Australia's contingent at the world darts championship was halved after long shots Gordon Mathers and James Bailey were unceremoniously bundled out in the first round.
On a night when England's Lisa Ashton came close to becoming just the second woman ever to win at the biggest tournament in darts, the two experienced Australians never really hit their stride.
Mathers, ranked No.1 on the domestic Australian tour, was outplayed by German Max Hopp, losing 3-0 in sets, on the second night of action at the Alexandra Palace.
Bailey emerged next on the same stage, only to be comfortably dispatched 3-1 by Callan Rydz, an English youngster 29 years the Aussies' junior.
Australia's main two contenders, former finalist Simon Whitlock and Damon Heta, have yet to begin their campaigns.
Mathers, the 39-year-old from Brisbane, had been practising at Whitlock's house in Waterlooville in the south of England and was said to be in good form by Australia's long-time top player.
Yet 'GG' never produced anything near his best, only managing three legs as the 24-year-old Hopp averaged almost 95 en route to his win compared to Mathers' 81.
"Gordon wasn't on his game and I took advantage of it," Hopp said.
Left-hander Bailey, nicknamed 'The Bull' on the circuit, was in pugnacious mood, punching himself in the shoulder occasionally to gee himself up.
The 51-year-old's methodical throwing contrasted with the 22-year-old Englishman Rydz, known as 'The Riot', who took out the first set with a 117 checkout.
Bailey hit back to take the second set, clinching it with a 115 checkout, but despite the veteran averaging close to 90, Rydz lost just one leg in the final two sets.
In the night's feature match, Ashton, a 50-year-old grandmother and the only woman card holder on the PDC tour, was trying to emulate Fallon Sherrock - who made history last year by being the only woman ever to win a match at the championship.
Ashton went down 3-2 to Englishman Adam Hunt but produced an excellent performance to average more than 91.
She missed darts for a 2-0 set lead before the match went down to the penultimate leg of the deciding set which Hunt captured with a 120 checkout.
