Despite an eventual 155-point defeat, the Lions were all class in the first passage of play, kicking 4.6 and held a narrow, one-point lead at quarter time.
Unfortunately, a single goal effort in the second period opened the door for the Grasshoppers, who are too strong of a side to not take advantage, kicking 6.5 to pull out a 31-point advantage at half-time.
Things went from bad to worse for Stanhope in the third term with the side struggling to find its first quarter form, amassing just 1.3 while Murch made good on it’s second quarter performance, adding 11.4 to leave the Lions a 101-point hole to climb out of.
With the Grasshoppers’ defence choking the life out of Stanhope’s attack, allowing just a single point in the final quarter, it went about its business in its forward fifty, banking 8.7 to crack the 200-point barrier for the first time in 2025 to win 30.22 (202) to 7.5 (47).
Ricky Glass was the only player to kick more than one goal in the contest for Stanhope while Ashton Cashion and James Lloyd went nuclear for Murch, bagging six apiece.
Daniel Flynn, Matthew Ludbrook, Patrick Heenan, Riley Dryden, Bol Wol, and Stuart Trevena were Stanhope’s best in the losing effort.
The Lion’s next chance at a win will come in round three following the Easter break, where it will contest the Bulldogs at Merrigum.
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