DRAGONS TAKE ON THEIR FIRST WIN FOR 2024
By Lenny Roberts
The reigning premiers took on the Calder Cannons in Round 1 of the U18 Boys Coates Talent League at RSEA Park on Saturday 23rd March 2024. With only 3 bottom agers playing in last year’s Grand Final, Dragons started round 1 with 6 debutants: Harry Armstrong, Bailey McKenzie, Benjamin Seers, Charlie Rozenes, Jack Cheep and Zach Travers. Kicking towards the northern end first, Sandringham started with Co – Captains Brodie Findlay (Ruck) and Levi Ashcroft in the centre, along with Murphy Reid, and Sam Marshall in the first centre bounce.
Calder were dominant out of the midfield early and as a result, kicked the first four goals of the game inside 15 minutes. Medium forward Taj Hotton was lively during this term, however, was unable to convert in front of the big sticks after multiple attempts. The Dragons finally got on the board thanks to a strong mark by Luka Pecer, who then slotted a major from the goal square. Left footer Harrison Oliver was prominent off half-back, generating multiple inside 50’s in the term. Sandringham finally got the game back on their terms before a very nice snap on the run goal from Luke Kennedy. The first quarter ended with the Cannons holding a 9-point lead, 24 to 15.
Luke Trainor was everywhere to start the 2nd quarter, intercepting off half-back. Debutant Bailey McKenzie got involved early with a snap goal from 30 metres out. The 2nd term was a complete flip from the 1st, with Sandy now dominating clearances, their midfielders getting on top, and the overall structure tightening up. Second year player Murphy Reid had a strong quarter, the midfielder was racking it up all over the ground. They would put on the next three goals thanks to a Levi Ashcroft set shot, who was getting some attention from the Cannon’s skipper at stoppages, a clean goal on the run from Nathaniel Sulzberger, and one from key forward Harry Armstrong. Joshua Dolan kicked one of his three goals on the day from a nice scramble and straighten from 20 meters out. Calder hit back with one of the goals of the game, their vice-captain, Isaac Kako, who covered 100 metres with the ball in play and finished on the run to stop the drought. The immediate response from the Dragons was a snap from the pocket by debutant Zach Travers. Going into the main break, Sandringham held a comfortable lead, 9 goals - 4 behinds (58) opposed to five goals straight (30).
A see-saw third quarter with both teams having dominant patches of play. The uncontested marking game for Sandy was used early, controlling the game and trying to play on their own terms. Back for another year as a U19 player, Ned Maginness was busy running up and down the wing. Another debutant Harry Armstrong got the scoring started with a strong contested pack mark at the top of the goal square and converted for his second of the day. That made it 10 of the last 11 goals to Sandy. The Cannons hit back with two of their own despite two missed set shots prior. Things started to heat up as Calder kicked another one over the back to trim the lead to just two goals at the end of the third quarter.
However, the 4th quarter was all Dragons. Reid setup McKenzie’s second goal of the match with a second effort play on the wing. Pecer instantly followed that goal with his second of the game. Mitchell Kirkwood-Scott was injected into the game in this quarter, and immediately had an impact off half-back. Slotting a 50-metre goal on the run which ballooned the lead out to 37 points halfway through the last. Ashcroft, who was one of the best players on the day, got on the end of a nice passage play and snapped his second. The rest of the game was relatively back and forth with the Dragons running out 50-point winners in the end. Final score read 110 (16.14) to 60 (9.6). The Dragons turn their focus to round two where they host the Oakleigh Chargers for their first of 4 games for the Home and Away season on Saturday 30th March at 1pm.
Sandringham Dragons: Q1 - 2.3. 15 / Q2 - 9.4. 58 / Q3 - 10.6. 66 / Full Time - 16. 14. 110
Calder Cannons: Q1 - 4.0. 24 / Q2 - 5.0. 30 / Q3 - 8.6. 54 / Full Time - 9.6. 60
GOALS: J.Dolan 3, N.Sulzberger 2, B.McKenzie 2, H.Armstrong 2, L.Ashcroft 2, L.Pecer, L.Kennedy, M.Kirkwood-Scott, Z.Travers
BEST: L.Ashcroft, N.Sulzberger, L.Trainor, L.Kennedy, C.Rozenes, N.Maginness