The 2011 grand finalists looked on track for a huge win, before a final-quarter fightback by the visitors reduced the final margin to less than seven goals.
Epping banged home the first goal through Shaun Garland inside the first minute and before Thomastown knew it they were two goals down when new Blues’ recruit Jarrod Tilley kicked his first for his new club.
The Blues midfield was all over Thomastown early, and did not concede a centre clearance during the first quarter.
To the Bears’ credit, they hung in the contest and managed to kick two late goals against the flow through Mick Khoury and Rabi Hojok and were within 11 points despite Epping having all of the play.
Key forward Aaron Willitts had the perfect response, getting one back for Epping to put them up 17 points ahead with a minute left in the quarter, but a late surge from Thomastown saw Khoury line up after the siren to bang one home to reduce the lead back to 11.
At quarter time Epping coach Mario Bandera asked his players to continue their pressure over the ground and continue to their run hard and sweep Thomastown of its feet.
The Blues opened up the second quarter with a early goal from midfielder Luke Lirosi, but Raff Rachrache got one back for Thomastown minutes later to keep the margin at 11 points.
Former Bundoora ruckman and Epping recruit John Kreuzer then proved too much for the Bears backline as he moved forward and booted a goal and setup another.
After missing from directly in front, Tilley then bagged one from the boundary and it sent Epping into a frenzy as the home side booted five of the last six goals of the quarter to end the half 43 points ahead.
The Blues again got the jump in the third quarter and booted the first three goals into the wind before Rachrache kicked his second goal for day.
However, the former Pascoe Vale midfielder had that goal cancelled out by a Les Adams major down the other end which game Epping a 64-point lead late in the third term.
Two late goals from Rachrache and Khoury got Thomastown back to within 52 points at the last break and despite kicking into the wind the Bears thought they were still in with a chance with all the momentum swinging their way.
Thomastown coach George Lattouf kept telling his troops to keep fighting as they were not out of the game, emphasising the need to stop Epping’s midfield.
The Bears were electric at the beginning of the final term, booting the first five goals into the wind to peg the margin back to 29 points.
With the Epping faithful both stunned and frustrated by the Thomastown fightback, it was Adrian Totino and Tilley who steadied the ship with consecutive goals to secure the win for the Blues.
Daniel Moore was adjudged best on ground for Epping and received a helping hand from Matthew Garland, while Tilley snagged five and Totino bagged four to lead the goalkicking for the day.
Next week Epping will try to continue its winning ways when it travels to Lalor in a vital clash for both sides, meanwhile Thomastown hosts in-form Diamond Creek who easily accounted for Hurstbridge in Round 1.
Final score: Epping 18.15.123 defeated Thomastown 13.4.82
