South Bendigo ends Sandhurst’s season
SOUTH Bendigo ended Sandhurst’s season as it scored an emphatic victory in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League’s senior footy elimination final on Sunday.
Co-tenants at Queen Elizabeth Oval, the Bloods and Dragons played out an entertaining first half.
The Ash Connick-coached Sandhurst led 34-24 at quarter-time as it capitalised on the work of in-form ruckman Hamish Hosking at centre ball-ups and stoppages.
Momentum swung dramatically in the second when South Bendigo put Daniel Johnstone into the ruck.
Accuracy was a highlight of the Bloods play as they scored 6.2 to 3.1 in quarter two to gain a nine-point lead by half-time.
A 21-point buffer South Bendigo going into the final term became 49 just over 30 minutes later after it scored 4.5 to a point in what would be Sandhurst’s last quarter of the ’22 campaign.
The in-form Brock Harvey capped a best-on-ground performance by kicking seven goals for the Bloods as Will Allen, Kaiden Antonowicz, Cooper Leon and Alex Smith added two each.
Michael Herlihy and Will Keck were the Bloods’ other goalkickers.
Sandhurst did regain key forward Matt Thortnon who had missed eight matches while on an overseas holiday.
The Dragons were without in-form full-forward Cobi Maxted who had kicked 59 goals as he lined up for Collingwood in the VFL finals clash with Carlton.
Sandhurst’s only multiple goalkicker in the elimination final was Alex Wharton on two.
Other goalkickers were James Coghlan, Blair Holmes, Lachie Hood, Jeremy Rodi, Connor Sexton, Noah Walsh and Joel Wharton.
Best for the Bloods were Brock Harvey, Daniel Johnstone, coach Nathan Horbury, Isaiah Miller, Braydan Torpey and Cooper Leon.
The Dragons’ best were Jeremy Rodi, Noah Walsh, Hamish Hosking, Matt Wilkinson, Jake McLean and Alex Wharton.
South Bendigo will now tackle Golden Square in next Sunday’s first semi-final.
Sandhurst won every quarter in the Harmac Homes reserves elimination final against Eaglehawk.
The Dragons led 22-8 at quarter-time and then scored 3.1 to 2.2 in the second.
A 26-point buffer at three quarter-time became 30 by the final siren as Sandhurst marked a 73-43 victory.
Luke Crawford kicked three goals for the Dragons as Jack Keating and Zac Sims added two each.
Other goalkickers for the maroon and blue were Billy Robertson, Jasper Stewart, Xavier Walsh and Jed Zimmer.
The Hawks’ attack was led by Koby Gibson and Matt Noden, two; Rhys Foster and Khy Sawyer.
Sandhurst’s best were Jed Zimmer, Harrison Free, Jack Keating, Xavier Walsh, Tom Calvert and Darcy Mills.
Best for the Two Blues were Khy Sawyer, Mark Storey, Izak O’Sullivan, Cameron McGlashan, Liam Drummond and Tyler Eliades.
Extra time was needed to decide the Sportspower under-18s elimination final between Strathfieldsaye and Maryborough.
Storm led 28-21 at half-time, but the Magpies lifted to score 3.3 to 2.1 in the third quarter to lead by a point going into the last.
A score of 62-all at the end of the fourth quarter meant extra time was played.
Storm kept premiership hopes alive as it scored 1.1 to 0.2 in the added minutes for a 69-64 victory.
Strathfieldsaye’s attack was led by Jye Stephens, three; Ben Elkington and Rowan Fox, two.
Other goalkickers for Storm were Jasper Cheesman, Blake McGregor and Harry Teasdale.
Maryborough’s leading goalkickers were Liam Freeman, three; and captain Jai Howell, two.
Taj Bond, Alex Gavriliadis, Keynan Lanfranchi and Zeb Potter were also on target for the Magpies.
Storm’s best were Riley Mulquiny, Ben Elkington, Rowan Fox, Carson James, Siologa Siu and Campbell Tangey.
Lucas Hurse, Tom Myers, Jai Howell, Taj Bond, Cobie Read and Luke Guelen played well for Maryborough.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at QEO:
Bendigo Bank seniors at 2.20pm: Gisborne v Strathfieldsaye.
Harmac Homes reserves at 12.15pm: Golden Square v Gisborne.
Sportspower under-18s at 10.15am: Sandhurst v Gisborne.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-final at QEO:
Bendigo Bank seniors at 2.20pm: Golden Square v South Bendigo.
Harmac Homes reserves at 12.15pm: Strathfieldsaye v Sandhurst.
SportsPower under-18s at 10.15am: Golden Square v Strathfieldsaye.
Written by Nathan Dole.
