The Grasshoppers have moved to first place on the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League ladder for the first time this season, after a 154-point dismantling of Maldon.
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In an incredible display of accuracy in front of goal, Navarre booted 29.15.189 to 5.5.35.
Maldon looked to be able to put a respectable score against Navarre after kicking two first quarter goals.
The Grasshoppers put their foot down after the first break, kicking eight goals and keeping the home side scoreless.
They managed only one goal in the third term, but a 14-goal onslaught in the final period extended the lead over the 100 and then the 150-point barrier.
Navarre assistant coach Matt Newton said they are very happy with the win.
“It was a fantastic win to get,” he said.
“We had a lot of young guys step up, a lot of fresh faces around the group. Everyone gelled really well as a team which was great.”
The Grasshoppers have rotated a cast of new players through their senior team in recent weeks, with injuries keeping key senior players out.
Newton said the move to leave older players out for longer to recover has worked well.
“We are taking it as conservatively as possible with our injured guys,” he said.
“”The young guys are coming through and finding out they know they are up to the standard. It is a good opportunity for them to try and cement their spot in the team.”
The big win sees the reigning premiers bump Carisbrook from first place, moving ahead on percentage.
The Grasshoppers have a massive percentage of 271.26, 2.7 per cent more than the Redbacks.
This weekends game against Dunolly will round off a dream period for Navarre, playing the bottom three sides in consecutive weeks to sky rocket its percentage.
Newton said the timing of the fixture has been great.
“To play the bottom sides in winter is handy,” he said.
“We had a lot of the top sides at the start of the season, so it is good to have a chance to rest up now against some lower sides.
“We know that at the end of the season the top six will be fairly even.”
Aaron Slorach was best on ground for the Grasshoppers, booting six goals.
“The long and narrow ground suited Aaron,” Newton said.
“Off the wing he was able to run and shoot or hit up our forwards.”
Cody Driscoll and Nic Baird also finished with six majors to their name.
Driscoll now has 61 goals for the season and with five games remaining is an outside chance to break the historic 100 mark.
