DARYN Cresswell may have unlocked a method for other teams to stop this year's juggernaut of the Ovens and Murray competition.

Cresswell's Hawks came as close as any team has to Wangaratta in Saturday's derby 14 point derby loss and opposing teams may well follow suit.

The coaching mastermind assigned Todd Bryant to a tagging role on Joe Richards and that plan succeeded with flying colours as the Magpie midfield maestro only managed 13 touches for the game.

But that wasn't it, young tall Jace McQuade had the job on reigning Morris Medalist Callum Moore (16 touches, two goals) and Will Nolan took Abe Ankers (20 touches).

"I thought our match–ups worked today (Saturday) and if anyone's going to beat Wangaratta, they really need to cut out five or six and make it a 13–on–13, 12–on–12 so to speak, that kept us in the game for long periods," ...