Beaufort started the 2017 Central Highlands Football League season in emphatic style, smashing Daylesford by 83 points.
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The Crows got off to the perfect start against the Bulldogs with a seven-goals-to-one first term and were never challenged after that.
Beaufort was slick and devastating out of the centre and there were 10 Crows players on the scoreboard by the final siren.
Tim Haase and Lachie Murray spearheaded a relentless Beaufort attack. They kicked five goals each and inspired others like Jayden Orr, who booted three majors, and Alex Petrie and Chris Drew, who scored two apiece.
It was a strong team effort, but the driving forces at work were players like skipper Michael Foster, Tom Stapleton, Julian Cameron, Lachie Pfeifer, Murray and ruckman Josh McDermott.
Youngster Digby Sangster was solid around the centre and even popped up for a goal.
It was an awful football lesson Daylesford received, but there was a fightback in the second term with fierce tackling and some scoreboard pressure.
Ken Cummings hit back for the Bulldogs with two goals in that term, while youngsters Cameron Lovig and Seb Walsh booted singles.
Max Risstrom and Walsh ended the day with two majors each.
New Beaufort coach Rohan Brown was elated with the dream start and heaped praise on his players.
“The boys were pretty good. It’s always tough to come over here (Daylesford) to a quality opposition,” he said.
“To win like that was really pleasing.
“That’s how we wanted to play … with 22 contributors. And we really did that.
“All we ask is that the guys play their role and that’s what they did. I thought everyone was exceptional.
“And we got through alright…a full bill of health.”
For Daylesford coach Marcus Goonan the timing wasn’t ideal.
“We are two weeks away from being where we’d like to be. All credit to Beaufort. They’re a really good side,” Goonan said.
“We had a slow start to pre-season and it’s taking a while for things to gel. There’s 11 new players in the side and we’ve lost a couple … takes a little while to gel.”
Looking ahead to round two and Beaufort will play its first home fixture of the campaign when it hosts Bungaree next Saturday.
For Daylesford, the task doesn’t get much easier.
The Bulldogs will take on their arch-rivals Hepburn in the 2017 spa country derby before the competition breaks over the Easter weekend.
