Yarrawonga has piled on 15 second-half goals to blitz North Albury by 92 points.
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Jess Koopman bagged another four, while Drew Barnes, Bronson Schofield and Brad O’Connor, in his return from the reserves, booted three apiece in the 24.9 (153) to 8.13 (61) caning.
“We tried a lot of new things today,” co-coach Chris Kennedy said.
“We’re just trying to get a real versatile side, ‘Secko’ (co-coach Damian Sexton) and I are just trying to learn what the kids can do.”
Koopman was best-on-ground with a typically busy performance, while Tyler Bonat, Mark Whiley and Xavier Leslie also featured.
Koopman edged out first-year captain and last year’s co-Morris Medallist Bonat for best player.
“Tyler had 40-plus possessions,” Kennedy said.
“He worked hard and spent a whole quarter across half-back, he led from the front.”
Yarrawonga is shaping as the most likely contender to Albury’s stranglehold.
“We don’t really talk about Albury at all,” Kennedy said.
“We’re probably one of the only clubs that don’t focus on them.
“All we’re trying to do is make our club as strong as can be and our players as strong as they can possibly be.
“We understand they’re strong, but we understand they’re strong because they’ve had a core group hang around for along time.
We don’t really talk about Albury at all. We’re probably one of the only clubs that don’t focus on them ... we understand they’re strong because they’ve had a core group hang around for a long time.
- Chris Kennedy
“We probably don’t complain about Albury.”
The Pigeons had a stack of premiership players in reserves, including Tim Cooper and Marcus McMillan, who have been busy with work commitments over the off-season.
Grand final best and fairest Connor Hargreaves and big man Brandon Symes also played in the earlier game.
Symes was best-on-ground in the Pigeons’ 64-point win, while Cooper was also named in the best six.
That depth will be crucial for anyone to have any hope of stopping the Tigers rack up a fourth straight title.
Yarrawonga suffered no injuries in seniors so, given the size of its win, it might be difficult to see too many changes ahead of the Easter weekend.
The Pigeons have their annual match against Wangaratta Rovers on Sunday, while North will travel to Myrtleford and face a desperate outfit looking to not slump to a 0-3 start.
One of the positives for North is the impressive return of Jesse Johnston.
