The Bulldogs have been plagued by injury in the opening month of the season but showed plenty of grit to register their second win of the season, 12.7 (79) to 8.14  (62).

Matt Fowler showed he is over an ankle complaint with a six-goal bag while youngsters Luke Gerecke and Darcy Moore were outstanding for the Bulldogs.

“There’s been a fair rivalry between the clubs over the years and it was a really good, hard-fought game,” Thurgoona co-coach Jamarl O’Sullivan said.

“We haven’t been far off the mark the past few weeks, just a few things haven’t gone our way and we haven’t taken our opportunities.

“It was bound to turn eventually.

“We changed our training, to make it a bit more competitive, and I think that helped as well.

“Having ‘Fowls’ back helped straighten us up and the kids were fantastic, their pressure around the ball was brilliant.”

The Bulldogs’ next challenge comes in the form of ladder-leaders Rutherglen.

The Cats kept their undefeated record intact with a 62-point win against Barnawartha at Barnawartha.

The visitors came out firing but were wasteful in the opening half and it wasn’t until the third quarter that they broke the match open, with eight goals to one setting up the victory.

Martin Brennan continued his fine start to the season with a best-on-ground performance for the Cats while Jakeb Meyer was a threat up forward with six goals.

Experienced defender Tim Price gave his all for the previously unbeaten Tigers.

James Breen won the battle of the key forwards as Tallangatta cruised past Yackandandah.

Breen kicked six majors as the reigning premiers set up a 69-point victory with an eight-goal-to-one opening half.

Breen’s haul takes him to 32 for the season, two clear of Yackandandah co-coach Trent Castles, who kicked one goal for the Roos in defeat.

Ryan Wallace and Malcolm Vogel ran amok as Kiewa-Sandy Creek comfortably accounted for Wahgunyah by 54 points.

Beechworth chalked up its first victory of the year with a 156-point hammering of Wodonga Saints, with Brenton Surrey and Stephen Power prominent for the Bushies.

Caleb Boxall kicked eight goals as Chiltern registered its first win of the season with a 173-point hiding of Dederang-Mount Beauty.