In the lead up to Saturday’s Sandhurst versus South Bendigo clash all the talk was about the Dragons’ absentees.
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With Sandhurst missing up to eight players from its best 22 - Tim Martin, Blair Holmes, Matt Thornton, Mitch Dole, Brock Knights, Pascale Craig, Harry O’Meara and Hamish Leahy - it was seen as South Bendigo’s big chance to upset its arch-rival.
In reality, the game showed that the Dragons might just have the deepest senior squad in the competition.
While the young Bloods took the game right up to the Dragons for the first half, Sandhurst’s class and depth was telling in the 13.14 (92) to 4.6 (30) win.
Adam Parry, Angus Parry, Koe Ngawati, Fergus Greene and Josh Hann played their first senior games for the season and played their roles.
“We think our depth is pretty good,’’ Sandhurst coach Wayne Primmer said.
“We haven’t had our best team available yet and we might not ever get our best team, you just don’t know. The boys that came in today all did a good job.”
The Dragons and Bloods only kicked three goals each in the first half before Sandhurst shifted up a gear in the third term.
The Dragons blew the Bloods away with a six-goal to none burst.
South Bendigo went from the 28-minute mark of the second term to the 15-minute mark of the final quarter without kicking a goal.
“The first half we showed some really promising signs and the boys played with great intensity,’’ South Bendigo coach Brady Childs said.
“Lapses in the second half allowed a good side like Sandhurst to attack.”
Star recruit Kristan Height showed why the Dragons were so keen to sign him. On a day when a lot of players had trouble with their skills, Height’s disposal was first class.
While his work rate through the middle of the ground was top class, Height also proved he will cause opposition defenders plenty of headaches when he rests as a deep forward.
Lachlan Ross made his name as a forward last year, but his form across half-back this season has been rock solid.
Nick Stagg, Brodie Montague and Lee Coghlan also did plenty of good work for the Dragons.
A negative for the Dragons was Codie Price suffering concussion in the second quarter.
The Bloods improved on their round one effort against Eaglehawk, but their lack of polish forward of centre undid their good work.
