Heidelberg has an average winning margin of 103 points in the opening three rounds

However, the wet weather didn’t seem to faze Heidelberg, as the red-hot reigning premier dismantled Banyule.

The NFNL Division 1 top-of-the-table Anzac Day blockbuster proved a fizzer as the Tigers annihilated the Bears by 120 points.

The 23.13 (151) to 4.7 (31) triumph gives Heidelberg an average winning margin of 103 points from its opening three matches.

Banyule, which had knocked off last year’s grand and preliminary finalists in the opening fortnight of the season, was in the match at quarter-time but simply had no answers after that.

The Tigers piled on 12 unanswered goals across the first, second and third terms and 19 goals to four after quarter-time.

On a day Collingwood smashed Essendon, former Magpie Brayden Sier also had a day out with five goals, while Zane Barzen, Kristian Ferronato and Tom Keys all booted four.

Heidelberg coach Vinny Dattoli praised his players intense pressure to crack Banyule.

“It was a pretty good day at the office,” Dattoli said.

“We were able to put four consistent quarters together.

“The first quarter was a good, hard contest and then we got hold of the game and our pressure just kept getting better and better.

“We out tackled them, off the top of my head we were plus-15 in tackles.”

The margin was just 15 points at quarter-time.

However, Heidelberg’s pressure was relentless and their finishing ruthless.

Banyule wasn’t without its opportunities but kicked 2.5 after quarter-time.

The Tigers defence, led by Ben De Bolfo, Daniel O’Dwyer and Kieran Andrew feasted on high balls down the line and rushed kicks inside 50m.

In transition, it often appeared as though the home team was playing with a dry footy as they moved the ball into attack.

A five-goal-to-nil second term took the margin to 46 points.

Sier made it 12 goals in a row mid-way through the third as the lead his 88 points.

Oscar White finally broke the drought for Banyule but Heidelberg responded with the next seven.

Dylan Clarke’s second of the day broke the 100-point barrier but Banyule got the last goal of the day through James Kayrooz.

“At different times the boys dropped some easy marks but the ground is holding up really well,” Dattoli said.

“That allows us to play a high level of footy.

“We had three or four guys that kicked four goals and had eight or nine over the course of the day, so we didn’t rely on just one person.”

Sier was named best-on-ground, while Barzen, Ferronato, De Bolfo, Kai Kearns and Keys also shone.

After two weeks in the reserves, high-profile off-season recruit Ethan Johnstone made an impressive debut.

“Ethan has been a little bit frustrated waiting for his time and he did some really nice things,” Dattoli said.

“His one percenters were great, his goal assists – I think he had three or four.

“His pre-season was a little bit scattered and he only played one of the four practice games so we thought we needed a couple of games in the seconds to get his match fitness up.

“We were always confident he was going to break through and he took a step in the right direction.”

For Banyule, Max Jones was a standout in defence, taking a series of intercept marks, while Bailey Neilson, Logan Kilcullen, and White also stood tall.

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Bears coach Damien Truslove said he was a little bit surprised but also not surprised by the final margin, saying the club still had plenty of improvement before it could compete with Heidelberg.

The club was missing ruckman Tim Martin and gun midfielder Noah Wheeler through suspension.

Meanwhile, in the reserves, Heidelberg legend Michael Flinn celebrated game 250 for the club.

The Irishman is a five-time Division 1 senior and reserves premiership player, 2011 Rosbrook Medalist, club best-and-fairest winner and also has four reserve grade league medals to his name.

Originally published as Heidelberg has an average winning margin of 103 points in the opening three rounds