Nine rounds in and percentage is becoming a major factor, as Nirranda and Dennington jostle for the number one ranking. The Blues are four points clear of the Dogs and went into Saturday's game with a 217.30 to 182.20 percentage break.

Despite a healthy 80-20 win over Panmure at Nirranda, the Blues percentage buffer has been eroded.

This reduction comes after Dennington showed no mercy against a winless East Warrnambool. The Dogs dominated play on their home court, defeating the Bombers 89-15.

Nirranda now has a percentage count of 235.12 with Dennington on 204.30.

Such is the dominance of both teams, they have only dropped one game between them so far this season.

That was when the Blues beat the Dogs in round two by five goals. Only once this season have the teams won by less than double-figure margins, both against Old Collegians. 

While the Blues and Dogs are grabbing the headlines, third-placed Timboon Demons are doing very little wrong. The Demons have lost just one game, a 29-point defeat at the hands of Nirranda in round six. Since then, it has been full steam ahead, with their latest outing producing a 47-30 win over Russells Creek at home on Saturday. The Demons percentage of 148.91 has them off the pace of the top two, but in form that is pleasing coach coach Kelly Gowland. 

“There are areas we need to improve, we are still having patches where our intensity drops off,” Gowland said.

“But to have only one loss after nine rounds is a good result.”

Gowland said the club’s depth was on show on Saturday with junior player Danica Clough stepping into the A grade team and being a good contributor at her post of wing defence.