A WEEKEND of blowouts in the Loddon Valley league saw Marong stamp its authority once again, and an intriguing battle for the goalkicking title emerge.
Marong’s 157-point demolition of Newbridge on a balmy autumn afternoon, who had shown promise in their round-one loss to Bridgewater, was achieved on the back of another genuine team performance.
The Panthers had a dozen individual goal scorers after 11 in the season opener, with nobody kicking more than four in the team’s 25-goal haul.
Ruckman Michael Bradbury dominated the hitouts and sneaked forward to kick two goals for  Marong, and Jonty Davis a graduate of the Bendigo Pioneers in the statewide Coates Talent League, was impressive in an onball role. Noah McCaig, Kain Robins and Ryan Wellington each kicked four goals. Newbridge skipper Will Daly was the Maroons’ best, kicking one of the team’s two goals, while Lachie Costelow, Jackson Hufer, Tyler McLeod, Tyler Constable and Dylan Lloyd battled hard.
Boom Bridgewater recruit Lachlan Sharp kicked 12 goals for the Mean Machine in their 95-point win over Maiden Gully.
Sharp has 20 goals for the season, equal with Bears Lagoon Serpentine’s Josh Mellington, setting up a thrilling race to be first to the century. Sharp and Mellington are each sitting on 20 goals after just two rounds. 
Who will be first to the century and is the league goal record set by Brayden Grenfell when with Marong now being rapidly chased down by not one but two players?
Jack Neylon and Bo Alexander, both former Strathfieldsaye teammates of Sharp, were also brilliant for Bridgewater.
Co-coach Angus Monfries was best for the undermanned Eagles, showing all the experience gained from his time with Essendon and Port Adelaide in the AFL, while Todd Delahey kicked five of Maiden Gull’s seven goals.
The biggest shellacking was Pyramid Hill’s 200-point win over Calivil United, coming after their surprise round-one loss to the Bears.
Jesse Sheahan kicked seven for the winners and Bailey Scott managed six.
Round three may be a season-shaping weekend, with Marong facing Pyramid Hill in a grand final rematch, Bridgewater taking on Inglewood, Bears Lagoon Serpentine at home to Newbridge.
Maiden Gully, still in arrears after league sanctions stripped it of 12 premiership points before the season started, travels to Mitiamo. 
Calivil has the bye this weekend.