SOUTH Alice Springs hopped to the top of the Central Australian Football League ladder following a comprehensive 53-point win over last season's grand finalists Wests on Saturday.
The Centralian Kangaroos were all business in their 15.10 (100) to 7.5 (47) win over the Bloods at Alice Springs' Albrecht Oval.
A 10-goal to one first half set up the win, midfielder Michealis McMasters confirming his favouritism for the league's best and fairest medal, the Minahan Medal, with another best on ground performance.
Souths dual-pronged forward line in big marking Daniel Stafford (4) and the elusive Thomas Gorey (5) also fired with nine goals between them in a performance the clubs brainstrust hope will repeat itself in the finals.
Shaun Byrne in the back half led an airtight defence in an overall performance that had first year coach Chris Forbes in an expansive mood.
The Roos gave youngster Oliver Clarke his first taste of senior football with regular senior players Dom Forbes, Tim Pepperill and Keiffen Turner missing through injury and unavailability.
"Oliver and another 17-year-old, Rohan Watts, stood up and played their roles when the opportunity presented itself,'' Chris Forbes said.
"The other plus was we kicked straight, booting 15 goals this time on a day when a lot of players put their hands up to stay in the side.''
Pioneer bounced back from losses to Federal and Souths when they thrashed an undermanned Rovers in Saturday's early game.
The Eagles flew away from Rovers after half-time, winning by 68 points to get back on the winning track after back-to-back losses to Federal and Souths.
Shane Lovegrove in defence, Kane Sevallos rotating on the ball and Jackson Cole in the centre were prominent for the Eagles.
Stand-in Pioneer assistant coach and AFLNT Hall of Famer Roy Arbon said the win came despite despite a less than perfect game from the Eagles players.
"There were too many turnovers and some ordinary kicking for goal, but the positive to come out of it was we kicked 17 goals and kept Rovers to seven goals in the big win,'' he said.
In a twist of the draw, Pioneer does not play for another three weeks with next week's league bye due to the Melbourne-Port Adelaide AFL game and a club bye in Round 11.
In women's football Rovers moved to within two points of ladder leaders Alkamilya with a disciplined 65-point win over an undermanned Pioneer.
Friday night's clash at Albrecht Oval was always going to be a tough ask for the Eagles who started the match with only 14 players.
But Double Blues skipper KIrstin Remfrey said her side's win had to be earned against a determined and competitive opposition.
"We did what we had to do, with Millie Laine around the ball, Brylee Kerrin on a wing and on-ball and Melanie Churchill controlling our backline we were able to stay in front,'' Remfrey said.
South Alice Springs beat Wests by 15 points in a high pressure match in Friday's late game.
The win moved the Kangaroos to within half a game of third-placed Wests as the battle for finals spots heats up.
Joint skipper Ebony Miller said Wests had come at her side in the second quarter after the Kangaroos opened the game with a three-gol burst.
"There was a lot of pressure all around the ground when both sides went in hard,'' Miller said.
Betty Hosking through the midfield provided her forwards with plenty of scoring opportunities, while Miller in the ruck and four-goal spearhead Tallulah Ford were other good contributors for Souths.
The CAFL competition takes a break this week with Sunday's important AFL clash between reigning premier Melbourne and finals aspirants Port Adelaide set down for picturesque Traeger Park in the Red Centre.
