Victoria were bowled out for 220 but regained some ground as South Australia reached 4-81 at stumps on day one of their Sheffield Shield clash at the MCG.
Paceman Joe Mennie claimed 5-43 off 21.1 overs as winless South Australia skittled fourth-placed Victoria’s batting lineup in 62.1 overs.
The Redbacks began well in reply, adding 51 for the loss of James Smith (eight) to the bowling of Test quick Peter Siddle.
But Victoria hit back late to take 3-14.
Skipper Michael Klinger (24) was caught behind attempting a cut shot off Jayde Herrick.
Callum Ferguson fell caught at second slip for two to Andrew McDonald’s bowling at 3-65 and left-armer Will Sheridan struck in the following over by removing Tomas Stray caught behind for 29.
The in-form Tom Cooper is unbeaten on 12 and Travis Head one after 16 wickets fell on the first day.
McDonald top-scored for Victoria with 72, the former Test allrounder sharing a crucial eighth-wicket partnership of 95 with Siddle (41).
After winning the toss in fine conditions, the home side lost 5-96 in the pre-lunch session on a green-tinged pitch.
Mennie had bowled Chris Rogers for a first-ball duck in the third delivery of the match.
The former NSW junior struck again in his second over when Aaron Finch was caught at third slip, also for a duck.
The competition’s leading runscorer this season Rob Quiney (45) and Cameron White (31) added 74 for the third wicket.
White was caught bat-pad at 3-79 off the bowling of second-gamer Carl Tietjens (2-58) who removed Quiney lbw four balls later.
Mennie bowled Peter Handscomb for six in the last over before lunch.
Ryan Carters and Will Sheridan fell cheaply as Victoria suffered a middle-order collapse of 5-39 to be 7-118.
McDonald took charge for the Bushrangers, reaching his half-century off 85 deliveries and moving to 71 after hitting spinner Tom Cooper for two successive sixes.
The ginger-bearded McDonald departed one run later, caught behind off paceman Chadd Sayers (2-47) who also removed Siddle.
Mennie, 23, completed the second five-wicket haul of his debut season by dismissing Herrick caught at second slip.