![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/06\/719659248_1571968761_09517.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
“Gisborne would have been a game clear of us and the top two would have been another one ahead as well.”<\/p>\n
The Dragons remain in fourth spot, albeit level on wins with the Bulldogs, two wins behind South Bendigo and one behind Strathfieldsaye.<\/p>\n
Of the younger brigade, Oscar Cail and Ollie Stewart, who turned 18 the day after the win, made their debuts for the Dragons and acquitted themselves exceptionally.<\/p>\n
Cail finished with three goals, while Bendigo Pioneers co-captain Noah Willits, in his second senior game, showed plenty of poise with two last-quarter majors, the second putting his side within one point of the Bulldogs late in the contest.<\/p>\n
Will Pinniger also chimed in with a final-quarter goal.<\/p>\n
The Dragons had nine players overall under 21 \u2013 the same as the Bulldogs, who were missing Pat McKenna, Braidon Blake, Dylan Johnstone, Harry Luxmoore and Matt Merrett.<\/p>\n
Lachie Hood and Lachlan Wright were the standouts for the Dragons, well aided by Cooper Smith in his return from injury, spending much of the day across half-back in between short stints on-ball.<\/p>\n
Curnow said a return date for Nick Stagg, Dayten Uerata, Harrison Free and Finlay Lockhart was getting nearer, potentially as soon as this week against Castlemaine in what shapes as a crunch game for both teams.<\/p>\n
“Hendo (Castlemaine coach Bailey Henderson) has got them going well, and he’s obviously coached the under-18s for multiple years, so he has a lot of players who trust in him and know what system he wants to play,” Curnow said.<\/p>\n
“It’s just a matter of time for them.<\/p>\n
“I’m sure it will happen and I hope for the competition’s sake that they do keep pushing sides and taking some scalps.”<\/p>\n
Elsewhere on Saturday, ex-AFL player Michael Hartley booted a season-high 15 goals in Castlemaine’s 207-point win over Broadford at Camp Reserve.<\/p>\n
Twelve players in total kicked goals for the Magpies in their massive 35.14 (225) to 2.5 (17) scoreline.<\/p>\n
Hartley, Hunter Staples (three goals), Harrison Sheahan (three), Darby Semmens, Zavier Murley and John Watson in his 200th senior game all played starring roles in the win, which catapulted the Magpies into fifth spot on the ladder above Eaglehawk, which had a bye.<\/p>\n
Hartley’s haul of 15 goals was the biggest this season so far by an individual player, eclipsing Gisborne’s Pat McKenna’s dozen the previous week against Broadford.<\/p>\n
It was the Kangaroos’ third straight 200-point-plus loss and fourth this season.<\/p>\n
At Harry Trott Oval, South Bendigo retained top spot heading into this week’s bye with a comfortable 32-point win over Kangaroo Flat.<\/p>\n
The Roos showed great heart to stick with the league leaders for the bulk of the first half, with only a few costly errors in the second term preventing them from being closer than 28 points at half-time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They were able to stick with the Bloods throughout the second half, with a four-goal-to-two final term cause for real optimism for the Roos under coach Tyrone Downie.<\/p>\n Coen Harker and Brody Haddow again starred for the Bloods, well supported by Hayden Geddes and Zaydyn Lockwood, back from his VFL duties with Richmond.<\/p>\n Lockwood’s inclusion was timely with regular ruckmen Macgregor Cameron (concussion protocols) and Callum Crisp (knee issues) both sidelined. Brock Harvey led the way on the scoreboard with six goals.<\/p>\n For the Roos, Aaron Nevins, Angus Macpherson, Jake Hywood, Zach Bird and Kyle Symons were all prominent, while Nick Lang booted three goals.<\/p>\n At Tannery Lane, Strathfieldsaye did what it had to do against a gallant Golden Square, winning by 39 points.<\/p>\n Tyson Mckenzie, back from VFL duties with St Kilda, and Pat Blake (both with four goals) led the charge for the Storm, who got great service also from Cooper Jones, Riley Mulquiny and Tyce Griffin,<\/p>\n Playing in the same side together for the first time at senior level, Bailey Warfe and Noah Warfe topped the Bulldogs’ official best players list ahead of Macey Eaton, Riley Dillon and Isaac Corvo.<\/p>\n The Bulldogs will sweat on the result of scans on their co-captain Jayden Burke’s knee after he was helped from the field in the first half.<\/p>\n Burke has been one of the Bulldogs’ shining lights in defence this season.<\/p>\n The Bulldogs suffered further injury blows with Archie Edwards (back) and ruckman Daniel Keating (dislocated shoulder), restricting their rotations to just one player by late in the second quarter.<\/p>\n For the Storm, Bendigo Pioneers-listed player Archie Lancaster, from Central Murray league club Wandella, made his debut having gained a clearance mid-week.<\/p>\n Round 9 (Saturday 13 June): Broadford v Eaglehawk; Golden Square v Gisborne; Kangaroo Flat v Strathfieldsaye; Sandhurst v Castlemaine; South Bendigo bye.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SANDHURST co-coach Bryce Curnow has recognised the influence of the side’s younger players in the Dragons’ stirring come-from-behind win over Gisborne last Saturday. The Dragons came from six goals down midway through the third quarter to overrun the Bulldogs on their home deck at Gardiner Reserve for a stirring 13.8 (86) to 10.15 (75) triumph. […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/06\/716932225_1573397111_10440.jpg\")