Outran in Wangaratta
By Lenny ROBERTS
The Dragon Boys returned for round sixteen after an impressive win last weekend, to take on the Murray Bushrangers in Wangaratta. And with the CTL approaching the pointy end of the season, it was a crucial game for both sides.
Brodie Findlay was back as the main ruck man, with Luke Kennedy, Jhett Haeata and Nathaniel Sulzberger as the followers in the opening bounce.
Despite the first clearance of the game going the way of Sandringham, it was the home side who drew first blood in the second minute after receiving a free kick inside the forward fifty.
The Dragons immediately hit back with Max Hoult finding Riely Collins on the lead, who goaled from a set-shot.
One goal straight for each team early.
It was Sulzberger’s first game back since round three after being away on national duties with the Allies. He was busy around the stoppages and even managed to get forward and nab a goal in the ninth minute.
With Murray’s tall timber down forward, Lachlan Voss was swung back into defence this week to combat that and was strong.
Haeata got on the end of a long kick inside forward fifty to boot Sandringham’s third. Before Murray found their second a couple minutes later to get the margin back to one straight kick.
Kennedy led the way for the engine room with 32 disposals, eclipsing a season-high last week by going one better this game. He also laid ten tackles in what was a clinical performance from the seventeen-year-old.
The match started to turn the Bushrangers’ way soon after, but they failed to put any real damage on the scoreboard. Registering three behinds in the final ten minutes of the quarter. Meaning it was the Dragons who held a slender five-point advantage at the first change.
It was a similar second term with both teams replicating their first quarter majors (two to Murray, and three to Sandringham).
A couple of missed chances at goal from Murray went begging early.
Jake Matthews’ 23 disposals and five rebound-50’s was vital. Generating a ton of metres from the back half of the ground.
Some quick thinking by Haeata off a forward fifty entry saw him slot his second and give Sandringham some breathing room. That was followed by a Bater set shot that fell short, allowing Seers to mark on the goal line, and boot the Dragons fifth.
The response came swiftly for Murray with one of their forwards kicking truly in front of goal.
Ollie Moodie, who was lively across the forward line, grubber kicked one home to get the margin back to fifteen points nearing quarter’s end.
A goal-saving effort from Aaron Taylor was a real highlight of the second term.
Up the other end, Oliver Green was looking dangerous. And had a couple of clever plays in the front half of the ground. Including a nice chase down tackle in the first half.
The Bushrangers managed to sneak a goal in the dying stages to give them some momentum, however, it was the visitors with a 6.4 (40) to 4.7 (31) lead heading into the main break.
Backing up an impressive outing last round against Dandenong, Benjamin Seers was prominent again, working up and down the ground. Recording 18 disposals, seven tackles and a major. Aggression around the contest was a real key factor of his game.
No goals were scored until the tenth minute in the third term with Murray eventually putting one through after owning possession inside their forward half.
They added another five minutes later to take the lead.
Sandringham countered through Angus Bowd who snapped accurately, with the goal set up from a possession chain which started in the back half.
Unfortunately, after a strong contested mark inside fifty, Haeata picked up a nasty injury on the landing. Ricky Theodoropoulas took his kick on the three-quarter-time siren, went back and slotted it. Giving the Dragons an eight-point advantage and some promise going into the last.
However, it was short-lived with Murray going on to kick five goals to one in the final term en route to victory.
Both Riely Collins and Brodie Findlay were important in the midfield, with Collins adding 25 touches and the co-captain notching 10 disposals and thirty-six hit outs.
Findlay has also featured with the Sandringham Zebras in the VFL.
The home side booted the first two of the fourth to hit the front before Owen Bater, who was playing in the forward line for the game, slotted a rare goal from close range.
Aaron Taylor competed hard and was a standout behind the ball, lodging fifteen kicks, nine marks and six rebound-50’s.
The Bushrangers’ controlled the rest of the quarter, adding three more goals to ultimately run out 11.11 (77) to 9.5 (59) winners.
A valiant effort from the Sandringham Boys who remain inside the top two on the ladder.
They will travel back home for a bye in round seventeen before returning to action against the Geelong Falcons at RSEA Park on the 17th of August.
GOALS: Haeata 2, Bater, Collins, Seers, Bowd, Moodie, Sulzberger, Theodoropoulas
BEST: Sulzberger, Kennedy, Haeata, Green, Voss, Seers