If bad kicking is bad football, the opposite was true for Warragul's thirds on Saturday in their 31-point win over Moe.
The Gulls ended the day with an unblemished record in front of the big sticks, kicking nine straight goals despite some breezy conditions.
Their opposition weren't so lucky. The Lions were left to lament their own form in their forward half as the Gulls ran away with a vital 9.0 (54) to 2.11 (23) win.
It's a significant result in the context of the season, given both sides are shaping not just as top five teams but as bona fide contenders.
The Gulls were particularly strong defensively in the first half, holding their opposition to just four behinds.
Having established a lead, they were able to hold steady late, despite a wave of opportunities from Moe's end.
Now sitting third in on the ladder, the Gulls will look to build on their form this Sunday against Drouin.
Harry Hodge, Tyson O'Leary, Tom Logan, Ty Ward, Finn Sheehan and Samuel Grummisch were their best.
Speaking of Drouin, it was another tough loss for the Hawks' thirds contingent as they were left to rue a slow start.
Drouin conceded the first nine goals of the day, only kicking into gear late to put some respectability on the scoreboard and ultimately going down 4.3 (27) to 10.3 (63).
The Hawks struggled to contend with the wind, breaking down throughout the day before they could do some damage on the scoreboard.
Though their last quarter was a better effort, it was too little too late for a team that's done it tough this year as they've had to give up players to the senior side.
Drouin's better players included Caleb Kleeven, Lachlan McDonald, Jacob Obernhumer, Jesse Etchell, Cody McInnes and Tyler Sharman-Phillips.
In other thirds results, Bairnsdale beat Traralgon 7.9 (51) to 4.12 (36), Sale defeated Morwell 9.7 (61) to 5.6 (36) and Leongatha got the best of Wonthaggi 7.7 (49) to 4.2 (26).
Warragul's fourths were held at arm's length in a 12-point defeat to Moe.
The Gulls were earnest in their efforts but just couldn't quite go with the Lions past quarter time, where they were outscored 3.7 to 6.2.
It leaves them in fourth position on the ladder, having now been overtaken by the Lions.
Flying the flag for the Gulls were Jake Boote, Cooper Leighton, Jaxon Scott, Dean Brown, Walter Phillips and Nate Young.
Drouin's fourths found the going tough against top five team Maffra.
A bright start wasn't enough to stop the Eagles' momentum; the Hawks held to just two goals as they fell 2.5 (17) to 8.9 (57).
While they trailed by just two points at the first break, they couldn't quite keep up the effort, unable to match Maffra's firepower in the forward 50.
Blake Alie, Jett Proctor, Rory Vanderplight, Saxon Stark, Jordan Courts and Tyler Williames never gave up the fight.
Elsewhere in the fourths, Traralgon annihilated Bairnsdale 24.14 (158) to 3.2 (20), Morwell pipped Sale 4.12 (36) to 4.11 (35) and Leongatha handled Wonthaggi 10.9 (69) to 3.7 (25).
Drouin's reserves put in their finest effort of the season in their defeat to Maffra.
Having copped some truly horrendous poundings this year, the Hawks didn't drop their heads on Saturday, battling it out in a low-scoring 2.3 (15) to 7.9 (51) loss.
Thirty-six points might not sound like much to cheer about, but when every single loss this year has been in excess of 100 (including one by 223), it's a considerable improvement.
Playing well for Drouin were Ben Tranfield, Payton Saddington, William Young, Kaleb Hermansen, Fletcher Lockwood and Arli Fleming.
Warragul's reserves couldn't go with Moe.
Inaccuracy from the home side benefited the Gulls, but without goals coming from their own forwards it didn't matter much; the final score 1.2 (8) to 14.17 (101).
Their better performers included James Davidson, Jack Casson, Scott Kelly, Cameron Thompson, Kade Bowie and Lachlan Miller.