Epping have moved up to third on the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 ladder after a statement 65-point away win against Ivanhoe.
It marks the Blues first victory against top five opposition this season, as the side recorded its highest score for the year in a 21.13 (139) to 12.5 (77) demolition.
Sebastian Latina, Matthew Williamson and Daniel Rahklin led the scorecard with five goals apiece in a commanding forward performance which saw Epping extend their lead at every break.
The game was won from the centre as Brent Macaffer, Mitchell Henwood and Corey Middleton dominated the clearance battle, while Jake Conway put in a commendable shift in ruck.
The Hoers showed glimpses but lacked polish and efficiency heading inside forward 50, with the large deficit sending the side from third to sixth.
Ivanhoe’s best football often came through the hands of Wayne Shultz, who led by example in defence and midfield, while also drifting forward for four goals.
Jamie Lay and Kane Veliou had patches of success winning the ball, but for every question Ivanhoe posed, Epping seemingly had two answers.
Brad Hollow’s men came out of the traps with intent. The opening 12-minutes saw the Blues claim seven scoring shots, converting five into majors through Lucas Aquilina, Matthew Williamson, Sebastian Latina and Daniel Rakhlin.
Against the wind, Ivanhoe battled tenaciously to hold within reach. Hamish Chapman, Michael Doyle and Will Goodieson had impressive moments and surged their team off half-back, helping to temporarily halt the defensive pressure.
Trading blows the Hoers managed to keep the margin to just four goals at the first break, but with Epping’s score already above 50, their damaging attacking strength was abundantly clear.
Ivanhoe emerged from the huddle as a team possessed. By the 8-minute mark, the quarter time deficit had already been cancelled, as Jamie Lay, Andrew Otten kicked two goals within a minute.
Wayne Schutlz’s back-to-back goals then sent the pavilion into raptures as the scores tied up and with the wind in their favour, it seemed inevitable that Ivanhoe would surge to a convincing half-time lead.
However, this would be as close as the Hoers got, with Epping stars Leigh Judd and Adrian Alfonsi stepping up.
In routine fashion, the Blues expertly found marking targets inside 50, as the clearance battle turned on its head.
Epping claimed six of the next seven goals, mainly through Matthew Williamson and Daniel Rakhlin causing headaches.
Leading at the half-time siren by 30 points, the Blues had no intention of looking back. Within minutes Williamson claimed his fourth, before Jordan Wilkins made a rare venture forward.
Ivanhoe briefly tried to mount a comeback as Liam Ward and Oscar McIntyre grew into the game, but wayward kicking and poor decisions left their efforts largely unrewarded.
Epping’s eye for goal continued to strengthen, as Daniel Rakhlin and Adrian Alfonsi extended the lead to 53 points at the final change.
Having a significant stranglehold on the match, the Blues eased through the final term, managing another seven scoring shots to surge to a 63-point victory.
With their next four matches against Kilmore, Reservoir, Old Eltham Collegians and Lalor, Brad Hollow’s men will look to sustain this momentum and break away from the cluster of teams in the middle of the ladder.
