MCDFL - Navarre have clawed their way back into premiership contention following a 33 point win against Trentham at Princes Park, Maryborough, on Saturday.
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Louis Hannett returned from a stint on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, while Brian Lovison and Nic Murphy stepped up in the absence of Alex Reichman and Jesse Hannett.
The Grasshoppers were switched on from the first bounce, racing to a 20 point lead at quarter time.
Brent Moloney was assigned a tagging role on Trentham defender Charles Hunter, while defenders Bryce Tickner and Daniel Fitzell had their hands full in trying to stop Saints forwards Ty Priest and Nathan Montague.
Navarre went into the main break 38 points up and extended the margin to 50 at three quarter time.
A goal kicked in the opening minute of the final term saw the lead creep out to 56 points, before Trentham came out and scored five goals to put some respectability back on the scoreboard.
It was too late however, with the Grasshoppers coming away with the win to set up a preliminary final showdown against Maldon.
Navarre coach Daniel Parkin said it was a 22 player effort that saw his side bounce back from the loss to Carisbrook.
"We had 22 players on the weekend and that is needed, especially in finals," he said.
"It also helped we did our homework on Trentham. They have a classy midfield and had their two forwards (Montague and Priest). We knew we had to shut down those avenues to goal."
Charles Hunter, who was best on ground for Saints in their 90 point thumping of Natte Bealiba, was finding the ball easily in the first five minutes before it was decided Moloney would run with him.
Parkin praised Moloney for his effort in shutting Hunter down.
"We told Brent to go with him and see what he's doing. He managed to get a few kicks in the last quarter when we took Brent off him but by then, it was too late," Parkin said.
The coach was impressed by Navarre's midfielders including Daniel Reading and Ben Scott, saying they didn't give away much space at all throughout the afternoon.
"It was a big effort out of them. All over the ground we were one on one. The backline was tight and we had a few avenues to goal, which was good," Parkin said.
"Louie (Hannett) is a crumbing quality forward and (Ben) Scott and (Kris) Brennan are fairly potent."
Hannett booted four goals upon his return, while Scott had what Parkin hailed as a blinder of a game, playing the first half of the match down forward before moving onball where he created that spark.
Scott finished with four goals and Kris Brennan contributed three in the 15.7 (97) to 10.4 (64) victory.
Bryce Tickner has been in good form over the past couple of months and once again dominated on the wing after starting at centre half back.
Meanwhile Fitzell managed to keep Montague quiet, restricting him to just one goal, but in the end it was a good all-round performance by the Grasshoppers.
"Everyone else just stood up on the day," Parkin said.