It was one of the sweeter victories - a win over the arch-foe on its own dunghill - and Northern Bullants coach David Teague acknowledged as much.

In fact Teague rated the Ants’ 39-point triumph over Collingwood at Victoria Park on Saturday as highly as their opening round win secured with a four-quarter performance over Bendigo.

“I was very happy with the result,” Teague said. “Collingwood was six and two and up in the top four . . . and though they did lose a couple they still had a pretty handy team out there.

“We put our best possible team out on the field, but that doesn’t always mean everything . . . and yet the boys carried it out - they turned in one of the best four-quarter team performances I’ve seen in a long time.”

With a core of Carlton A-graders including Paul Bower, Kane Lucas and Chris Yarran back in the team after injury lay-offs, the Bullants placed early scoreboard pressure on their opponents and were never headed.

Amongst the better performers was Adam Iacobucci and the indefatigable David Ellard, who amassed 36 possessions in somewhat heavy conditions which quite literally suited him down to the ground.

An unabashed Ellard fan, Teague commended his player’s consistent showing through the home and away matches so far.

“It’s just the way he goes about it, which is a credit to himself,” said Teague. “He leads the tackles and yet he leads the possessions. He’s always there and he’s bobbed up with a couple of goals, meaning he’s made the most of his opportunities.

“He’s only a small bloke, probably not overly-gifted in terms of athletic ability, but he gets the most out of himself . . . and when he punts the Ants jumper on he loves playing with you.”

Other players to earn commendation were Shaun Hampson, who booted three goals in what was his best performance for the season, together with fellow ruckman Robert Warnock, “who played with an intent that was probably better on previous weeks”.

At what is the half-way mark of a long and arduous season, the Bullants are now benefitting from an eight-day break in the lead-up to Sunday’s match with Port Melbourne at Preston City Oval.

 Northern Bullants 18.14 (122) defeated Collingwood 12.11 (83)

Best players: Ellard, Iacobucci, Hampson, Anderson, McLean, Grigg

Goalkickers: Fisher 3, Saad 3, Hampson 3, Ellard 2, Warnock 2, Henderson 2, Iacobucci, Yarran, Wiggins