At the end of the season’s opening fortnight, four teams stand unbeaten with Murchison-Toolamba laying waste to all before it after two dominant weeks.
The Hoppers came off a gigantic win over fellow 2023 finals side Nagambie and picked up right where they left off in another destruction, this time at the expense of Violet Town.
Putting up 8.7 in a one-sided opening term — during which coach Brett Foley suggested chief marksman James Lloyd may have kicked seven — the contest never truly felt alive.
Only some wayward kicking for goal stopped the margin reaching triple figures far sooner than it did, with the game out of commission before it began as the Hoppers took a 98-point advantage to the final change.
A scary incident involving Violet Town’s Harry Sleigh following an awkward tackle stopped play, with the game ultimately called off early in the final term as Sleigh received treatment on the ground before being transported to hospital for scans.
Sleigh has since been released.
Murchison-Toolamba would be declared winners, 18.24 (132) to 4.4 (28), with Lloyd moving to a stunning 21 goals from his first two games — outscoring six entire teams single-handedly at this early stage, to Foley’s delight.
“He probably should have had a few more; he missed a couple of easy ones last week,” Foley said.
“He’s a bruiser with a deadly kick, and it takes a bit to stop him when he’s on. We’ve got to keep getting the footy to him, because he’s quite good one-on-one.
“We’ve got a few good inclusions with a couple of boys who are just fitness freaks.
“I’m just pushing the boys to play as well as they can, because there’s plenty of depth and everyone is pushing for a senior spot.
“We just wish Harry all the best; our trainers hung around to help look after him while the ambulance arrived.”
Lancaster notched its second win in style at Central Park, with Riley O’Neill and Kyabram Haisman Shield premiership player Charlie McLay doing the damage in a 10.10 (70) to 4.9 (33) win over Shepparton East.
Avenel made it two for two in similar fashion to its opening game, pulling away rapidly after the long break to take apart Undera 17.14 (116) to 4.7 (31).
Five goals to Cael McCarthy helped lift Tallygaroopna to 2-0 as well in a strong 15.12 (102) to 9.3 (57) win at home to Dookie United.
Rushworth completed a long-awaited homecoming for its senior football contingent, holding off a fast-finishing Longwood to prevail 13.8 (86) to 11.11 (77) in the Tigers’ first top-level home fixture since 2022.
Nagambie rebounded from its bitterly disappointing first showing by notching its maiden four points in a big 17.12 (114) to 5.6 (36) win over Merrigum.
The Sunday special had Stanhope take full control of its encounter with Girgarre after half-time.
The Lions started on a rampage during the third term, with a late Kangaroo rally serving as mere consolation as Stanhope got in the win column, 17.17 (119) to 8.8 (56).
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