Congupna’s injury terrors cause concern amid Murray Football League round two action

Such was the frequency with which The Road’s mercurial new man up front stood up and made it look easy in another convincing win.

In a collision billed as a battle of serious contenders given the two sides’ second-placed and third-placed finishes last year, the action on-field often resembled anything but during the second half.

Mueller brought it to the house seven times following his debut bag of six goals in the previous week’s big win over Mulwala, leaving the former Kyabram star sitting pretty at 13 after a fortnight — immediately following his Haisman Shield triumph.

The Blues led at the first change, putting four straight majors on the board before the home side pegged things back to set up what looked like a stirring contest with two points the difference at half-time.

During the long break, Ben Bingham’s side evidently decided that Numurkah had had its fun, holding the visitor goalless in the final two quarters to deliver another ominous statement with an 11.16 (82) to 5.9 (39) win.

You would never suspect they pulled this off with one interchange rotation for most of the game.

"I was pretty proud of the boys’ win,” Bingham said.

"Being down to one on the bench for the final three quarters, the boys had to dig deep with limited rotations and, at the end of the day, it was a really mature win.

“Things happened quickly; in 15 or 20 minutes, we had three people out for the game, so we had to shuffle the magnets around.

“It’ll test our depth, but that’s one thing we focused on this off-season.

“It also gives opportunities to the guys playing good footy in the reserves.”

Prevailing over such adversity — and making it look simple on the scoreboard — certainly does wonders for morale, but more so in knocking off two contenders back to back.

"These types of wins bring the group closer together,” Bingham said.

“It provides a sense of belief that no matter what situation we’re in, we can work through it, and it proves our fitness side of things as well.

"You learn a bit about your players in games like that and I’m really happy to come away with the win.”

Topping it off, of course, was the seven-goal sensation.

“At times yesterday, they were nearly triple-teaming Kyle,” Bingham said.

“With the patience he’s got to deal with that situation, and he was getting some attention off the ball too, for him to get through that and kick seven was super impressive.”

Elsewhere, Cobram (2-0) extended its promising start to 2024 with a second straight big win, this time over Finley (1-1).

A barnstorming final term broke it wide open with Jackson Trengove’s four majors leading the way, as the Cats were left seeing double after falling by the exact scoreline (82-40) they won by on Good Friday.

Moama (2-0) joined the Tigers and The Road at eight points, but only with the scare of a lifetime from Rumbalara (0-2) over the border.

The visitors led at every change in threatening one of the greatest upsets you would have seen anywhere in Australia this year before the Magpies gathered themselves to control the final term for an unexpectedly thrilling 10.17 (77) to 9.11 (65) victory.

Reigning premier Mulwala (1-1) rebounded from its Easter weekend agony in comfortably accounting for Barooga (0-2).

The contest appeared over from the beginning after the Lions raced away with the game’s first six goals, holding a listless Hawks side to a single major by three-quarter time in their 16.7 (103) to 5.10 (40) belting.

Things did not get much easier for Echuca United (0-2); while the bottom side at least found a handful of chances around the goals, it never really felt in the battle against Tongala (1-1), which won out 14.13 (97) to 6.6 (42).