Ruthless second quarter blitz sets up big win over Giants

By Lenny Roberts

12:40 am at Trevor Barker Beach Oval saw the Sandringham Dragon’s take on the Giants Academy for their round four clash of the Coates Talent League after 2 weeks off. With many players undertaking school football, the Dragon’s unleashed five new debutants for this game, which included Aris Moustakas, Sacha Levine, Kye Fincher, Alfie Lambert, and Ollie Moodie. 

A relatively even first quarter with both teams exchanging waves of momentum, both in the contest, and on the scoreboard. The midfield rotation for the opening bounce for Sandringham consisted of Josh Dolan, Riely Collins, and Ted Clayton. With Brodie Findlay rucking, as usual. Sam Linder brought the energy for the whole game, but in particular the first 10 minutes. Creating pressure, getting his own ball, and linking up with others. Dolan impressed early, being tough at the contest, and helping set up shots on goal through clean entries. Luka Pecer was lively inside forward 50 all day, while Lennox Hofmann did a couple of nice things down back. Bailey McKenzie eventually got the scoring going after a missed set shot, but it was first-gamer Ollie Moodie who got Sandringham on the board first. Set up majorly by a great build-up on the outer wing, involving Luke Kennedy, and Dolan (28 disposals, 6 inside 50’s). He would then add a goal of his own, gathering from 60 out and slotting impressively for the Dragon’s second of the game. Oliver Green got busy as well, connecting both lines as a high forward. He helped set-up McKenzie’s first of seven goals. An early lead of 18 points for the Dragon’s was short lived as the Giants would respond with a major of their own. Before finding some rhythm and adding another one. Resulting in a narrow 4-point lead for the home side at the end of the first term. 

Momentum would then swing back with Green booting the first goal of the second quarter. The forward connection for the Dragon’s was on point all day, they generated 30 scores from 46 inside 50’s in the match, including 22 goals. A ridiculous conversion rate. Both Green and Moodie quickly added their second each. Jhett Haeata’s run off the half-back line helped create McKenize’s second. And a Collins holding the ball inside forward 50 led to a Ricky Theodoropoulas’ goal, his first of the match. Levine got in on the action for his first goal in Dragon’s colours, which made it six Sandringham majors in a row. Zach Travers then made it seven, snapping one from deep. McKenzie continued his elite forward 50 presence, pushing both up the ground and deep in the square. He kicked his third, before almost immediately added his fourth right on the stroke of half time. A dominant term for the blue, white and maroon, nine goals to zero. They went into the main break leaders of 58 points. 

Luke Kennedy was injected into the midfield to start the second half, adding some brute and pace in the guts. The Giants got on the board first, goaling inside the first two minutes. However, Pecer quickly answered that with a goal of his own after receiving a holding the ball free kick. Haeata (14 disposals, 4 marks) was also busy in this term. McKenzie booted his fifth, before an undisciplined off-ball free from the Giants saw Sandringham kick another through Moodie. And then another from McKenzie. The flood gates were well and truly open now. Collins (22 disposals, 5 tackles) intercepted a kick in from the Giants, before yet another McKenzie goal. His seventh inside three quarters, 23 disposals, and 13 marks as well for the mobile forward, not a bad day at all. Sam Fanning had a pair of good defensive efforts during the last parts of the term, both intercepting and spoiling. While the Dragon’s extended their lead to 80 points heading into the last. 

More of the same in the fourth with Theodoropoulas slotting his second, helped by some unselfish play by McKenzie. Oliver (12 disposals, 6 tackles) was lively through the middle of the ground. At this point the game had pretty much died out, with both teams just looking to get through the match unscathed. Theodoropoulas kicked goals three and four shortly after. Levine knocked home his second, before Theodoropoulas added his fifth to make it four goals for the term! An accurate Sandringham booted 22 goals en route to a mammoth 114-point victory. Another break for the boys with two bye weeks before they return to action on the 18th of May to take on the Sydney Swans Academy for round eight at RSEA at 12:30pm 

GOALS: McKenzie 7, Theodoropoulas 5, Moodie 3, Green, Levine 2, Dolan, Pecer, Travers 

BEST: Dolan, McKenzie, Kennedy, Voss, Oliver, Travers