LALOR produced a stunning performance to upset and outrun the Fitzroy Stars by 37 points at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval in Round 7.
Tight for the first term, the Bloods broke away in the second and never looked like giving up the lead thereafter, as they outclassed the Stars and pounced on their missed opportunities to win 17.14 (116) to 10.19 (79).
The Stars still haven’t fixed the one underlining factor in their game, and that is their horrible accuracy when it comes to kicking the ball through the big sticks.
For the fourth successive week last year’s runner-up booted more behinds than goals, having now booted a total of 42.75 over the past month.
When it was tight early the Stars could have put their visitors away in the first term, but the Bloods thrived on the host’s early waywardness.
Lalor got the head start through Jarrod King as he picked up the crumbs to slam home the first major of the day. The Stars however made it all square only seconds later as their ever reliable skipper Lionel Proctor slotted his tight set shot from the boundary.
Another goal exchange followed and it was tied up at 2.3 (15) apiece midway through the term.
Fitzroy then mustered up a huge attacking wave of pressure onto the Bloods, however, were only able to score 1.5 for their efforts. The Bloods ended the term with two straight majors and held a one-point advantage at the first break.
Despite the Stars having the majority of the play throughout the first term, their inaccurate kicking cost them dearly as the Bloods ended that first term with all the momentum.
That proved to be the difference in the second term as they kept that momentum going to slam home three unanswered goals to race away to a 23-point lead early in the term.
The Stars finally came up with a reply through John Hayes to briefly halt the Bloods’ run, but two late goals through Todd Hughes and Jhye Baddeley-Kelly enabled Lalor to head into the second half with a 27-point advantage.
The Bloods were looking the goods towards the end of the second term but it was the Stars who were able to get off to the better start in the third term, goaling through Bradley Stafford to reduce the margin to 21 points.
A comeback looked on the cards as the Stars continued their free-flowing attacking flare, but inaccurate kicking again would cost them.
The Bloods pounced at the other end and kicked two back-to-back coast-to-coast goals to streak out to a then game-high 33-point lead.
A couple of goal exchanges saw out the end of the third as the Bloods held a convincing 31-point lead at the three-quarter time break.
John Hayes got the Stars rolling at the start of the fourth term as hopes of a miracle comeback were back on the cards. But three unanswered Lalor goals would see the end for the Stars as the Bloods ran away with an important 37-point win.
Leading the way for the Bloods were Jason Kelly, Baddeley-Kelly and King whilst the shining lights for the Stars were Peter Hood, Clinton Edwards and Proctor.
The win sees Lalor leap-frog Fitzroy into third place on the ladder, ahead of a home clash with undefeated ladder-leader Thomastown in Round 8.
Having slipped to fifth place on the table, the Stars have another home game this week, this time against Panton Hill as they look to get back into the top four at the Queen’s Birthday break.
Final scores: Fitzroy Stars 10.19 (79) def by Lalor 17.14 (116)
