SANDHURST handed Maryborough its biggest home loss at Barkers Oval Princes Park for nine years on Saturday night with a thumping 118-point victory.
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For the third game in a row the Dragons topped the 20-goal mark in their 25.26 (176) to 9.4 (58) win.
The 118-point margin was the biggest the Magpies have suffered on their home ground since they lost by 133 points to Gisborne in round 13 of the 2006 season.
The Dragons weren’t troubled by the Magpies after kicking away to a 36-point lead at quarter-time, 7.6 to 2.0.
It was the third consecutive game the Dragons had at least 40 points on the board at quarter-time.
Having kicked seven goals in the first term, the Dragons added five in the second, five in the third and eight in the last.
“It was a good performance from the boys, and I think they learned a bit of a lesson from the week before (against South Bendigo) that if you don’t respect every opposition and you give them a chance, they will stay with you and can do some damage,” Sandhurst coach Brett Fitzpatrick said.
“Our onballers and the guys around the middle of the ground were all really good all night.”
Inside 50, Tim Martin (six), Koe Ngawati (four), Joel Wharton (four), Lachlan Ross (four) and Galen Munari (three) combined for 21 goals for the Dragons.
While they were all on target, Zac East had an off-night in front of the big sticks, kicking 1.7.
For the second week in a row, the versatile Ross was the Dragons’ best player.
“We’ve been playing him up the ground and deep forward and he’s really enjoying his footy,” Fitzpatrick said.
Matt Thornton, who played back, forward and ruck, Martin, who spent the bulk of the night forward, and recruit Koe Ngawati were also prominent for the victors.
Maryborough coach Jamie Bond was impressed with the Dragons.
“They are a very good side... they look a lot better than last year,” Bond said.
“Their spread and their run was too much for us.”
The best for the winless Magpies were wingman Joseph Collinson (two goals), Alex Mahony, the pacy Dion Munkara (two goals) and Coby Perry, who was one of six under-18 players to double up in the seniors.
VOTES:
LACHLAN ROSS (Sandhurst) 5
MATT THORNTON (Sandhurst) 4
TIM MARTIN (Sandhurst) 3
KOE NGAWATI (Sandhurst) 2
BLAIR HOMES (Sandhurst) 1
