If the results of round two matches are anything to go by, 2014 season is shaping to be just as hotly contested as last with three of the weekend's five matches decided by less than a straight kick.

There was none more exciting than the contest between the new look Saints and CHURCHILL.

In a game of two halves it was Cowwarr who shot out of the blocks boasting 11 shots in the first quarter to own a 27 point buffer at the quarter time huddle.

With the unfurling of the thirds premiership flag earlier in the day it would be a number of the premiership thirds players who have stepped up to the ranks of senior level that caught the visitors off guard.

There was plenty of passion and pace in the contest early with the Saints fleet footed brigade of Brett Street and Pat Tainsh missing shots on goal before Bill Phelan opened proceedings.

It would be the same at the other end of the ground wasted opportunities with two missed shots in front of goal for Churchill in as many minutes. The behinds continued with Brendan Holt missing before the Saints rebounded from defence with Brad McBride to have the same result a behind.

With goals hard to come by, McBride's vision to switch play from one pocket to the other set Shane Morgan up for his first of three for the day. It was followed by another to Cowwarr as Churchill found themselves quickly on the back foot relegated to playing catch up footy.

The visitors struggled to buy a goal best on ground Travis Brighton exploded from the centre bounce to hit the chest of Dillion Leys the big man's shot from tight in the pocket missing all. A late term major to the Cougars opened their account as the ball rolled through the sticks.

A booming kick from outside the 50 metre line saw Leys scroe as the Cougars followed the coach Allan Chandlers directions of playing wide along the boundary. It would be followed by another Chris Williams opening his first of two as Churchill quickly wrestled control of the contest and began to efficiently reel in the Saints quarter time lead.

Drilled and direct the second term belonged to Churchill as they held the home side to a mere behind to trail by a kick.

More than vocal at half time, Holt wanted his side to inspire one another, and for the reward of a hard preseason to come in the form of a win.

It would be Holt that inspired all levelling scores with the opener of the premiership term, as the Cougars stacked numbers around the fall of the ball hasslung their opponent into mistakes.

Holts major was answered by a strong mark to Morgan directly in front of goal, Morgan's second levelling scores ahead of another to the Saints which provided breathing space.

The two sides traded blow for blow on the scoreboard, Churchill's third of the quarter followed by one to Street which created a two goal buffer to the Saints.

With both sides left one man down following the carding off of Joey Whykes and Luke Cooper, it would the Saints who added their second on the run with best on ground Robbie Ferguson in on the action.

A booming kick to Nick Celima made it a ten point ball game before Churchill attained the lead through Williams. It would be quickly relinquished Morgan's missed shot at goal roved by Ben Plozza who snatched the lead back.

Holts snap in the dying stages of the contest gave Churchill the lead, however the Cougars were forced to watch and wait with a shot on goal after the siren to Cowwarr's Brad McBride falling short of the line ensuring the Cougars a two point victory.

GLENGARRYS Josh King proved to be the game changer in the Magpies spirited premiership term revival.

Trailing by 13 points at the long change it was Kings ability to score three critical goals in the third term ahead of the match winning final goal.

King was kept well in check in the first half, however it was his strong contribution in a blistering seven minutes in the third term which saw the Magpies slam home four unanswered goals to arm wrestle back control of the contest. Fittingly it would be King who nailed the last goal of the game to effectively shut out the Bomber challenge.

In a nail biting final 10 minutes spectators were treated to an all time classic contest. Taking a nine point lead into the final break, the visitors looked on song to open their season ledger however TTU had other ideas as they peppered away at the scoreboard to reel the margin back to a point midway through the final term.

Glengarry's Chris Wangman pushed forward to goal, before TTU responded through Lochie White to take a four point lead.

As the clock counted down on the Magpies challenge, it would be King who marked 40 metres out directly in front of goal to seal the match winner, 10.8 (68) to 9.12 (66).

Very little separated Gormandale and BOISDALE/BRIAGLONG throughout the afternoon, a seven point lead favoured the Tigers at the first break before the Bombers turned the tables to lead by a behind at the long change, a lead that they would extend to 13 points at the final change.
The two sides went blow for blow in the final 30 minutes of the contest, Danny Pratt the go to man in front of goal for the Bombers while the duo of best on ground Luke Francis and Sam Marks lit up the forward line for the Tigers

Trading blows on the scoreboard the Bombers kept within arm's reach of the home side before a late major for the term saw the visitors hold on in a nail biting five point victory, 15.7 (97) to 14.8 (92).

Boisdale's majors came through Pratt who was the lead goal scorer on the ground with four, Glenn Semmens continued his solid start to the season while defender Nicoll Sandison was the general of the backline none more so in the final term when the Bombers kept the Tigers at bay in the dying minutes of the contest.

For the Tigers, Luke Heggarty was impressive in his 150th club match while Marks performance was vote worthy.

HEYFIELD had little trouble accounting for Sale City with the contest all but over by half time, 19.13 (127) to 5.8 (38).

In the hunt in a low scoring opening term, the Kangaroos stamped their supremacy on the competition after the first change in a performance likened to last week's second term. The home side slamming home seven goals to one to all but end the contest by half time.

The dominance of the competitions number one ranked side would continue into the second half with a further nine goals added to the scoreboard, Kodie Woodland (six) and Daniel Stubbe (five) ceasing their opportunities in front of goal.

Sale City defender Tom Bowman was judged best on ground for the Dogs while the sides goals were shared across five individual goal kickers.

A large crowd flocked to Rosedale Recreation Reserve for the season's first Sunday contest with Yarram providing tough competition for the Blues.

Trailing by 21 points at the final change the words of ROSEDALE coach Nick Leechino rang in the ears of his players as they came out firing in the final 25 minutes of play to run all over the top of the Demons to record their second win.

Six goals to two in the final term left the Demons wanting as they were left flat footed and fatigued as the Blues through key forward Andrew Flanagan made the most of their opportunities.

Leading by 17 points at half time the Demons did all they could to hold the Blues many avenues to goal at bay in the third term restricting the home side to 1.4 (10) as they appeared poised to record their second win. However it was a case of dejavu for the Demons as the dropped off in the final term, this time to be over run on the scoreboard going down by 11 points at the final siren.

Blues Hayden Mowat, Jason Kay and Adam Diamond were named among the best while Demons coach Grif Underwood was judged best a field for the visitors with Corbin Sutherland finishing the match with four majors.

By Lauren Carey