THE pain of grand final defeat will be used by Sandhurst’s coaches and players as they strive for glory in ’26 and beyond.
The Dragons bounced back from defeat to Golden Square in ’23 to beat Gisborne last September.
Rebounding ability will be tested again after a 10-point loss to Eaglehawk in last Saturday’s senior footy grand final.
Dragons’ co-coach Bryce Curnow said in the wash-up of this grand final, especially the last quarter, there were lots of thoughts about what-ifs.
“There are some moments we would like to have again, but that’s it,” said Curnow who has played in many grand finals and usually won across stints with Calivil United, Strathfieldsaye, Kerang and Sandhurst.
Playing and winning grand finals is something Curnow has done many times.
On Saturday it was not to be for him and 21 team-mates.
“Some opportunities were missed, but that’s the game.”
Curnow has also tasted grand final defeat before.
“In many ways you hate losing more than winning some times.
“Let it sting,” he told the players of turning a negative into a positive and a motivating force for not just next season, but every season they play.
A team jointly coached by Curnow and Lachlan Tardrew, a joint winner of the ’24 Michelsen Medal as league fairest and best, had done so much right again this season.
The Dragons were beaten just twice in the home-and-away series, both by Gisborne.
Sandhurst had beaten Eaglehawk in both home-and-away matches and unleashed a final quarter blitz to win the second semi by 10 goals.
On grand final day the Dragons could not halt the Hawks charge to glory.
Curnow also spoke about the commitment of so many on and off the field at Sandhurst FNC.
“There’s a lot done that so many don’t see,” he said of an army of volunteers on game day and a hard-working committee and sponsors network.
The atmosphere in the rooms was in stark contrast to a year ago when the Dragons and their loyal supporters celebrated a footy premiership treble.
All three footy teams again reached grand finals where the tally this time ended at one-two.
Dragons’ president Mark O’Farrell said although results in a lot of matches did not go the club’s way there was plenty to celebrate.
Among them were the premierships by the under-18 footballers who outran Golden Square and the 17-and-under netballers who won their play-off with Strathfieldsaye by a goal.
Seven of eight teams in grand finals was another remarkable feat by the Dragons.