LAURIMAR took apart Mernda as the Northern Football Netball League division three match of the weekend turned into a fizzer.
In front of a big crowd commemorating the annual match-up between the local rivals, it was the Power who were much more disciplined than the Demons in the early stages, recording three quick goals to open up an 18-point lead within the first 10 minutes.
Three further goals, compared to Mernda’s solitary effort from Brayden Plant, meant the Power led 38-9 at the first change.
The second term maintained a holding pattern for the first half of the quarter, with both teams kicking a goal apiece, before the Power ran riot in the final 10 minutes of the term, with recruits Patrick Fitzgerald and Stephen McCallum kicking four goals to effectively end the contest, with Laurimar leading 78-16 at the main break.
The Power led by as much as 71 points during a quiet third term, but it was evident that the second half would be a case of both teams essentially playing out time, with the Power leading 93-24 at the final change.
Mernda put some minor respectability back on to the scoreboard, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Power from taking a 61-point victory – their biggest win over the Demons in their short history, 17.9 (111) to 7.8 (50).
McCallum was in the thick of everything, scoring four goals to be the clear best man on the ground. Bailey Macleod, Ethan Bateman, Aidan Clarke, Luke Wilson and Ethan Frawley were also named in the best.
Matthew Campbell continued his terrific campaign for the Demons, named in the best, while Brayden Plant kicked four goals to be a lone hand up forward. Jayden Bell, Chris Roussos, Jake Bennett and Jesse Guelfo were also named in the best.
The Demons are now desperate to get off the mark, sitting 0-3 and welcoming Ivanhoe to their home deck, while the Power travel to Old Eltham Collegians with their tails up.
Other results saw Kilmore record a 20-point win over Heidelberg West, Kinglake scoring an 18-point win over Epping and Reservoir taking a 101-point win over Lalor.
In division two, Whittlesea continue to bank victories, outpointing Lower Plenty in the second half to score a 34-point win.
A low scoring first half saw just three goals kicked from both teams as Whittlesea held a slender three-point lead at the main break, but five goals to two in the third term broke the game open for the Eagles.
They then kicked four of the last five goals to break the Bears’ spirit as the Eagles sit pretty at three wins from three games, 12.11 (83) to 6.13 (49).
A vintage Lucas Hobbs performance saw him kick three goals in a best-afield performance, while Thomas Falls, Liam Tyrrell, Lachlan Shinn-Mahony, Matthew Coen and Riley Gilchrist were also impressive in the win.
The Eagles will now prepare for a blockbuster second versus third meeting when they travel to St Mary’s.
In division one, South Morang welcomed key recruit Noah Cumberland into the mix, but they were outpointed by Greensborough from the outset, as they scored eight goals to one in the opening term to set up their 38-point victory.
Joshua Lansfield played a lone hand up forward to kick five goals, while Jesse John Christidis, Tyrone Leonardis, James Hewson, Teague Van Zwienen and Koby Davies were also named in the best in their 7.13 (55) to 14.9 (93) loss.
The task for the Lions doesn’t get any easier this week, welcoming reigning three-time champions Heidelberg to their home deck.
