BIG blowouts might be the talk of the AFL, but nowhere are they more prevalent than in country footy.
Battling club Ardmona was on the wrong end of a 299-point drubbing in the Kyabram District league, managing just 1.1 (7) in response to Nagambie's 47.24 (306).
The defeat came on the back of a 257-point loss to Tallygaroopna a week before.
Ardmona's reserves have lost their opening two matches by a combined total of 354 points.
Nagambie's massive win over the Cats was one of four senior country footy matches decided by more than 200 points at the weekend.
In the Mininera and District league, Penshurst kicked off its season with a 268-point triumph over Woorndoo Mortlake, 41.35 (281) to 2.1 (13).
It was a similar story in the reserves, where Penshurst won 22.14 (146) to one behind.
Berrigan trounced Mathoura by 236 points in the North West division of the Picola and District league.
The Timbercutters, who battled for players during the off-season, troubled the goal umpire just three times for their 1.2 (8). In reply, Berrigan piled on 36.28 (244).
In the Ovens and King league, this season's big improver Whorouly smashed Swanpool by 217 points.
The blowouts continued in the Alberton league, where struggler Toora and District lost to Tarwin by 189 points.
Toora and District won one game last year, finishing second last, while Tarwin finished one ladder position higher with five wins.
But the clubs were poles apart on Saturday, with the Magpies failing to kick a goal in either the seniors or reserves.
Tarwin posted a 29.20 (194) to 0.5 (5) win in the main game, and triumphed 21.19 (145) to 0.1 (1) in the reserves.
It was the second consecutive match in which the Magpies reserves had been held goalless.
Toora and District joint president Dan Knee admitted it had been a tough start to the season.
"Our seniors played well in the last couple of quarters against Inverloch in Round 1, even though they ended up giving us a fair hiding (117 points)," Knee said.
"We were a little bit hopeful after that first game that this year might have been a bit better than last year.
"But it was a bit of a shock to me when we didn't score a goal on Saturday."
Knee said the club was financially sound but battled to attract players, particularly as it was based much further from Melbourne than clubs at the western end of the league.
"We didn't really lose any players, we just didn't recruit the ones we needed," he said.
"It's difficult to get players to come to a club that has been losing by such big margins, especially when they have to drive so far."
