A 10-goal last quarter by Echuca United laid waste to an otherwise competitive match against Moama at Moama Recreation Reserve on Good Friday.
A massive crowd of more than 3500 saw United hold a slender lead in a low-scoring game for the first three quarters before the rampant final term, eventually winning 17.15 (117) to 6.9 (45).
Eagles co-captain Rowan Priest starred with five goals from the midfield, while Ryan Prendergast dominated at centre half-back, racking up disposals at will and providing constant rebounds.
Veteran Duane Hueston produced an influential performance in the centre, Rochester recruit Daniel Cavallaro enjoyed a solid game, Jake Guinan held Tyler Jones well and Farran Priest was also busy.
For the Magpies, Josh Maddox and Ben Welch were the stand out players with four-quarter performances, while new and returning players David Cornish, Shannon Galea, Daniel Thorp and David Ismail showed glimpses of what can be expected later in the season.
Kicking with the aid of a two-goal breeze, Moama started the match the better of the two teams.
The Magpies locked the ball inside their half, with Jake Kilmartin kicking the first goal after intercepting the kick-out.
The Moama onslaught continued, but United made the home side pay when Rowan Priest goaled on the Eagles’ first foray inside their 50m.
Magpie recruits Josh Maddox, Galea and Cornish were good early, but it was United coach Scott Beattie who then put his team ahead with a calm finish.
Moama peppered the goals but was unable to find a major, with a fantastic set shot from Duane Hueston further emphasising the gap as the Eagles led 20-12 at the first break.
United immediately put pressure on Moama in the second term, as Rowan Priest snapped a goal out of a pack, before three set shots from virtually the same position yielded two behinds.
The Eagles’ full-ground press severely restricted Moama’s ability to get the ball out of its defensive half and Prendergast was enjoying the fruits of his team’s labours to have a field day at centre half-back.
Slick interplay then resulted in a Craig Frost major as the Eagles extended the lead to 26 points, but Moama then fought back to curb the Eagles’ influence.
Kilmartin finished a good move after smart play by Maddox and Taylor Beard, but it was the sort of free-flowing play which proved rare for the home side.
An immediate reply from Ash Kirchhofer saw United hold a 44 to 18 lead at the long break.
With the game on the line, Moama lifted its game in the third term but, when Bryn Barnes-Webb broke free and dished the ball off to Rowan Priest for his third goal and extend the lead to 33 points, it looked like Moama was in serious trouble.
However, the Magpies responded and did not let the visitors kick another major for the rest of the quarter.
Leitchville-Gunbower recruit Jones was the first to reply with a set shot, before Daniel Thorp ran free from a pack and slotted a right-footed goal.
Cornish then marked strongly and goaled, reducing the gap to 15 points, before an inspirational goal by Joe Cosgriff — sharply gathering the ball and snapping truly — saw the margin at just nine points going into the last quarter.
However, with a bit of feeling in the game, the Eagles stepped up a gear in the final term and Moama was unable to go with them.
Cam Parker shrugged off three tacklers to snap a goal early in the last, before yet another Priest snap — his fourth — put the Eagles 20 points ahead with the breeze, breaking the Moama spirit.
Hueston, playing in the centre, was the root of a lot of positive moves from the Eagles as they showed just how far Moama had to improve to challenge for the top.
The visitors went on to smash home 10 unanswered goals for the quarter, with two each going to Rowan Priest, Barnes-Webb and Parker, with singles also going to Farran Priest, Troy Ferrier, Russell Eden and James Coppock as the team ran away with the huge 72-point win.
■ The Eagles’ reserves team also came up trumps with a 38-point victory against Moama.
The Eagles kicked six goals to one in the opening term and did not look back from there to secure the 13.11 (89) to 8.3 (51) result.
Goals were shared among the players for both teams, with Nathan Bottomley, Justin Saker and Josh Molluso the best for the visitors, while Matt Lynch, Rob McHugh and Glen Paterson impressed for Moama.
