EAGLEHAWK kept its unbeaten start to the Bendigo Football League season intact on Sandhurst, kicking away from Sandhurst to win by 33 points at Canterbury Park.
The Hawks led by just seven points at three quarter-time, but found another gear in the last term to record a 16.14 (110) to 11.11 (77) victory and improve their record to 3-0.
While the game was still up for grabs at the last change, it took the Hawks just 14 minutes into the final quarter to put the result beyond doubt.
Inside the first 14 minutes of the last term the Hawks booted 5.3 to 0.2 to establish a 38-point lead, with their five goals in the match-winning burst kicked by Matt Gretgrix, Linton Jacobs (two), Jarrod Findlay and Josh Bowe.
“We butchered the ball a bit at times today and our players are better than that, but our work-rate was there, we just don’t have the polish on it yet,” Hawks coach Derrick Filo said.
“It was a bit of a scrappy game, but in this competition this year you’re going to take every four points you can get.”
Eaglehawk made a strong start to the contest, kicking 3.2 to 0.1 in the opening 10 minutes, with captain Brady Herdman, Daniel Reid and Jarrod Findlay all on target inside 50 early.
However, the Dragons weathered the early storm and by quarter-time had edged to a one-point lead, 4.4 to 4.3.
Lee Coghlan kicked two goals in the first term for the Dragons, while Matt Thornton looked dangerous up forward, with three scoring shots for a return of 1.2.
Each team kicked a goal apiece in the first four minutes of the second term.
However, the remaining 24 minutes of the quarter weren’t pretty as both sides constantly turned the ball over in perfect conditions.
And the skills weren’t much better up forward.
After each team’s early goal, over the last 24 minutes of the quarter the Hawks added a further 1.4, while the Dragons kicked 0.2 to trail by seven points at half-time, 6.7 to 5.6.
In one four-minute period during the second quarter, Lachie Watts and Nick Stagg both missed set-
shots from within 30m for the Dragons, while Ben Deuscher sent a shot at goal out on the full.
Midway through the third quarter the Hawks appeared on the verge of breaking the game open, with three consecutive goals - including two booming 50m kicks from Kain Robins - giving Eaglehawk a 15-point lead 15 minutes into the term.
However, just as they had done in the first quarter, the Dragons answered the Hawks’ challenge with back-to-back goals to Deuscher and Thornton.
And when Thornton marked 40m out at the 28-minute mark, he had a chance to put the Dragons ahead by four points.
But his set-shot missed, and from the resulting kick-in the Hawks ran the ball down the ground, culminating in a goal to Bowe to give Eaglehawk its seven-point lead at the last change.
Robins was again brilliant for the Hawks, playing forward in the first half and defence in the second.
He finished with four goals and took eight marks.
Bowe was a solid four-quarter contributor, kicking two goals and providing plenty of dash and drive.
Other good players were classy midfielder Damien Lock, defenders Cameron Milward and Tim Hill, and lively duo Findlay and Jacobs, who both kicked two goals.
Significantly for the Hawks, they kicked 16 goals, despite key forwards Gretgrix and Herdman combining for just four.
The best for the Dragons was ruckman James Cozens, whose tap work was pivotal in Sandhurst winning the centre breaks 21-11.
Midfielders Blair Holmes, Deuscher and Coghlan, who finished with three goals, were all standouts, while Jack Kennedy did a superb job to hold the in-form Gretgrix to just one goal.
Despite being beaten and now having a 1-2 record, Sandhurst coach Keiran Nihill said the Dragons would take plenty out of their effort against one of the BFL’s benchmark sides.
“Eaglehawk is obviously going to be one of the good sides and we learned today that we can compete with them,” Nihill said.
“Having a few new blokes into our team during the off-season, it felt like we teamed a lot better today.”
Match statistics:
Centre clearances: Eaglehawk 11; Sandhurst 21.
Inside 50s: Eaglehawk 54; Sandhurst 45.
Stoppages: Eaglehawk 31; Sandhurst 17.
Email a friend