The mobile ruckman won the tap at stoppages, but more importantly could also exploit the Cats' lack of a key position defender after Nathan Hunt was a late withdrawal.

Warriors coach Nick Sheehan simply handed the ruck duties to former Koroit youngster Connor Barby and watched on as Lenehan finished with five majors in a best on ground performance that set up a 14.11 (95) to 10.11 (71) victory.

"We've been doing that all season and Connor has just come along leaps and bounds," Sheehan told The Standard.

Allansford led Old Collegians by five points at quarter-time, but would be on the wrong end of a seven-goal barrage in the second quarter.

The Warriors, who regained Bodie Hibberson, Michael Lambevski, Paul Campbell, Rick Dolphin and Dan Wheel for the clash, managed to play football on their own terms for long enough to take a 25-point margin into the main break.

"We were second to the footy early on but managed to turn that around and then opened them up with quick ball movement and our run and carry," Sheehan said.

"That was the main difference in the end."

While Old Collegians lost Lachie Young (hamstring) and Tom Lambevski (ankle) to injury, Sheehan said he was rapt with the performance of his returning players, along with Jacob Brooks and Sam Thomas on the wings.

"We had a tough start to the year but to be sitting 5-1, you'd take that any day of the week," he said.

Sam Byron was best on for Allansford, while Sam Alberts top-scored with three majors.

Cats coach Ben Price said it was frustrating his side lost by more than four goals after just about winning three quarters of football.

"I'm not into praising honourable losses at all but the effort was there and the boys executed what we asked for," he said.

"There was just a 15 to 20-minute period in the second term where Old Collegians dominated the game. They re-adjusted well around the stoppages and created more run from half back.

"And I think skills errors and turnovers cost us a bit in the end too."

Price said he was pleased with the number of scoring opportunities created but hoped his side learned to better cope with momentum shifts.

"With such a young midfield group it can be hard to get back into the game sometimes," he said.

"You just need to be ready to play a period of boring, grinding footy to negate their run.

"I was pretty happy with our clearance work though - we often got first use of the ball. But then that second or third possession was a problem."

Allansford host Dennington next week while Old Collegians take on Russells Creek at Mack Oval.

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