Although the Panthers finished minor premiers, they had been beaten by the home team three times by an average of 28 points and started clear outsiders.

However, Lavington launched a physical and scoring blitz to open a stunning 41-point lead at quarter-time, holding off the Pies 14.14 (98) to 9.10 (64) in front of a bumper crowd of 8112 at Norm Minns Oval.

The visitors mixed it up tactically, playing a series of players - one out - at full forward.

"Obviously nil from three, you've got to do something different," coach Simon Curtis said.

"We just isolated the deep forward position with one of our really good one-on-one players. Nick Meredith is tall and fast, Shaun Mannagh is the complete opposite, although he's still quick, and Marty Brennan is a nice mid-size."

Lavington's first quarter was reminiscent of one of the most frenetic performances the league has seen in years in handing seven-time premiers Albury its biggest loss in a decade, a 71-point mauling in round two.

Quite remarkably, after Albury ambushed Wangaratta early to set up last year's flag, the Pies fell into the same trap.

Aidan Johnson opened the scoring after five minutes, before Mannagh had two nervous misses from 15m and 20m respectively.

But it was third time lucky when Mannagh landed the most difficult shot from 40m and he snared a banana from 25m on the boundary.

The match was potentially over at quarter-time after the Panthers' blitz of 6.6 to 0.1.

However, Wangaratta started the fightback when Harry Smart swooped at the two-minute mark.

Bullocking midfielder Matt Kelly changed the complexion midway through the term, blasting a 50m effort and then getting the centre clearance where star forward Michael Newton won a free kick and goaled.

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The Pies were suddenly 23 points down and then Marty Brennan was caught and coughed up the ball for Ben Speight.

When Newton was handed another free kick, the margin was 13 points.

But the Panthers regained some momentum when Curtis tackled Josh Porter in the centre on the ground and was handed 50m for a 19-point break at half-time.

Porter had a bad miss from 25m early in the third and there were no goals until the 16-minute mark when the mercurial Mannagh picked up the ball 60m out, weaved through traffic and goaled from 40m.

And when AB Mackinlay marked and goaled with 90 seconds left, the margin was five goals at three-quarter time.

At the three-minute mark, Mannagh unloaded from 48m near the boundary for one of five and the Did Simpson Medal.

However, the Pies surged again with goals to Brad Melville, Mat Grossman and Speight's third cutting the margin to 16 with just under five minutes left.

But Johnson sealed the win with the best mark, in one arm while flying high.