The Bushpigs, in their first outing under new coach Travis Cohalan, made a mockery of those underestimating them, with an impressive 11.9 (75) to 6.8 (44) win against a team considered a serious contender.

Courtesy of a six-goal haul to new teenage forward Jacob Collingridge and a powerful performance from new ruckman Andrew Dickins, CSU lived up to Cohalan's belief that this is a team big on potential, if low in profile.

"To be honest, I'm over the moon. Everything we've practiced since November, the boys have really bought into what we're trying to bring this year - the game style and effort-based activity around the ball and around the ground," Cohalan said.

"I don't like to rate wins against each other but I'd honestly say this is right up there with any of the best wins in my coaching career, with the adversity we faced after half-time and after not being given much of a chance by the pundits.

"Playing against one of the premiership favourites on their home deck, the boys really took up the challenge. It really was our pressure, effort and our work-rate that got us over the line at the end."

In a serious blow, the Bushpigs lost forward Scott Barlin in the opening minutes to a suspected serious knee injury. Still, they dominated the first half for a 31-point lead. It could have been worse for the Blues, given CSU had 15 scoring shots to four.

The second half started with another injury as full-back Walt Morton suffered a dislocated shoulder but still CSU stuck solidly to the task, extending their lead to 40 points.

The Blues had woken up and kept a sore and undermanned CSU to one goal in the final term. But they'd rue a 3.7 return for their second half efforts, while Bushpig Collingridge made no mistake with his shot a sixth goal, steadying the CSU ship for victory.

"We had five or six blokes absolutely gassed and with niggling injuries wanting to come off and we had to keep turning them around," Cohalan said.

"And Coly to their credit, they were coming, so for our boys to stand up and withstand it (was great). It wasn't pretty but we just had to make sure we held on because we had nothing left in the legs and nothing on the bench.

"It was a great character building performance."

Dickins and Collingridge shone (the latter kicked 6.1 and his only miss hit the post) and midfielders Grant Daley (in his first game at the club) and the ever-reliable Lachie Moore led the Bushpigs superbly.

Blues co-coaches Luke Hillier and Curtis Steele kicked five goals between them, swapping between the midfield and forward, where they were missing key target Jade Hodge (suspended). Tom Groves also played well.

CSU are at home to Marrar next week while Coleambally travel to The Rock in search of a win.

Full-time:

CSU 4.5, 7.8, 10.9, 11.9 (75)

Coleambally 1.1, 3.1, 4.5, 6.8 (44)

Goals: (CSU) Jacob Collingridge 6, Sam Barrow 1, Cayleb Dunne-Argus 1, Angus Blackwood 1, Lachlan Moore 1, Max Findlay 1; (Coleambally) Luke Hillier 3, Curtis Steele 2, James Buchanan 1.

Best: (CSU) Andrew Dickins, Jacob Collingridge, Grant Daly, Lachlan Moore, Benjamin Browning, Jacob Bell; (Coleambally):Thomas Groves, Luke Hillier, James Buchanan, Curtis Steele, Thomas Valeri, James Lyell.

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