Navarre won an early season thriller against Lexton in the Kingprint Lexton Plains Football League at Navarre on Saturday.
The Grasshoppers held on grimly to defeat the Tigers by five points, 10.10 (70) to 9.11 (65).
The game had plenty of dramas as the contest unfolded with both clubs leading at various stages of the match.
Scoring just six behinds in the last term could have been disastrous for Navarre, but it staved off most advances of Lexton who could manage just two goals themselves.
The dramas of the day were injuries and a report.
Lexton assistant coach Matt Stasse was reported in the final term, while teammate Aidan Jewell suffered what looked like a bad ankle injury in the third term.
Navarre lost Ben Scott pre-match while Jeremy Harrington (cork) and Louis Hannett (hamstring) also went down in the third quarter.
Navarre took control in the third term, but at no stage of the game was the result beyond doubt, other than when the final siren sounded.
Lexton again fell short in a close match.
It was the second loss by less than two goals this year.
Natte-Bealiba outscored Carngham-Linton for three quarters of its clash at Natte Yallock on Saturday but still went down.
The Saints took control in the second quarter booting six goals to one to run out 28 point victors, 14.8 (92) to 9.10 (64).
Natte-Bealiba had the scoring end in the opening stanza but failed to capitalize, leading by just two points at the first change.
Saints coach Duane Bodey registered four goals for the day, with Stephen Ross and Steven Quinn best for the Swans.
The win pushed Carngham-Linton back into the top three, while the Swans sit outside the five on percentage.
Ararat Eagles were no match for reigning premiers Skipton at Skipton on Saturday.
The form of both clubs on the day could not have been further apart.
Skipton was right on its game with everyone contributing to the massive 177 point win, 33.21 (219) to 6.6 (42).
Ten goals to Tim Beacham has him on 18 for the year.
Ararat was totally off its game, but had a number of first pick players out.
With those players in, the Eagles were still not going to win, but would have put up a better performance.
Simon Alexander and Dan O'Connell were in the best half dozen for Ararat.
Illabarook went within a whisker of a major upset Sunday going down to Rokewood-Corindhap by 19 points at Smythesdale, 10.4 (64) to 12.11 (83).
With just one goal to half-time, the Bulldogs turned it on in the third, kicking seven majors to three to cut a 30 point half-time deficit to just four points at the last break.
But not for the first time this year the Grasshoppers responded to the strong challenge to gain victory.
Coach Tom Mullane-Grant kicked eight goals, with Illabarook counterpart Brian Lovison was again named best.
Next weeks games:
Saturday
Illabarook v Skipton
Carngham-Linton v Lexton
Natte-Bealiba v Navarre
Rokewood-Corindhap v Ararat Eagles
By Rhys Brehaut
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