SANDHURST co-coach Bryce Curnow is tipping a strong response from the Dragons in their top of the ladder showdown against Eaglehawk on Saturday, after tasting defeat for the first time in their premiership defence last weekend.<\/p>\n
Despite a strong finish, the Dragons were unable to overhaul Gisborne at the QEO, coming up 12 points short in a high-calibre rematch between last year’s grand finalists.<\/p>\n
It was the same margin as it was at quarter time, after the Bulldogs jumped their rivals early, and one the Dragons could not rein in.<\/p>\n
Curnow believed the fight they showed over the final three quarters would hold the Dragons in good stead against an in-form Eaglehawk, which joined top side Sandhurst and third-placed Gisborne at 5-1 with a big win over Castlemaine.<\/p>\n
“I was happy with the comeback as at one stage it was out by over 20 points,” he said.<\/p>\n
“So, to come back multiple times and challenge them was pretty impressive.<\/p>\n
“We just couldn’t hit that final goal or two that would have got us in front and taken the game away from them.<\/p>\n
“Gisborne are a good unit and probably had a bit to play for, losing to us in the grand final last year.<\/p>\n
“I thought we did a lot right in big moments. They got that little jump on us at the start and were able to hold that gap throughout.<\/p>\n
“Gisborne definitely outworked us early with their pressure. We’ve definitely done the same to a fair few teams this year. We certainly did it well against South Bendigo a fortnight ago.<\/p>\n
“It was a good experience for a heap of our young boys, but unfortunately it didn’t quite fall our way.<\/p>\n
“Hopefully we can take some key learnings away from it.”<\/p>\n
Liam Ireland was the standout in defence for the Dragons, winning plenty of one-on-ones and rebounding strongly.<\/p>\n
Curnow is viewing Eaglehawk in many ways as the perfect challenge for a team looking to bounce back from defeat, with the Hawks possessing multiple threats.<\/p>\n
“Obviously some of their talls are in very good form; Clayton Holmes and their ruck Brayden Frost, and from an opposition coach perspective, Charlie Langford is one of my favourites to watch,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Billy Evans has had a great start to the year and Jack O’Shannessy has been amongst the goals.<\/p>\n
“We’ll have to pot a bit time into those boys, but more importantly we need not get back to playing our game.<\/p>\n
“Maybe on the weekend we looked a bit too much at Gisborne’s strengths rather than playing our own game.<\/p>\n
“We need to find that balance a little bit better.”<\/p>\n
The Dragons have some injury concerns, with Caleb Connick suffering a hamstring injury and Lachlan Wright nursing a thumb injury.<\/p>\n
Eaglehawk will carry plenty of momentum into the contest following a 79-point win over Castlemaine at Camp Reserve.<\/p>\n
Co-coach Travis Matheson said there were good signs the Hawks were getting somewhere near their best football.<\/p>\n
“It was a little bit of a danger game \u2013 that’s how we approached it,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Josh Eyre looks like he could be an absolute star for them. Castlemaine have some really top-end class.<\/p>\n
“They rolled us down there last year and the year before we beat them by a point, so it hasn’t been a great trip for us, so it was good to get away with a win.”<\/p>\n
Co-coach Clayton Holmes starred for the Hawks with eight goals, including four in a dominant 51-7 opening quarter.<\/p>\n
Jack O’Shannessy was the perfect complement with four goals, Billy Evans, Joel Budareck, Ben Thompson and Joel Mullen controlled the midfield, while Tyh Evans was creative from half back.<\/p>\n
The win continued a solid few weeks for the Hawks, coming off the back of another big win against Strathfieldsaye.<\/p>\n
Matheson believed the Hawks would relish the challenge of testing themselves against the reigning premiers.<\/p>\n
“It will be a big game. They are obviously the benchmark and the team everyone is chasing at the minute,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It will be good to get a look at them.<\/p>\n
“A loss for them last week keeps the competition open.<\/p>\n
“The midfield battle is going to be the big one. They set up behind the ball really well.<\/p>\n
“So, if we’re not getting our hands on it at the stoppage, it will be hard to kick a score.<\/p>\n
“There will be a big focus on the midfield battle for us.<\/p>\n
“It would be good to finish the first block of games off well, play some good football and be thereabouts and get the win.”<\/p>\n
Round 7 draw: Eaglehawk v Sandhurst; Gisborne v Golden Square; South Bendigo v Kangaroo Flat; Strathfieldsaye v Castlemaine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SANDHURST co-coach Bryce Curnow is tipping a strong response from the Dragons in their top of the ladder showdown against Eaglehawk on Saturday, after tasting defeat for the first time in their premiership defence last weekend. Despite a strong finish, the Dragons were unable to overhaul Gisborne at the QEO, coming up 12 points short […]<\/p>\n