Epping had a tough challenge in the first quarter kicking into the wind, with less than five goals kicked to that end during the reserves and under-19s matches.
Despite the stiff breeze, Blues captain Daniel Moore kicked the first goal within the opening minutes of the game.
Not long after South Morang key forward Matthew Pow hit back to tie the game after a good 10 minutes of play.
But two late goals from Moore and Les Adams saw Epping hold a handy 16-point lead going into the first break after kicking into the wind.
Epping coach Mario Bandera was impressed with his team’s first quarter but pleaded for them to dispose of the ball better and use the right option. He urged the team to not just kick in hope when they had the ball and expect the wind to simply work for them.
The Blues came out firing in the second quarter and like they did in the first, kicked a goal within the opening minutes through Simon Kefalas.
Not long after Epping had the opening five of the quarter, but inaccurate kicking still kept the scoreboard looking respectable.
Pow kicked the Lions second against the run of play and then had a chance to kick their third on the siren, but failed to register a score.
Adrian Totino snagged the first of the second half for the Blues as they again looked to dominate the third term.
Shortly later Pow would get his and his team’s third goal for the game but that would be the only South Morang goal for the quarter after four costly misses in front of goal.
Epping then went on to boot the last five of the quarter to hold a 73-point lead at the final break.
Bandera told his players that they needed to make a statement in the last quarter after failing to put teams to the sword several times this year.
Totino and Luke Lirosi would heed Bandera’s message, kicking the first couple of goals for Epping before Duane Russell and Kane Searle snagged two back for South Morang.
But the Blues were ruthless in the closing stages of the game and kicked the last five goals to runaway victorious by 108 points.
Peter McMahon was named best afield for the Blues, along with Totino who booting four goals, while Simon Grossman and Daniel Heatley were the Lions’ best two players and worked hard for the entirety of the game.
This week Epping hosts North Heidelberg in the NFL Match of the Day, while South Morang travels to Diamond Creek looking to end its eight-game losing streak.
Final score: South Morang 5.4 (34) def by Epping 21.16 (142)
