With the ground resembling more of a swamp than a football oval, Daylesford pushed through the mud and cold conditions to break away from its opponents in the second term, and did not look back.

Michael Cummings put in a great display against top opposition in his return game for the club, booting four goals and giving the Bulldogs forward line another avenue to goal.

Youngster Hayden Mobbs also put in one of his best performances for the club in his short senior career, revelling in the difficult conditions by winning the contested ball at the stoppages time and again.

Cummings got off to a dream start in his first game back at the club for two years, kicking the first goal which had the Daylesford players rushing to congratulate him.

It took both sides the entire first quarter to adjust to the conditions, with both teams drawing level at the first change with just two goals apiece.

The second quarter brought about the arrival of Andrew Button, who started on the bench.

With the three-pronged attack of Button, Cummings and playing-coach Luke Beattie, Daylesford looked much more dangerous going forward, and booted five goals for the term, with two coming from the boot of Button.

Daylesford held a three-goal lead at the main break and, with the ground's condition becoming worse by the quarter, it was always going to be a tough deficit to peg back.

Daylesford 11.9 (75) d Buninyong 6.9 (45)