The Bloods really turned up the heat in the third quarter as they slammed on 9.5 to the Roos’ two points.

In a superb team effort it was not just the forwards and midfielders that played such a big part in the victory.

A defence led by Jackson Ireland, Deon Jones, Marty Shadbolt and Josh McLeod kept the Roos goalless from the half-time break until the 25-minute mark of the final quarter.

The Roos were able to score consecutive goals just twice in the match.

Final scores: South Bendigo 26.14 (170) d Kangaroo Flat 7.11 (53).

The Flat matched South Bendigo in intensity and possessions to trail 7-6 after eight minutes of the contest. Goals by Michael Leech, Dayne Frew, Zane Taylor and David McCormick put South up 3-26 after 18 minutes.

Elusive wingman Danny Manning was on the end of a Matthew Brown pass after the Roos forced a turnover in the centre.

The Roos were dealt a major blow when prized recruit Phillip Lobb was booked for headbutting Jared Keely and sent off for 15 minutes.

The quarter ended with McCormick’s second goal.

Although the shortest player on the field, Taylor’s leap to spoil Dayne Roy’s marking attempt on a kick-in finished with a goal by Keely.

The Roos replied through captain Tyrone Downie.

The classy Gavin Bowles goaled on the run to cap a passage of play in which Bloods’ coach Rick Coburn’s desperation reigned supreme in a centre scrimmage.

Taylor was caught high and kicked his second before Zac East won the ball in midfield, kicked to Keely and then ran past to receive the handball and goal on the run.

When Brady Childs was on target the Bloods led 71-19.

South’s willingness to reward team-mates running past was typified by another Bowles goal on the run.

The Flat finished the half with goals by Ryan Doherty and then another when the hardworking Ryan McNish intercepted a wayward kick in the Bloods defence.

The third quarter was all South Bendigo.

A nine-goal run featured doubles by McCormick, Bergin and Frew, and singles by Leech, Childs and Coburn.

The Flat lifted its intensity and run in the final quarter, but was still wayward near goal.

East broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, while Frew capped excellent play by Eddie Dickens on the grandstand wing.

Keely booted his second goal as the margin blew out to 119 points.

A goal by Doherty was Flat’s first in a long time and was soon followed by Lobb’s soccered goal in the square.

Frew’s fifth was followed by another by Bergin.

South Bendigo coach Rick Coburn was rapt with a complete team effort.

‘‘We knew from the Flat’s match against Golden Square that if we put the pressure on then mistakes would happen, and we had to capitalise on them,’’ Coburn said.

‘‘They began with plenty of run and pressure, but we were able to answer that and then lift our game.’’ In a match which many South players racked up possessions and won many contests, Coburn said Ireland’s effort in defence was outstanding.

‘‘It was a great effort against a dangerous player,’’ the coach said of the Ireland and Lobb clash.

Jones and Leech also set up a lot of play, while Taylor’s pace and determination led to several goals by him or team-mates.

The blows for South were Taylor hurting his left hamstring late in the third quarter and Ricky Welch injuring a groin.

The Bloods will now focus on Saturday’s challenge against the unbeaten Eaglehawk on the Borough’s turf at Canterbury Park.

For the second time this season, Kangaroo Flat aims to bounce back from a big loss when it tackles Kyneton at Dower Park.