It only took one game to find the answer – a resounding yes.
Whittlesea were simply too good for South Morang in the 21.23 (149) to 7.11 (53) romping, with the Lions unable to match it with the Eagles in every the facet of the game.
The highlight for the Eagles was the combination of Fairchild and Harrison.
The two forwards, who play a very similar style of game, combined for 16 of the Eagles’ 21 goals in the 96-point demolishing of South Morang.
Fairchild, living up to his nickname, seemed to have sticky hands as he pulled in mark after mark, kicking 10 majors to single-handedly outscore the opposition.
Harrison kicked six of his own and the pair found themselves on the end of some quality delivery from the midfield with Brenton Briffa and Lucas Hobbs running riot through the midfield at the feet of big men Page and Bekker.
The game started in sloppy fashion with the Eagles kicking against a strong wind struggling to get the score on the board.
Harrison kicked the only two goals for the Eagles in the first quarter as South Morang took a three-point lead into quarter time.
Coach Pete Bugden addressed the boys with gusto, not happy with the first quarter performance of his men.
Kicking with a decent breeze in the second quarter and after a baking by Bugden, the Eagles responded with a seven-goal second term. With South Morang only managing one major, the Eagles went into half-time 39 points ahead.
Co-captains Roy Dyson and Garrett Heenan were back to their tough, uncompromising best while Lachlan Brennan and Dale Saddington provided constant rebound off the halfback line to ensure that the two power forwards were given a large supply of the Sherrin.
Once again kicking against the wind, the Eagles only managed four goals in the third quarter with Fairchild once again the standout up forward.
The final quarter saw the Eagles boot away with the wind kicking eight goals and pushed their claims as the powerhouse of the competition to run out 96-point victors.
Final score: Whittlesea 21.23 (149) def South Morang 7.11 (53)
