Sandy Remain unbeaten in Grand Final rematch
By Lenny Roberts
Round three for the Dragons saw them take on the Eastern Ranges in a Grand Final rematch at RSEA Park on Saturday morning. Both teams were going into this game 2-0, so many expected this matchup to be a thriller with a ton of star prospects taking the field. Two new debutants for the Dragons with Sam Fanning and Xavier Bamert getting their opportunity.
It was Ashcroft, Reid, and Lord – who is returning in his 19th year, in the opening centre bounce, with Findlay setting up in the ruck. The first score of the game was through Josh Smillie of the Eastern Rangers bursting through the middle. Early territory battle was won by the Rangers, and as a result, Eastern kicked the first goal of the day. Top-ager Cooper Lord (27 disposals, 7 marks) was getting busy in the contest, and did a few nice things in the initial stages of the game. Sandringham got on the board through Kennedy, after he received a free-kick inside forward 50 and slotted the set-shot. Like the previous two games, Kirkwood-Scott was again intercepting and locking down. Dexter Prime got involved too, laying a crushing tackle before cutting off an entry from one of the Rangers players. Ludowyke continued on from his dominant performance last week, marking all over the ground, and eventually found the big sticks. Eastern hit straight back with one of their own to level things up at 13 apiece. With the intensity high, Ashcroft (31 disposals, 1 goal) got going. He smothered a ball deep inside forward 50, gathered and snapped truly. Kennedy (15 disposals, 1 goal) was heavily involved. The Rangers tied things back up before the siren sounded to end the first quarter. Sandringham 19 (3.1) to Eastern 19 (3.1).
The second term got underway through Reid (21 disposals, 6 marks), who snapped through a goal just one minute into the quarter. Sandringham’s ground ball work was evident as they dominated that aspect of the game all day. Seers took a strong mark inside forward 50 before putting it through for the Dragon’s fifth of the game. Dolan (11 disposals, 2 goals) gathered from an Eastern turnover, and slotted one on the run. That made it 3 on the trot for the maroon, white and blue. Returning to the side for this game, Armstrong added another as Sandy really got on top. The Rangers finally hit back to stem the flow. A notable moment of the game was a chase down tackle from Dolan on Smillie, forcing a turnover and then allowing Armstrong to kick his second of the term. That ballooned the lead back out to 26 points nearing the end of the first half. After some back and forth action between the arcs for both teams the quarter ended with Sandy holding a comfortable lead. Sandringham 53 (8.5) to Eastern 27 (4.3) at the main break.
Hotton started the second half in the centre bounce along with Ashcroft and Lord. Eastern drew first blood through Cody Anderson (28 disposals, 2 goals), who was one of the best on the field for the game. A couple of chances at goal went begging for the Dragon’s, whereas the Ranges were taking theirs. Cutting the lead under three goals. However, Dolan responded almost immediately, getting on the end of a pack contest and kicking one home from the square. Lord was following up his good first half with another while Hotton was getting his hands on it. Linder, like usual, was elite down back. McKenzie kicked his first of the game and Sandy’s second of the quarter. Flying in from the side, Findlay (6 disposals, 24 hit outs) took an amazing grab on the outer wing just before the siren. The Dragon’s held a 25-point lead heading into the last. Sandringham 71 (10.11) to Eastern 46 (7.4)
With nothing to lose, the Rangers started the last term on fire. Booting the first two goals and trimming the lead to just 13 points within 6 minutes. They continued to press, however the Dragon’s defenders ultimately stood tall. Playing as a key defender, Cole was solid in defense. Armstrong had back-to-back chances at goal to put away Eastern, however failed to capitalise. A great buildup on the far wing saw McKenzie find Ludowyke in the square. Eastern kicked their last goal for the day before Hotton (26 disposals, 1 goal) got in on the action for his first and only goal of the game. The Dragon’s eventually ran out 19-point winners in the end to remain unbeaten to start the season. They earn 2 weeks off with a round four bye and a community round before returning to face the Giants Academy on the 28th of April at Trevor Barker Oval.
Sandringham Dragons: 12.14 86
Eastern Ranges: 10.7 67
GOALS: Armstrong, Ludowyke, Dolan 2, McKenzie, Ashcroft, Hotton, Reid, Seers, Kennedy
BEST: H.Oliver, S.Linder, N.Sulzberger, L.Ashcroft, L.Kennedy, C.Rozenes