Zayne Selkirk put in an enormous performance to lead Rockingham to victory over the top-spot Baldivis Brumbies on Saturday evening.
The Brumbies debuted star recruit Blaine Johnson but it was an underwhelming welcome for the ex-South Fremantle spearhead, with Selkirk, Jakob Janzekovic and Riley Allison all playing key roles as the Rams fended off an inaccurate Baldivis side for an 11.9 (75) to 7.19 (61) win.
The league leaders will be rueing their woeful form in front of the sticks in the third quarter, particularly key forward Ben Higgs, whose usually steady boot shanked four gettable majors in the penultimate term.
But the Rams were undeniably the hotter team to start, as they piled up four goals to their guest’s none in the opening stanza.
Janzekovic converted after taking a spectacular mark in the forward 50m to open the match, before Josh Williams, Mitchel Curnow and Tyler Sutton got on the board to see the home side out to a 23-point lead at the first change.
The shell-shocked Baldivis found its feet in the second quarter, with Eddy Dann putting their first through, but the Rams had every answer coming through the boot of Luke Dowling.
The speedy forward scored twice in the quarter, both instant replies to Baldivis goals, helping the Rams maintain a 19-point buffer at the long break.
There was no love lost between the two sides with several scuffles breaking out around the ground, and it was a fired-up Brendon Tingey that gave Baldivis a spark.
Willing himself into the contest the gun midfielder managed to pommel the ball forward, with Blaine Johnson on the receiving end of a 50m penalty which gifted him his first goal as a Brumby.
Hayden Lynn sent Baldivis forward again and they were able to trap the ball in their 50m arch for almost the entire quarter, but a spate of wayward shots on goal gave them little reward.
Instead it was Janzekovic scoring off a rare Rams forward entry in the third, but fortunately Higgs turned hero for the Brumbies, breaking his curse with a pair of goals bringing them within two points.
However it was all Rockingham in the final term, with Selkirk on fire when it mattered most.
The young gun nailed the first goal of the quarter with a snap around the body, with Jaxon Standing and Allison following suit to seal the deal.
Johnson and Higgs found the middle of the sticks in the dying stages but it did little to help Baldivis’ cause.
The win brings Rockingham within striking distance of the top two, while Baldivis could fall to just two premiership points clear of Pinjarra should the Tigers win on Sunday.