IN a battle between two of the flag favorites it was the third term, often referred to as the premiership quarter, that proved decisive.
More than just decisive, it was 30 minutes of brutal football from Whorouly, which piled on 11 goals to King Valley's one to go from 14 points down at the main break to 47 points up at three quarter time.
The Lions were simply irrepressible.
After skipper Luke Matheson converted from a free kick in the opening minute of the term it was Michael Nixon and Richard Leahy who took over, booting the Lions' next 10 goals between them.
Apart from an early link up between the Sessions brothers that resulted in a major to King Valley, the Roos couldn't get near it.
Adam Pascoe and Chas Pianegonda started to get on top in the ruck duels, while Scott McNamara, Matheson, Trevor Vyner and Lima Harrington quickly got the ball moving forward.
From there it was all Nixon and Leahy the pair getting their hands on everything and making the Roos pay dearly.
Nixon was especially brilliant, kicking a couple of sensational goals, while Leahy was just too strong for Dan Rowley.
To be fair to King Valley, Whorouly's forwards had their job made easier when Steve Beavis was helped from the ground with an ankle injury just before halftime.
Up to that point Beavis had been a rock at centre half back, frequently chopping off the Lions' attacks.
But Whorouly wasn't without its own injury concerns, losing Brett McNamara and Luke Elkington during the first half, with rotations at a minimum throughout the third term.
While King Valley played without much discipline or composure in the third, it was the Lions who went off the rails in the final term.
A 50m penalty gifted a goal to Angus Young, before a dust-up between Brendan Sessions and Adam Pascoe saw the Whorouly ruckman reported and sent from the ground with blood streaming from a cut above his nose.
By - SCOTT ANDERSON.
www.nenews.com.au
LOCKING HORNS: Adam Pascoe and Simon Hunter do battle in the ruck.
PHOTO: Scott Anderson
Last Modified on 02/05/2012 17:04