Montmorency strengthened its place atop the Division 1 ladder with a 122-point annihilation of neighbour Lower Plenty in Round 6.
The Magpies booted 13 goals to two in the second half as they romped to a 27.17 (179) to 8.9 (57) victory at Montmorency Park South Oval.
It was always going to be a tough ask for the Bears, with Montmorency heading in undefeated, while the Bears had only managed a solitary win for season 2013.
However, Lower Plenty did have recent form over the Pies in previous encounters, getting the better of the ladder leader last year on a day where Montmorency kicked a wasteful 5.21.
The game got under way and Lower Plenty got the start it wanted with a great goal from Kane Tenace. But it was quickly cancelled out by Ben Walton with a long bomb from close to the centre square.
The Magpies then got on a roll as Ryan Willits and Jesse Donaldon got on the scoresheet, before Pat Fitzgerald made it four in a row with a strong pack mark resulting in a goal. Willits’ second looked as if the Magpies would leave the Bears in the dust before Jesse Smith finally broke through for the Bears with their second of the day.
Montmorency took a 21-point lead into the first change and picked up where it left off in the second, kicking the first five goals of the quarter. Rowan Nayna and Willits kicked two each and Fitzgerald booted his second of the match.
Jackson Powell stemmed the flow for a moment with a much-needed goal for the Bears but that was cancelled out by Ben Walton getting his second of the day.
Lower Plenty recorded consecutive goals through Reece Geary and Bowen Zimbolani as it tried desperately to stay in the contest, however Montmorency finished off the quarter strongly with goals to Callum Daley and Ryan Jackson taking the lead to 50 points at the main break.
The sides traded blows early in the third quarter, but the Magpies asserted their dominance again with the last three goals of the quarter. That included 50m penalty resulting in an Alex Chocci goal to leave the margin at 71 points at the last change.
Despite already having the game wrapped up, Montmorency was ruthless to the end as it ran riot in the last quarter. The Pies booted eight goals to nil in the fourth quarter as they boosted their percentage and left their rivals sitting bottom of the table.
The major goal kicker for Montmorency was Ryan Willits with five, while Pat Fitzgerald, Ben Walton and Ryan Jackson all finished with four. Jackson was clearly best afield, while Lower Plenty skipper Darcy Barden fought hard against the onslaught.
The Pies now prepare themselves for a blockbuster home match against third-placed Northcote Park, while Lower Plenty needs to regroup quickly as it takes on West Preston-Lakeside in a must-win game.
Final score: Lower Plenty 8.9 (57) def by Montmorency 27.17 (179)
