Apparently, nobody told the Western Crusaders and Geelong Buccaneers that October was supposed to be competitive. Between them, the two Victorian clubs put 99 points on the board this weekend. Their opponents? Zero.

But Victoria wasn't alone in handing out punishment. Bayside Ravens put 48 unanswered points on Logan City Bears, while Canberra's UC Stars shut out Woden Valley Gladiators 44–0. Elsewhere, Northern Sydney Rebels edged Sydney Uni Lions by two points, Western Australia opened its season with a four-point contest, and South Australia's Eagles squeezed past the Spartans in a game where points were at a premium.

Eleven confirmed results across six states and territories. Here's what caught our attention.

Victoria: 99 points scored. None conceded.

Let's start with the obvious. Western Crusaders 47, Croydon Rangers 0. Geelong Buccaneers 52, South Eastern Predators 0. Those aren't results you quietly scroll past. For the Crusaders, the victory keeps their perfect record intact at 4–0. They're setting the pace in Victoria, and through four games, nobody has found a way to beat them. The Buccaneers, meanwhile, move to 2–1. After putting 52 unanswered points on the Predators, they've certainly given the rest of the competition something to think about.

But perhaps the most interesting Victorian result wasn't a shutout at all. Crusaders 2 defeated Northern Chargers 40–32, improving to 3–0. That's right — both Crusaders teams are unbeaten. Melton Wolves also kept themselves firmly in the conversation at 3–1 with a 20–14 victory over Bendigo Dragons. With four rounds completed, the question isn't simply whether somebody can catch the Crusaders. It's which Crusaders team we're talking about.

New South Wales: Two points, one desperately needed win

Northern Sydney Rebels 16, Sydney Uni Lions 14. After losing their opening game to UTS, the Rebels needed a win. They got one, although Sydney Uni certainly didn't make it comfortable on the scoreboard. Just two points separated the sides, and Northern Sydney heads into the next round at 1–1. The Lions, meanwhile, fall to 0–2 despite producing a much closer scoreline than their opening defeat to UNSW.

Nepean Ducks also got their first win on the board, defeating Wollongong Mustangs 38–26. That result moves Nepean to 1–1, while Wollongong remains winless. Meanwhile, UNSW Raiders and UTS Gators enjoyed a weekend off, both retaining their unbeaten 2–0 records. The early leaders may have had their feet up, but the chasing pack has started moving.

Western Australia: Welcome back, WA

What better way to open a season than with a four-point game? West Coast Wolverines defeated Swan City Titans 26–22, while Vincent City Ducks opened their campaign with a 26–12 victory over Claremont Jets. The Wolverines and Ducks have the first wins on the board, with plenty of football still to come.

The timing is part of what makes covering American football in Australia so interesting. While Victoria is already four rounds deep, Western Australia is only getting started. There may not be one unified national club competition, but there's almost always football happening somewhere. AGN confirmed both WA scores directly with Gridiron West.

South Australia: Five points make the difference

Not every weekend produces a 52–0 scoreline. In South Australia, Adelaide University Eagles defeated Port Adelaide Spartans 13–8, with just five points separating the clubs. The Eagles improve to 1–1, while the Spartans remain in search of their first victory at 0–1. Eastern Razorbacks continue to lead the competition standings.

For the Eagles, getting a win on the board matters after their opening defeat. For Port Adelaide, the challenge is turning a competitive scoreline into a victory as the season progresses.

Queensland: The Ravens make their point

Bayside Ravens 48, Logan City Bears 0. Another shutout, another emphatic result on the scoreboard. The Ravens join the Crusaders and Buccaneers among the weekend's teams to keep their opponents scoreless.

For Logan City, it's a difficult result to absorb. For Bayside, it's the sort of winning margin that catches attention around a competition. The next question is how both clubs respond when they take the field again.

ACT: The Stars are making a statement

UC Stars 44, Woden Valley Gladiators 0. Some results require a little interpretation. This one doesn't.

The UC Stars didn't just beat the Gladiators — they kept them off the scoreboard entirely, delivering a 44-point shutout that maintains their perfect start to the 2026 ACT senior tackle season. Three games. Three victories. And a combined points differential of +102.

That's 110 points scored and just eight conceded across their opening three games. Whatever the opposition, those are imposing numbers.

The defeat leaves Woden Valley at 1–2, with a sizeable gap to close on the competition leaders. Narrabundah Centurions sit at 1–3. The challenge for the rest of the ACT competition is becoming increasingly obvious: who can slow down the Stars?

AGN contributor Manjot confirmed the 44–0 result directly. Follow his football coverage on Instagram at @pastrypressnfl.

The bigger picture: Plenty happening across the country

Four shutouts. Eleven games. Six states and territories. Two unbeaten Crusaders teams in Victoria, two unbeaten leaders in NSW, and a perfect start for the UC Stars in Canberra. Western Australia's season is finally underway.

That's the beauty of American football in Australia. Different competitions, different stages of the season and no shortage of stories worth following. Some clubs are already establishing themselves as contenders, while others are still trying to get that first win on the board.

We're going to keep telling those stories — not just the scores, but the clubs, players and people behind them.

This is Around the Grounds. American football. Built for Australia.

Aussie Gridiron Network | aussiegridironnetwork.com

Reporting sources: Official state competition results and ladders supplied to AGN, verified Queensland results, direct Gridiron West correspondence and ACT score confirmation from AGN contributor Manjot (@pastrypressnfl).