Tight Bloods snare top spot and regain cup

SOUTH Bendigo co-coach Jack Fallon has hailed the defensive efforts of Alex Davis and Will Allen as ‘massive’ in a stirring 48-point win over Sandhurst at Harry Trott Oval on Saturday.

The Bloods jumped back to top spot on the ladder and regained the Graeme Wright Memorial Cup in the process for the first time since 2022 with a 14.14 (98) to 6.14 (50) triumph.

They took advantage of the inaccurate Dragons to lead by 15 points at half-time, before taking full control in a nine-goal to four last half.

Former Hawthorn and Melbourne star James Frawley loomed ominous for the Bloods with five goals.

But it was the effort of some players at the other end of the ground in curbing the dangerous Dragons to a current season low of 50 points that drew plenty of praise from the Bloods coaching panel.

“Defence was a real emphasis for us going into the game and Alex Davis and Will Allen were absolutely super playing on the keys … (Cobi) Maxted and (Tom) Campbell),” Fallon said.

“I highly rate those two forwards. They’re very good players.

“To keep them goalless was a great effort from our defence, and I include Hayden Geddes and Nathan Horbury down there, who use the ball so well.”

Fergus Greene was the main avenue to goal for the Dragons with three in a gallant performance.

As cliched as it sounds, in the end it was a full team effort from the Bloods that ultimately brought the previously undefeated Dragons undone.

“To be honest … and every coach says it … but the whole 22 (players) were really good; there were no passengers,” Fallon said.

“We all stood up and had a go.

“Coming up against Sandhurst, you know they have some very good young kids and they are going to bring the fight to you.

“They have been a great side for a very long time for a reason.

“But we trusted our process and got it done.”

While Frawley’s depth of talent, versatility and experience were always going to be blue-chip assets, it’s been the level of buy-in from the 2015 premiership Hawk that has impressed his teammates the most.

 

“From day one, he said to us, ‘I don’t care if I play full back, centre half back, but if I need to play forward, I’m happy to go there’,” Fallon said.

“Originally, we had him pencilled in to play back, but since we’ve sent him forward, he hasn’t disappointed.”

None were better for the Bloods than on-baller Tom Templeton, while Macgregor Cameron and Jack English (against his old side) were instrumental.

Nicholas Stagg, Liam Ireland, Jaxon Howard, Hamish McNamara, Caleb Connick and Greene led the resistance for Sandhurst.

Heading into the interleague break, Fallon said the Bloods were happy with their progress, but fully aware there were plenty of challenges still to overcome, starting with Golden Square.

Sandhurst’s chance to bounce back will come on 30 May in a blockbuster against Strathfieldsaye at the QEO, with second or even top spot up for grabs to the winner, with both sides at 4-1.

Elsewhere, a three-goal to nil final term saw Gisborne overhaul Eaglehawk for another come-from-behind win.

The fourth-placed Bulldogs (4-1) turned an 11-point three-quarter time deficit into a seven-point win over the Hawks, who tumbled to seventh on the ladder at 2-4.

It was the second straight week the Bulldogs had trailed going in to the final term, only to lift themselves off the canvas.

A one-point victory the previous week over Castlemaine came after they found themselves down by 14 points at the final change.

With the Bulldogs a point up, Pat McKenna sealed the win with a mark and goal at the 29-minute mark.

Further complicating the defeat was a hamstring injury to gun Hawks defender Charlie Langford.

The Hawks were already without the in-form Jonty Neaves, a late withdrawal with pneumonia.

James Gray (three goals), Zac Vescovi, Bradley Bernacki and Dylan Johnstone all starred for the Bulldogs, while Callum Heath, Billy Evans, Ben Thompson and Bailey Ilsley (four goals) led the way for the Hawks.

At Dower Park, Golden Square jumped into the five for the first time this season with a 39-point win over Kangaroo Flat.

The Bulldogs, led by Archie Edwards, Tom Strauch (four goals) and Jack Stewart, defeated the Roos 13.22 (100) to 9.7 (61).

Only inaccuracy prevented a bigger win.

Jack McMahon, Noah Warfe and Tommi Turner were prominent for Golden Square, while Aaron Nevins, Angus Macpherson, Nick Keogh, Jake Hywood, Jay Newman and Zach Bird rated highly for the Roos.

Keogh led the way on the scoreboard for Kangaroo Flat with four goals.

The loss was the Roos’ 49th straight against their neighbour.

At Tannery Lane, Strathfieldsaye inflicted Broadford’s biggest defeat of the season in a 223-point win.

James Schischka booted nine goals and Jed Brereton five as the Storm piled on 36 in total to the Kangaroos’ two.

Pat Blake (four goals), Schischka, Hunter Lawrence, Daniel Clohesy, Zach Charles and Mitchell Mcclure all featured in the best players on a day when nearly every Storm player could have.

The Storm hold down third spot on the ladder at 4-1.