The return of some key personnel in the next fortnight will help Sandhurst's efficiency forward of centre.
Sandhurst sits in fifth place on the BFNL ladder, with a likely win over the battling Kyneton this Saturday to give the Dragons a 6-3 record at the halfway mark of the season and a strong launching pad for a crack at third place for the finals.
Defensively, the Dragons stack up with the other top five sides in the BFNL, but when it comes to hitting the scoreboard they're the only top five side not averaging 100 points per game.
"Our ball use going forward has clicked at times,'' Sandhurst coach Ashley Connick said.
"Our first half at Eaglehawk, and in some periods of most games, we've had some really good patches where we've moved the ball the way we want.
"It's a little bit of decision making and a little bit of skill error and positioning up the field. It's certainly something we think we'll get better at.
"We have a big tick defensively and a big tick for effort and work rate. We just need to tidy that ball use up part of our game and we'll be able to go with anyone."
Injuries to premier ball user Andrew Collins, marking forwards Will Holt and Lachlan Ross and small forward Vinnie Rodi haven't helped the Dragons' cause.
Ross played his first game back from a shoulder injury against Gisborne last Saturday and will be better for the run.
Holt and Rodi are a strong chance to return for this Saturday's game against Kyneton, while Collins will resume from a calf injury against Kangaroo Flat in round 10.
Collins has only played four games this year - the last of those against Eaglehawk where he was hampered by his calf injury.
Full-forward Holt kicked two goals in the first five minutes against Eaglehawk before injuring his shoulder.
With Collingwood's VFL team having the bye this weekend, the Dragons are likely to have classy midfielder Lachlan Tardrew available for selection.
After watching Gisborne live for the first time in last Saturday's 26-point loss, Connick said the gap between top-placed Strathfieldsaye and the second-placed Bulldogs was not significant.
"Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye are very different sides,'' Connick said.
"They have different strengths and weaknesses. I think it would be a very even game between the two. There wouldn't be much in it."
Round nine games in the BFNL (home teams listed first): Sandhurst v Kyneton, Eaglehawk v Kangaroo Flat, Golden Square v Gisborne, South Bendigo v Castlemaine, Maryborough v Strathfieldsaye.
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