NAVARRE Grasshoppers have surprised themselves and all who witnessed their thrashing of Newstead in the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League.
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There was much anticipation leading into the match with a close game expected.
A large Sunday crowd would have been impressed by the display of football in the first half.
Play was physical, but at the same time skills were well executed by both teams.
Navarre led by just eight points at the first break.
The second quarter provided more competitive football. However Navarre increased their margin to 16 points.
From half time it may have been a mix of Navarre lifting their tempo or Newstead falling away, but the game was played on the Navarre's terms.
Newstead kicked just one goal in the second half and the absence of power forward Mark Ramsey became evident.
The third quarter saw Navarre pile on eight goals and five behinds in what coach Daniel Parkin described as the best quarter of football they've played for the year.
"Our pressure just lifted to another gear," Parkin said.
"It was easily our best quarter of football for the year against a strong opponent."
Kris Brennan was a huge part of their successful third term, kicking multiple goals, with one coming off the back of a huge contested mark.
Brennan took a run and jump to land on the shoulders of Newstead ruckman Jayden Bott.
He was on Bott's shoulders for a substantial amount of time before he grabbed the football and returned to the ground.
Louis Hannett kicked four goals in his return to the side after a broken jaw, but the coach thinks he is still a little bit away from his best.
"Louis played well in his first game back, but he just lacks confidence and a bit of match fitness," Parkin said.
Parkin himself was listed in the best players kicking three goals and running through the midfield.
Other best players were Josh Driscoll, Sam Kaye, Ash Driscoll, Brent Flood and Rhett Murphy.
Murphy stepped up and did the majority of the ruck work on his own after teammate Josh Fowkes went down with a knee injury.
Fowkes has since had scans that came back clear, but is likely to miss a couple of weeks.
"Our backline was super. They are what really separated us from Newstead," Parkin said.
"We struggled at times falling down on the half forward line, but we are obviously very happy with the result. It surprised me that we won as easy as we did."
The final score for the match was 19.17.131 to Newstead's 5.3.33.
