The Kyabram District Football League returned on the weekend with a host of sides posting big scores, a couple of local teams also facing off in round one.
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Stanhope crushed Rushworth and Lancaster cruised to victory over Girgarre, while Undera and Merrigum were on the end of heavy defeats to two likely finals sides.
RESULTS
Round one
Stanhope: 2.5, 5.7, 11.9, 16.10 (106) d Rushworth: 3.3, 5.6, 7.10, 9.12 (66)
Lancaster: 2.6, 4.10, 8.14, 16.15 (111) d Girgarre: 1.3, 2.5, 3.7, 3.8 (26)
Longwood: 4.3, 8.3, 16.5, 21.11 (137) d Undera: 2.2, 2.8, 6.8, 13.9 (87)
Murchison-Toolamba: 10.2, 15.6, 24.10, 27.13 (175) d Merrigum: 2.1, 4.2, 5.2, 10.2 (62)
Shepparton East: 6.3, 8.7, 15.10, 17.16 (118) d Tallygaroopna: 0.1, 1.3, 5.4, 6.6 (42)
Nagambie: 4.7, 11.13, 18.19, 26.26 (182) d Violet Town: 1.1, 1.1, 1.1, 2.2 (14)
Stanhope’s opening round meeting with Rushworth represented an opportunity for the Lions to send a message to the Tigers that it was coming for its finals spot in 2026.
The two sides duelled in a close encounter throughout the first quarter, Stanhope generating one more scoring shot, but its inaccurate kicking meant Rushy took a slender lead into the first interval.
In the second, Matt Butler’s side found its groove in front of the posts by booting three majors to the Tigers’ two, a reverse of the first period, with the Lions taking a 5.7 (37) to 5.6 (36) lead into half-time.
It was in the second half that Stanhope took total control of proceedings, starting with a six-goal third term, as the lead suddenly increased to 23 heading into the fourth.
Rushworth had inaccuracy issues of its own, which wasn’t helping it slow down a Lions side on a mission, the hosts booting another five goals in the final term to run out comfortable 40-point winners, 16.10 (106) to 9.12 (66).
Butler led Stanhope in the goal-kicking ranks with four, complemented by three each for Jack Lefroy and Amir Meyerowitz, while Daniel Brock kicked four for the Tigers and Kieran Malone also bagged a couple.
The best players for the Lions included Nathan O’Reilly, Tomas Fantasia, Oliver Silk, Tyler Norman, Lior Smart and Corey Dunn, while Rushworth’s best included Brock, Tighe Clarke, Jackson McRae, Jeremy Lambden, Brad Canny and Matthew Ludbrook.
Girgarre v Lancaster
Lancaster travelled to Girgarre in round one to begin its mission to end Murchison-Toolamba’s current premiership stranglehold, while the Kangaroos were looking to claim an early scalp in 2026.
The host was competitive in the first term, the game only seeing three early goals as Lancaster led by nine at the first change, doubling Girgarre’s score.
By half-time, the Wombats were still double their opponent’s score, but neither side had yet to break free of the round one rust, both inaccurate in front of goal as Lancaster led 4.10 (34) to 2.5 (17).
After having double the number of scoring shots in the first half, Lancaster’s dominance in the territory game was likely to start showing up on the scoreboard, and it did by three-quarter time, the Wombats kicking four majors to Girgarre’s one to run the margin up to 37.
Not content with settling on the comfortable lead, or perhaps intent on sending an ominous warning to future opponents, Lancaster went to another level in the fourth term, piling on eight goals and allowing only one behind in response to prevail 16.15 (111) to 3.8 (26).
Player-coach Nick Ryan would have been pleased to see multiple contributors for goals, with himself and nine others kicking majors, led by three each for Thomas Davies and Declan Hallett.
Davies was also named in the best players alongside Billy Mclay, Charlie Mclay, Jamie Scapin, Adam Lovison and Sam Vick, while Girgarre’s list included Reardon McIvor, Josh Temple, Jorge Maxwell, Harry Browning-Briese, Riley McIvor and Joshua Wheeler.
Longwood v Undera
Undera headed to Longwood in round one looking to build on a small improvement in its wins total from 2025.
However, the Redlegs, a finals side last year, provided a stern early test.
The hosts had the edge early on, kicking four majors to Undera’s two to take a 13-point buffer into quarter-time.
In the second, Longwood upped the ante, kicking four majors again while keeping the Lions goalless.
Undera coach Glenn Hart was left frustrated by his side registering six behinds for the quarter, trailing 8.3 (51) to 2.8 (20) at half-time despite having just one less scoring shot.
Undera found its accuracy in the third term, kicking four straight, but it also posted its worst defensive output of the afternoon, allowing Longwood to pile on eight goals to effectively secure the win heading into the fourth.
But Undera can certainly look at its final quarter performance as a positive heading into next week, as the game suddenly broke open at both ends. A total of 12 goals were booted, with the Lions kicking seven to Longwood’s five, the hosts still prevailing 21.11 (137) to 13.9 (87).
Another positive was the performance of Alex Hywood, who booted six majors to be named among Undera’s best players alongside Ostinn Bellingham, Jack Millar, Sam Billinge, Zach Langlands and Jack Doolan.
Merrigum v Murchison-Toolamba
Merrigum, after going winless last year, faced a real baptism of fire in its opening game of 2026 by facing back-to-back premier Murchison-Toolamba.
The Bulldogs felt the full wrath of the league’s benchmark right from the offset, Murchison piling on 10 first-quarter goals to take a 49-point lead into the first break.
Given the body of work both sides have put together in recent seasons, including Murchison winning this fixture by 203 points last year, Merrigum was not expected to challenge the Grasshoppers, who extended their lead to 70 at half-time, 15.6 (96) to 4.2 (26).
The Bulldogs added their fifth major in the third term but also allowed nine goals at the other end, with Murchison passing the 150 mark for points scored and taking a triple-figure lead into the fourth quarter.
Merrigum coach Jason Verhoeven will undoubtedly be pleased with his side’s display in the final term.
The Bulldogs won the quarter with five goals to three, and in the end posted their highest score since round five last season, but Murchison still prevailed 27.13 (175) to 10.2 (62).
Brayden Hall stood out for Merrigum on the day with five majors. He was joined by Falcon Taurua, James Ross, Shelby Ludlow-Lambrick, Jassiah Samkakai and Samuel Macadam on the best players list.
Elsewhere across round one, Shepparton East hammered Tallygaroopna to the tune of 76 points.
After allowing just one behind in the first quarter, the Eagles never looked back, prevailing 17.16 (118) to 6.6 (42) at Central Park Recreation Reserve.
Finally, Nagambie posted the highest score of the opening round in a win over Violet Town.
The Lakers generated more than 50 scoring shots for the match and incredibly kept the Towners scoreless through two quarters, winning by 168 points, 26.26 (182) to 2.2 (14).