Five unanswered goals in the final term ensured the Blues continued their undefeated run in 2012 as they extended their winning streak to 10 games.
The ladder leader looked in genuine trouble during the opening two and a half quarters of the top of the table clash, before overcoming the Demons’ resistance to emerge victorious 13.14 (92) to 8.5 (53) at Epping Recreation Reserve.
The home side led by just two points at three-quarter time, but an early onslaught in the opening 12 minutes of the last quarter saw Luke Lirosi, Matthew Garland and Adrin Totino all convert majors to open up a match-winning four-goal buffer.
Skipper Daniel Moore was superb for four quarters, winning plenty of the ball through the midfield and kicking two goals when the chips were down for the home side, while speedster Lirosi and defender David Little were also dominant in the Blues’ victory.
For Diamond Creek, ruckman Jai Norman tried valiantly in the ruck and just edged out John Kreuzer in an enthralling battle in the ruck, while Ryan Burrell and Alex Vella also fought hard despite the final scoreline.
The visitor came prepared to cause a boilover and looked like cutting Epping’s lead at the top of the ladder to just one game when it kicked the opening three goals to race out to a 19-point lead courtesy of goals to Luke Simpson and Ben Garrard (twice).
Harley Nancarrow finally settled the home side when he kicked truly after receiving a free kick for a ruck infringement, before Simon Kefalas drilled the Blues’ second after a smothered ball landed fortunately in his path.
Seconds later Epping was back within two points when Lirosi was awarded a free kick directly after Kefalas’ goal and converted from 40m out.
Moore put his side in front for the first time at the 25 minute mark of the first quarter when he took a towering mark 15m out from goal, but the Demons quickly rested back the lead when Brent Gutterson marked and goaled from the resulting centre clearance.
Gutterson then booted the opening goal of the second term when he neatly crumbed his own spilled mark and curled one through from 35m.
The Blues then provided the best passage of play for the game when ruckman Kreuzer put Shaun Hamling into the clear from a stoppage, with the midfielder then passing beautifully to Daniel Moore on the lead. The skipper converted from 40m out and trimmed Diamond Creek’s lead back to two points.
But the Demons extended their buffer to 14 at the main break when Simpson kicked the final two goals of the quarter, one from a big 50m set shot and the second after marking a Gutterson snap at goal.
It was Diamond Creek’s spread from the stoppages that was causing Epping’s problems in the opening half, but the quest for clean possession become near impossible in the opening 15 minutes of the third quarter as both sides netted just two behinds apiece.
Mitch Henwood finally got the first goal of the term for Epping when he got end of a spearing pass from Hamling, before Matthew Garland soccered a magical goal off the ground.
Mitch Johnson pegged one back for the Demons to snatch back the lead by five points, but his goal at the 22 minute mark of the third quarter would be his side’s last for the game.
Lirosi gave Epping the lead at three-quarter time when he streamed through the middle of the ground and drilled a goal from 30m out.
In the last quarter the Blues demonstrated why they are the premiership favourites in Division 2, dominating in the clearances and punishing Diamond Creek with fast and clean ball movement in transition.
Brothers Adrian and Josh Totino came to life after being kept in check during the opening three quarters, while Lirosi’s dash was too much to contain.
His goal to begin the final term was a beauty. After intercepting a kick out he dribbled through a shot from 35m out on the boundary line.
Daniel Santoro sealed the victory with a 35m goal from a standing start to extend the lead to 30 points, before Simon Kefalas kicked his second late in proceedings to hand his side a 39-point margin.
The Blues next week travel to South Morang for a clash with the struggling Lions, while Diamond Creek hosts Lalor who has now fallen four games behind the top four.
Final score: Epping 13.14 (92) def Diamond Creek 8.5 (53)
