In the other games Violet Town again turned heads with a big win over Dookie United, Nagambie was too good for Undera, Merrigum returned to the winning list against Tallygaroopna and unbeaten Shepparton East blitzed Rushworth.
• Stanhope stormed over Girgarre in the first quarter before going on to a 71-point win before a big crowd at Stanhope.
Gun recruit Ryan Semmel continued to firm as McNamara Medal favourite with another dominant display capped by five goals while his brother Luke slotted four and Rhys Smith and Jye Patten three each to keep the visitors under pressure from the get-go.
Nathan O’Reilly, Josh Harris and Matt Gill were also key playmakers in the dominant win, which was put to bed with an eight-goal third term.
After being shell-shocked early Girgarre steadied in the second quarter to match Stanhope on the scoreboard and outscored it in the last term, but the first and third quarters had sealed the Roos’ fate.
Girgarre had good players in Kevin Maloney, Rex Taylor and fly-in players in Petros Politis and Jarrod Kellock, who tried hard to inspire their side.
Coach David Cupido also made the most of his chances to kick five goals but Stanhope was the superior side, which puts it in a good frame of mind to tackle Lancaster after this weekend’s general bye while Girgarre faces another tough game, hosting Nagambie.
• Murchison-Toolamba had its nose in front, albeit just, against Lancaster at the final siren in a dour battle.
The combine led by 13 points at quarter-time but the game was in the balance by half-time and three-quarter-time when just a single behind separated the sides.
But in a tight last quarter the home side managed two goals to Lancaster’s three behinds to secure a hard-earned 11-point win in a low-scoring clash
George Brisbane, Tom Kerrins and Adam Macgibbon were the players who inspired the winners most while Leigh Wellington, James Milne and Trent Freer were also prominent.
Brad Orr continued his good form in the midfield for Lancaster and along with Sam Spedding, Jake Mills, who kicked three goals, Kyle Kydd, Luke Davies and Noah Sewell were the main reasons why the Wombats were in it until the final siren.
• Merrigum was too good for struggler Tally, which hung in and produced a five-goal last quarter to prevent a complete blowout.
Jacob Martin, Ryan Martin, Nathan Smith were standouts for the Bulldogs while Nathan Smith with eight goals and Jack Sinclair with five goals applied the scoreboard pressure.
David Matthews and Zak Parkinson were also solid contributors in the win while Jarrod Byrne, Kian Wise and Dylan Kerr battled hard for the losers.
• Shepparton East brushed Rushworth aside for a 211-point win to set up a clash of the only unbeaten sides, against Avenel, after the general bye.
Ryan Pfieffer with 10 goals, Hysen Ismet with six and Kane Handley and Duane Hueston with four goals capitalised on the work of Adam Fichera, Tyler Pedretti, Shannon Campbell, Liam Trevaskis and Adam Serafini to dominate the clash.
Rushworth had goers in Kieran Malone, Fred Maclean and Kyal Zass, with some support from Thomas Birch, Kade Dearing and Matt Gilmore, but fell down badly in attack, with Tom Stevens the team’s sole goalkicker on the day.
• Violet Town and Dookie United played out an even first half but the Towners’ gun forwards Jack Exell with seven goals and Josh Mellington with six proved the difference, as the visitors kicked away to win by 55 points.
Zachary Berthun, Nic and Fintan Brazil and James Herring were also good for the winners while Jye Limosani, Jarrad Newman and Will Bagley battled gamely for the home side.
• Nagambie is starting to loom large on the finals scene after a decisive 96-point win over Undera.
A seven-goals-to-one-behind second quarter by the Lakers set up the win.
Consistent Blake Laverie, who booted five goals, was again a standout for the home side and he received plenty of support from David Comi, Jarryd Shepherd, Mark Wilson and Nathan Fothergill.
Tristan Castle, Zac Brian, Dylan Moncur battled gamely for Undera, with support from Jack Hajro, Daniel Brock and Keelan Mitchell, but Nagambie had all the answers.
• In Sunday’s clash Longwood failed to score a goal while unbeaten Avenel piled on 26.32 in a ruthless wet-weather display.
Coach Kasey Duncan and Jake Sutherland each helped themselves to seven goals and Andrew Dowling, Mick McKenzie and Mick Berry also won the ball at will.
Bailey and Geordie McMutrie, Nathan Watson and Devlin Godois tried hard for Longwood but didn’t receive the support needed to make it competitive.