FEDERAL took a giant step towards securing the double chance by trouncing rivals Corryong at Corryong on Saturday.
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The second-placed Swans held their opponents goalless in the first-half before running out 67-point victors.
They are now four premiership points and percentage clear of Cudgewa with four rounds remaining.
“We got a lot of things right,” coach Gerard Midson said.
“We asked the boys for a really good defensive effort and to hold them goalless for a half was pleasing.
“Our tackling intensity was right up.”
Federal’s multi-pronged forward-line of Mitch Paton, Keiran Brennan and Tim Seymour created havoc.
They kicked 11 goals between them and feasted on the dominance of Steve Bradshaw, Cameron Sheather, Dylan Haycraft and James Scannell.
Jordan Wilson held Demon forward Jarrod Williams to one goal.
“Top two was spoken about before the match as we would have dropped back into a cluster if we had lost,” he said.
“It’s good to be a game clear.
“We have a big game against Cudgewa next and, if we win that, we should be right.
“Our best players were really hard to pick on Saturday which is always good sign.”
Corryong’s James Barlee played well floating across half-back, coach Evan Nicholas did a power of work and Kyle McNamara was prominent for four quarters.
Bullioh defeated Border-Walwa by 91 points.
Hamish Clark and Zac Burhop kicked four goals each for the victors while Taylor Fenton, Alex Freeman and Ben Commins were strong further afield.
Border-Walwa were best served by Carl Lewry and Ben McCarthy.
The Magpies were forced to forfeit their reserve grade match.
Cudgewa brought down Tumbarumba by 52 points.
Nick McCormack helped the Blues make a flying start with Jake Vinge, Lachlan Whiteley and Mitchell Pynappels offering plenty of support.
Vinge was the best forward on the ground with five majors.
Tumbarumba, who impressed in kicking 13 goals, had solid contributors in Travis Collison and Cameron Johnston.
Jake Webster and Tim Post also had their moments kicking three goals from limited opportunities.