At first glance, the 2008 season was a disaster for Sandhurst.
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One win, eight defeats by more than 100 points and the Dragons narrowly avoided their first wooden spoon in club history.
The silver lining to the club’s cloudy season was the emergence of young players who have gone on to lead the Dragons back to the top shelf of the BFNL.
Nick Stagg and Matt Thornton are two of those players who came through the 2008 youth policy and it’s fitting that they’ll celebrate their 150th senior games with Sandhurst together in Saturday’s clash with Kangaroo Flat at the QEO.
Thick as thieves off the field, Stagg and Thornton are two of Sandhurst’s most important players on the field.
Stagg is an aggressive, contested possession, tackling machine, while Thornton is a key position star at either end of the ground.
Sandhurst great Keiran Nihill was playing coach of the Dragons in 2008 as Stagg and Thornton made their way in senior footy.
It didn’t take long for Nihill to realise that he had two special talents at his disposal.
“There were times in 2008 when we thought maybe we should give Staggy a rest because he was so light, went in so hard for the ball, was courageous and fought tooth and nail for the footy,’’ Nihill said.
“Bear (Thornton) was thrown in the deep end as a young bloke and probably wasn’t ready to play centre half-forward, but we knew that was his spot and that’s where he was going to play his footy for us for years to come.”
Stagg and Thornton have gone on to become BFNL inter-league representatives and crucial members of a Sandhurst team that has a golden opportunity to win the club’s first flag since 2004.
“Staggy is the ultimate competitor, he wins his own footy,’’ Nihill said.
“Inside the club we talk about it all the time that he is our barometer.
“When Staggy is up and about in the forward line and putting on great pressure, we play our best footy.
“It’s no surprise that we had our best win of the season last week and he was the best player on the ground.”
Nihill said Stagg and Thornton’s contributions to the Dragons off the field were just as important as their on-field achievements.
“I’m sure both of them have had plenty of offers to join other clubs, but they are loyal blokes,’’ Nihill said.
“Everyone in footy clubs are quick to can the bloke who leaves your club to play elsewhere, but we don’t spend enough time to celebrate loyalty.
“We should celebrate that more…. Staggy and Bear are the perfect example. They’re great clubmen and great players for Sandhurst.”