Needing a win to ensure they remained inside the top six, the Lions had 12 scoring shots and led by 32 points by the first siren. The quarter time scoreline was effectively responsible for setting up the win.
In the remaining three quarters Stanhope only extended that lead by four points and won the game 9.18 (72) to 5.6 (36).
The Lions remain fifth, with eight wins, four points ahead of both Nagambie (sixth) and Tallygaroopna (seventh).
Tally faces Lancaster this weekend, but should win all three of its remaining games against Violet Town, Girgarre and Dookie United. That will give it 10 wins.
Nagambie also faces a game against the reigning premier, along with top of the ladder Murchison-Toolamba, giving it the toughest assignment of any team in the hunt for the finals. It could finish the season with just nine wins.
Stanhope, too, is drawn to meet the top two teams - along with Longwood and Girgarre. It should finish with 10 wins for the season, with Tally on the same and Nagambie likely to miss the finals.
The weekend’s win against the Bulldogs is the first step toward the Lions making its charge to the play-offs.
Merrigum failed to score in the opening term, but held Stanhope to just one behind in the second term and reduced the margin to 19 points at the long break.
Stanhope had another 12 scoring shots in the third term, but only managed to repeat its inaccurate opening term and kicked another seven minor scores in the difficult conditons.
At three quarter time the Lions led by 55 points, Merrigum adding just one behind in the third term. The Bulldogs kicked three final quarter goals, but the result was in Stanhope’s keeping.
Stanhope was only missing Nathan O’Reilly from its best team, with captain Jack Donnell continuing his rich vein of form as a free man across half back.
With co-captain Jonathan Pearson and the experienced Tyson McKenzie in support it was the team’s top liners who influenced the result. Ruck-forward Daniel Flynn kicked three of the team’s nine goals, the Lions’ only multiple goalkicker for the game.
Merrigum recruit Kyle Armstrong, who kicked three goals in his first game for the Lions last week, added another two and was the Bulldogs’ only multiple goalkicker.
Brady Wileman returned to the team after a week on the sidelines, as did Darcy Keck and Zane O’Donnell. All three will be important as coach Adam Lovison drives his team to achieving their pre-season goal of beating a top three side.
Merrigum ruckman, and vice captain, Kellan Robinson had the better of the big man’s dual and the consistent Brad Taylor and Shelby Ludlow-Lambrick also did their bit to keep their team in the game.
