Hepburn ran out winners over Waubra by 12 points on Saturday.

Lee Cox shot out of the blocks early before being set upon by his Waubra opponents.

Cox was to be the most damaging forward, finishing the day with a match-winning six goals.

Again Sam Conroy had a fantastic battle, this time with one of the CHFL's best ruckman, George Russell.

Hepburn's fleet-footed midfielders, Peake, O'Halloran and Daniel James, were at the fall of every ball.

The backline held together well with Paul Buntsma again keeping his opponent goalless.

Brendan Shepherd again stood out in several contests, with a ripper of a bone-jarring crunch to Michael Sordello in front of the home crowd.

With scores level at half time it was anyone's guess who would gain control of the game.

Seven games ago Jimmy Rodgers was playing under-15 football. On Saturday, in his first game of senior football, he handled the pressure like a seasoned performer with a quality goal in the third quarter kicked under extreme pressure.

It was to be an intense last quarter, where both sides were not about to give an inch.

Andy McKay's Rolls-Royce-like possessions were like gold in the conditions and made Waubra pay dearly.

With the game in the balance down to the final minute, it wasn't until Matthew Peake roved the pack deep in the Hepburn forward line to kick the sealer that Hepburn hearts were put at ease.

Score: Hepburn 14. 9. 93 defeated Waubra 12.9.81. Best: L. Cox, D James, C. Leehane, A. McKay, M. Peake, S. Conroy. Goals: L. Cox 6, A. McKay 2, J. James, N. Purtell, J. Rodgers, J. Douglass and T. Johnson 1.