The much anticipated battle for top spot on the North Gippsland Football League ladder failed to materialise at Stephenson Park, with GORMANDALE smashing Sale City by seven goals.
The Tigers had lost their previous clash against the Dogs but made a mockery of the round four result winning 18.4 (112) to 10.10 (70) in the top of the table showdown.
For many Gormandale are the team to beat in 2010, the Tigers confirming themselves as outright premiership favourites, in a result not even the most optimistic of Tigers supporters were expecting.
However the Gormandale faithful are talking down their chances of premiership glory, rather they are keeping a lid on it.
While they may not want the tag, the Tigers have won 10 straight and are in scintillating form with the side making easy work of an opponent who have been in stellar form all season.
But that form seemed to elude City who appeared to suffer from stage fright on the biggest stage.
In a finals type atmosphere it was the Tigers big name players that rose to the occasion, Daniel Trease booted a game high eight majors, the small forward allowed room to roam free and at times created something out of nothing.
Defender Steve Hore was instrumental shutting down the home side's forwards, Frank Marks had plenty of the ball and Lee Renton was dominate in the contests.
While many Dogs saw plenty of the ball led by Jake Milham, ruckman Matt Lutze and Stephan Mapleson, they never had a dangerous forward target like the Tigers did.
The freakishly talented combination of Trease, Richards and Dane McGennisken who was well kept proved the difference with the trio booting 16 of the sides 18 goals and handed the best defence in the game a lot of headaches.
The match started ominously for Gormandale with the sides first coming courteous of Trease, after he got on the end of a snap goal ward by Marks.
Moving the ball from defence with execution Jarrod Barnes found Richards outside 50, his shot at goal marked on the last line of defence.
City struggled to clear defence with Trease rewarded with his second after a dubious free kick went against Troy Cairstairs which gifted the Tigers a two goal break.
Richards missed consecutive shots at goal, before the home side broke through to register their first ten minutes into the contest.
A shot to Trease tight on the boundary tested the forward his shot clearing the face of goal.
Richards was also presenting a headache for the Dogs, however three missed shots in the opening term provided a small amount of relief.
McGennisken's first was followed by City's second, Milham sending the crowd to their feet after roving the pack to snap at go.
Gormandale's fifth came through Wayne Henry on the quarter time siren with the Tigers taking a 17 point break.
The Tigers maintained their momentum booting the opening goal in the early minutes of the stanza through Richards, before Lutze added City's third to keep the Dogs in touch.
City looked impressive on the rebound with quick movement of the ball setting up a stellar passage of play which had the side up and running, Beau Wilsons shot at goal hitting the post.
Schuback and Lutze combined to slot through City's third, before Lutze had his second for the term out marking Renton in a one on one contest.
Consecutive 50 metre penalties to the Tigers resulted in goals to Trease and Richards as the visitors made the home side pay for undisciplined play and frustration with the margin blown out to 27 points at half time, 9.3 (57) to 4.6 (30).
The Tigers booted five goals to two in the premiership term to have the Dogs on their knees, the home side couldn't take a trick consecutive shots at goal were touched on the last line of defence and Jake Schuback was put on report.
It didn't get much better in the final term, with Schuback yellow carded off the field before the bounce.
Although one man down for the majority of the quarter, the Dogs did well to keep with the Tigers the two sides going goal for goal with Clint Counahan and Wilson sealing late majors for City.
STRATFORD sealed their first win of the season with an emphatic 20 point victory over Boisdale, a five goal haul by James Russell leading the charge in front of goals.
It has been a lean 16 weeks for the Swans but their hard work was rewarded with the side running over the top of Boisdale, 12.17 (89) to 9.15 (69).
Little separated the two sides in the opening half, the Bombers leading by a goal at quarter time before the visitors turned the tables to take a five point buffer into the long change.
The Swans skipped away in the third term, the sides younger tier of players were standouts and reaped the praise of coach Peter Morrison.
"We played three youngsters from the under 18's in the side, Kyle Taylor, Pat Goodman and Lewis Bolton who were all outstanding.
"The match was a bit spiteful, it was interesting and it was rewarding to see the side stand up to the pressure.
"There was high excitement, it was reward for perseverance you would say, the young kids set us alight they were just fantastic across the board we had plenty of winners," said Morrison.
Scores were level at three quarter time in the clash against Woodside and CHURCHILL before a six goal to two final term saw the Cougars seal their 12th win.
In an enthralling contest the Wildcats kept with the third ranked Cougars throughout the day, before fading away in the final stanza.
Churchill's Leigh McDonald finished with seven in a best on ground performance, while Wildcats Damien Kerr and Justin Staley finished with three a piece.
As expected reigning premiers HEYFIELD came out firing in their clash against Glengarry.
The visitors booted away to a handing 25 point lead at the first change, holding sway in the second term to extend the margin by one point at half time.
The Magpies rallied to make a charge on the score board with Mark Engley and Brad Smith among the goal kickers, but the Kangaroos composed and stormed away booting five goals to one in the final term to run home comfortable 35 point winners.
Kangaroo veteran Brett Szabo was judged best a field, Jesse Bedggood and Nathan Wellins also among Heyfield many individual winners.
ROSEDALE kept their strangled hold on fifth position on the ladder with a hard fought 51 point victory over Cowwarr.
Rosedale kicked 9.7 to 4.4 in the second half and it was a true reflection of the superior strength and skill it displayed in the finals like atmosphere.
Andrew Flanagan was the pick of the goal kickers finishing with six, midfielder Justin Emery was in match winning form with Dominic Keating a standout.
By Lauren Carey
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