Beaten 2015 grand finalist Leongatha has made an early claim for premiership favouritism, breezing to four straight wins to start the 2016 campaign.
Saturday's 103-point demolition of Bairnsdale was the biggest of the lot, taking the Parrots' average winning margin to 66 points.
Former Drouin gun Chris Dunne has been a useful addition to Beau Vernon's already powerful squad.
The off-season recruit has settled quickly alongside Cade Maskell and Aaron Hillberg in the Leongatha forward line.
Dunne tops the goal-kicking charts after four rounds, with 19 majors, two clear of Warragul star Brayden Fowler.
The Gulls have made a positive start to season 2016, securing two wins from their opening four games - as many as they have managed in each of the past two seasons.
Fowler has played a big role in getting the Gulls up and moving this season, as have fellow recruits Matt Rennie (pictured) and Nate Paredes.
Wins against Morwell and Moe, either side of narrow defeats to Bairsndale and Drouin have the Gulls sitting pretty in fourth ahead of this weekend's clash with Wonthaggi Power, which looms as a great opportunity to put three wins on the board for the first time since 2013.
After an encouraging round one win against Morwell, the Power have struggled to get going with derby defeat to South Gippsland rival Leongatha followed by surprise losses to Sale and Moe.
The latter has been another to show promising signs.
An opening round defeat to Warragul was followed by a tough beating at the hands of reigning premier Traralgon, but back-to-back wins against Morwell and the Power have righted the ship nicely.
Mark Engley continues to be a reliable source of goals, while Tom Long, Joel Bragagnolo and Charlie Rieniets have been among the better performers for the Lions, who finally play a game on their home turf this weekend, following over-season work at Ted Summerton Reserve.
Separating Moe and a spot in the top five is Sale.
The Magpies have had two wins and two defeats under new coach Shane Fyfe and still boast quality at either end, but face their toughest test when they travel to Leongatha this weekend.
Neighbour Maffra was no match for the Parrots in round three, but has still managed three wins to keep pace with the top two sides courtesy of wins against Sale, Bairnsdale and Drouin.
The latter was only achieved by a dominant second half and the Eagles have some work to do to join Traralgon and Leongatha as premiership frontrunners, but the return of ex-AFL ruckman Trent Knobel and five goals to Mitch Bennett on Saturday were encouraging.
So too have been the performances of gun on-baller Danny Butcher, who looks to be getting back to the form that saw him rookie-listed at Port Adelaide in 2011.
Reigning premier Traralgon was second best against Leongatha in round one, but has bounced back strongly and any doubts over their chances of back-to-back flags have been cast aside.
With no less than eight players - nine including train-on squad member Jackson McMahon - included in the initial interleague squad, the Maroons boast plenty of contributors.
Road trips to Bairnsdale are always a challenge, but Traralgon's next big test comes immediately after the interleague break, when it hosts Maffra.
Drouin were in the fight against Maffra last weekend, but ultimately fell short - a concerning trend for the Hawks through the first month of the season.
Brushed aside by Traralgon in round three, the Hawks have otherwise been in every contest - falling five points short against Bairnsdale, while holding off rival Warragul by the same margin a week later.
Trips to Bairnsdale and Maffra and a home game against the reigning premier represents probably the toughest first month of the draw for any side, but the next four weeks (Moe away, Morwell at home and Wonthaggi and Sale away) will have more bearing on their finals aspirations than the previous four.
Bairnsdale is perhaps the hardest side to read from the opening four rounds.
The Redlegs have the lowest percentage in the competition, but hard fought wins against Drouin (home) and Warragul (away) have given Stuart Anderson's troops a 50-50 start.
Simon Deery has given fellow forward James Gibbs a welcome chop out this season and his absence was sorely missed in Saturday's crushing defeat at home to Leongatha.
Tom Hams has settled in well and been Bairnsdale's most consistent performer.
After four rounds only Morwell remains without a win.
The Tigers have been competitive and put respectable scores on the board in each of their four games, but are leaking too many goals the other way.
Morwell faces a tough five weeks ahead and coach Joel Soutar will be calling on the likes of experienced teammates Tim Ryan, Devon Soutar and Michael(s) Duncan, to lift the young but talented group to a much-needed win.
Last Modified on 02/05/2016 16:58
