The Southern Mallee Giants came crashing back to Earth on Saturday after suffering an 83-point drubbing at the hands of the sleek Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.

In perfect conditions for football at the Sea Lake Recreation Reserve, the Giants were handed a football lesson. The Giants scored the first goal of the game in a minute with a great passage of play from defense finishing with a Clint Burdett goal. However it didn't take long for the ladder leaders to switch into gear, kicking the next 4 of the quarter. The Giants were getting their hands on the ball and creating scoring opportunities but could not capitalize.

The writing was on the wall early for Jordan Doering to kick a bag. He finished with 9 goals and continues to be the bogeyman for the Giants with 25 goals in the three games this year.

The Tigers were faster, cleaner and more efficient all over the ground and kept getting better as the game went on. The work-rate of their onballers to get back and help clear the defence was outstanding. Luke Martin was constantly bringing the ball to ground and the Tiger's numbers would swoop and run the ball out with loose players lining up through the centre.

Reece Luehman stood up in the absence of the injured Zac May by winning numerous tap outs and using his pace around the ground. Bernard Rigby and Scott Weekley made the most of Luehman's ruckwork to pick up plenty of possessions. The Tiger's could have almost picked any of their player to put in their best six. On the other hand, the Giants didn't have many winners.

Sam Weddell was doing his best across half back, and Clint Burdett and Tyler Lehmann provided their usual determination around the ball. However, for the Giants to get near the ladder leaders is going to take every player playing their role to the best of their ability. At this stage they have a lot of ground to make up if they're to be considered contenders at the end of the year.

In the game against close rivals Walpeup Underbool and Ouyen United it was the Roos who came out on top with a long awaited 59 point win.

Walpeup Underbool had a number of inclusions into the side in Ryan Anderson, Travis Latta , Brad Dobrowski and Shane Tuck, ex 173 game Richmond midfielder, who joined the Roos for the clash.

It was evident from the first bounce that the Roos were keen to get off to a good start after allowing the opposition to take control in most of the previous games this season. The Roos midfield led by Shane Birss and Shane Tuck showed plenty of run. Rucks Josh Plozza and Brad Dobrowski were on top giving their midfielders plenty of opportunity. Ryan Anderson was back to his best bursting through the lines with pace delivering the ball forward, where the Roos had the better of their Demons opponents.

The costly skill errors that have plagued the Roos all season were not to be seen as they ran away with the game. United had Kale Barker doing well up forward booting 6 goals for the afternoon but needed more support after Lawrence Angwin injured a hamstring early in the game. Ouyen United will welcome the return of Brad Vallance in the coming weeks, and with a number of other players missing this game will look to improve. Coach Andrew Jardine played well across half back and Peter Caldow put in a strong performance in the midfield. For the Roos Brad Dobrowski was a dominant force marking strongly up forward, and when in the ruck gathered plenty of possessions. Luke Nathan also found plenty of the ball as his run of good form continued.

By Dale Shannon