. Wehrung 6, P. Labbett 2, S. Willmott 2, L. Gunn
BEST, Learmonth: J. Pratt, J. Rae, J. Walters, J. Laidlaw, J. Crilly, J. Rich
Newlyn: W. Carter, J. Willmott, L. Snaith, D. Wehrung, D. Fishwick, J. Greville
Springbank do enough to jump into the top eight
It was made to work for it by a brave Daylesford side, but Springbank did what it needed to do to climb into the top eight, 13-point winners.
Daylesford led at three-quarter time by four points but a three goal to one final term handed the Tigers an 11.13 (79) to 11.0 (66) win.
It was a battle of the key forwards, Stephen Staunton kicking five goals in his return to Springbank's line-up and Scott Hughes kicking seven for Daylesford.
The lead seesawed, Springbank jumping out to a 12-point lead at half-time that was flipped to a four-point lead to Daylesford at the final change.
The win was a needed one for Springbank as it jumps into the top eight, but the way it won tough will hold the Tigers in good stead come finals time.
Daylesford 3.0, 6.0, 10.0, 11.0 (66)
Springbank 3.3, 7.6, 8.8, 11.13 (79)
GOALS, Daylesford: S. Hughes 7, J. Cummings 2, T. Hunt, S. Clarke
Springbank: S. Staunton 5, C. Quinlan 2, J. Thompson 2, M. Cronin, S. McKenzie
BEST, Daylesford: C. Peart, J. Whelan, C. Ralph, S. Hughes, J. Pitts, T. Nesbitt
Springbank: S. Staunton, J. Thompson, C. Quinlan, M. Lakey, I. Pertzel, J. Simpson
Bungaree remains in the hunt for the finals
Bungaree faces an up hill battle to make the top eight but with wins like today over Carngham-Linton, the finals remain a chance.
The Demons kept the Saints to one goal after quarter-time on their way to a 18.21 (129) to 3.4 (22) win.
It was an even contribution for Bungaree, five players kicking multiple goals and another four adding singles.
The Demons remain outside the top eight but the win gives them a chance to challenge for a spot in the coming weeks.
Carngham-Linton 2.1, 3.1, 3.4, 3.4 (22)
Bungaree 5.4, 9.11, 15.15, 18.21 (129)
GOALS, Carngham-Linton: L. Isbister, K. Raven, J. Foley
Bungaree: J. Butler 5, J. Walter 3, L. Prendergast 2, B. Veale 2, A. Milroy 2, D. Murphy, B. Willian, D. Morris, J. Oostendorp
BEST, Carngham-Linton: K. Raven, W. Bruty, M. Lange, J. O''Brien, D. O''Brien, T. Clarke
Bungaree: B. Veale, J. Walter, J. Butler, J. Hower, J. Werts, A. Gillett
Skipton holds on for big win
Skipton's top four hopes are alive and well following its comeback 12-point win over Waubra away from home.
A three goal to zero third term after trailing by four points at half-time got the Emus on the right track and they continued on to win 7.9 (51) to 5.9 (39).
Skipton started strongly, holding Waubra goalless in the first quarter.
The reigning premiers hit back and took the lead by half-time.
The Emus steadies, however, and in a low scoring affair, kicked four goals to two in the second-half to now sit just outside the top four.
Waubra 0.2, 3.7, 3.8, 5.9 (39)
Skipton 2.2, 3.3, 6.8, 7.9 (51)
GOALS, Waubra: W. Green, J. Hallett, A. Murphy, B. McDonald
Skipton: J. Romeril 2, B. Mckimmie, S. Willian, L. Cullinan, J. Peeters, A. McLean
BEST, Waubra: D. Jenkins, J. King, H. Baldwinson, W. Green, S. Youngman, A. McPherson
Skipton: B. Krol, J. Maddock, A. McLean, E. Boyer, B. Thompson, N. Fenby
Rokewood-Corindhap bounce back strong
With a light fog hovering over the Rokewood-Corindhap surface, the Grasshoppers played four dominant quarters to hand Beaufort a 120-point loss.
11 goals to two in the first-half represented what the day was going to be like for the Crows, Rokewood-Corindhap going onto win 22.20 (152) to 5.2 (32).
Beaufort is the fourth side Rokewood-Corindhap has beaten this season that it had never previously defeated since joining the CHFL in 2011.
Waubra, Buninyong and Bungaree were the other three. The Grasshoppers ability to compete and beat these top sides is a key reason for their rise up the ladder.
With Waubra falling to Skipton, Rokewood-Corindhap now jump into third spot on the CHFL ladder and stand a great chance to lock that position up with a favorable run home.
Rokewood-Corindhap 7.5, 11.12, 18.15, 22.20 (152)
Beaufort 1.0, 2.0, 4.1, 5.2 (32)
GOALS, Rokewood-Corindhap: J. Carr 4, J. Buttler 3, M. Brehaut 2, J. Bragagnolo 2, S. Carr 2, M. Aikman 2, M. McLaughlin, A. Gray, B. Harris, T. Fagg, J. Grant, C. Richardson, S. Worden
Beaufort: J. Orr 2, S. Christopher, C. Mahony, L. Cox
BEST, Rokewood-Corindhap: B. Harris, L. Philp, J. Buttler, S. Carr, L. Withers, S. Worden
Beaufort: D. Day, R. Zelencich, C. Mahony, C. Smith, J. Vanderkley, S. Christopher
Ladder
Gordon, 9-0, 36 pts, 100 per cent of games won
Hepburn, 7-1-1, 30 pts, 83.33 per cent of games won
Rokewood-Corindhap, 7-3, 28 pts, 70 per cent of games won
Dunnstown, 7-3, 28 pts, 70 per cent of games won
Skipton, 7-3, 28 pts, 70 per cent of games won
Waubra, 6-3, 24 pts, 66.67 per cent of games won
Buninyong, 6-3, 24 pts, 66.67 per cent of games won
Springbank, 6-4, 24 pts, 60 per cent of games won
Newlyn, 5-4, 20 pts, 55.56 per cent of games won
Clunes, 5-4, 20 pts, 55.56 per cent of games won
Bungaree, 5-5, 20 pts, 50 per cent of games won
Learmonth, 3-6, 12 pts, 33.33 per cent of games won
Daylesford, 2-7-1, 10 pts, 25 per cent of games won
Creswick, 2-8, 8 pts, 20 per cent of games won
Beaufort, 1-8, 4 pts, 11.11 per cent of games won
Ballan, 1-8, 4 pts, 11.11 per cent of games won
Carngham-Linton, 0-9, 0 pts, 0.00 per cent of games won
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