Resilient Dragons claim victory in Bendigo

Back on the winners list and ready to go again, the Dragons boys headed north to Bendigo to take on the Pioneers for Round 12. A trio of debutants for this clash with Eiden Pitt, Sam Haywood, and Archer Grant getting their first run at it in blue and maroon colours.

Despite the first clearance going to the advantage of the Dragons, it was the home side who got on the board first. They were controlling the game well and resultantly nailed a set-shot from an angle. Brodie Findlay started well, being physical in the ruck and around the ground, while Sacha Levine had a couple of nice defensive efforts playing behind the ball. There were two chances at goal missed for Sandringham before Max Hoult got the scoring going for the visitors, slotting a neat set-shot in the 15th minute. Jhett Haeata was influential and showcased his weekly run and dash from the defensive half off the kick-in, and followed that by kicking a goal off a crumb. Some good pressure in the middle of the ground helped Luka Pecer find Angus Bowd, who went back and finished for his first goal of the day. That made it three in a row for the Dragons after a slow start. The Pioneers hit back a couple of minutes later to make it two goals to three, and just 3 points the difference at the end of the first quarter.

Owen Bater continued his good form over the last few weeks, intercept marking and locking down his opponents. Ned Maginness, who was one of the best players on the ground, also started to get involved. Bendigo hit the front on the scoreboard after their forward took a strong mark right on the goal line. Ricky Theodoropoulas got involved in some chain play before finding Maginness on the forward flank, who received a fifty-metre penalty after being pushed late after the mark. And converted in front of goal. Sandy made it two on the trot after some good roving by Sam Buck. Clearances were becoming an issue for Bendigo, with the Dragons walking the ball out of the middle. Along with the Dragons being more accurate on the scoreboard (eight shots apiece, although 5 goals to 3 in favour of Sandringham). Hoult was very prominent around goals, making the forward 50 his own, however was unable to capitalise his shots into majors. Maginness got his fingernails dirty to receive a high free kick inside the arc and went back to kick Sandringham’s sixth. Bennett Martin was impressive on both sides of the ball, defending and then getting his own ball. A chance for the Pioneers late however it was the Dragons who held a steady 15-point advantage going into the main break.

The Dragons started fast in the second half, with Theodoropoulas roving a forward 50 stoppage to perfection before finishing on the run. He added another right after from the next clearance, booting it home from fifty, and suddenly, it was a 27-point lead to the visitors. Bendigo started to find their feet around the contest, but were wayward in front of the big sticks (9 behinds from 12 scoring shots). They eventually saw one go through, by kicking their fourth in the 8th minute to wrestle back some momentum. Adrian Cole was solid in defense as per usual, even with no Voss back there to partner him. Bowd goaled in the 17th minute to kick back the margin to 24 points. Bendigo went up the other end to kick their fifth, and with the crowd behind them, the game swung their way. They were owning territory nearing three quarter time and kept the game in balance. Just nineteen points the difference in favour of Sandringham going into the last term.

There were nine goals kicked in the 4th quarter (five to Bendigo, four to Sandringham), a thrilling last term to went down to the wire. An early highlight of the last was a Bowd chase down bump in the defensive half to save a score. Bendigo continued to own the possession, and as a result, Pioneers midfielder Tobie Travaglia kicked through a goal to slim the margin to 12 points. Much like last week, the game got levelled after Bendigo kicked through two more goals unanswered. And eventually, they hit the front. That made it twenty-six points in-a-row from the home side. Haeata then found Buck from the clearance to get the margin back to a singular point. Aaron Taylor’s game was first-rate, clean with the ball and keeping his opponent in check. Haeata once again located Buck, who received a fifty-metre penalty to make sure of a goal and give his side back the lead. Some nice weaving by Theodoropoulas in the next play, saw Bowd get on the end of his snap and convert for another. An impressive finish from Bendigo in a flash cut the difference under a goal, with less than five minutes to play. Although, yet another fifty-metre penalty given to the Dragons saw Bowd kick his fourth of the game and seal the victory for his team. Even with four less scoring shots and fewer inside 50’s, a clinical Sandringham ran out 11-point winners over the Pioneers to improve to 6-3 on the season. They earn a week off before returning to action to battle the Eastern Ranges for a second time at Box Hill City Oval on the 30th of June.

GOALS: Bowd 4, Buck 3, Maginness 2, Theodoropoulas 2, Hoult, Haeata

BEST: Maginness, Bowd, Findlay, Haeata, Hoult, Taylor