SANDHURST marked another under-18s footy premiership victory at Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL grand final day on Saturday.
The Dragons fired up in the second half of the clash with Golden Square at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Dragons went in as hot favourites against a Golden Square team which it had beaten in all four previous showdowns.
Back-to-back premierships in the SportsPower-sponsored competition were a goal for the team in maroon and blue.
Sandhurst was first to goal through Guy Hay less than two minutes in.
The Dean Strauch-coached Golden Square applied plenty of pressure and was rewarded with consecutive goals.
By quarter-time it was the Bulldogs who led 13-7.
Less than 50 seconds into the second term and it was 13-all when Carter Reid was on target for Sandhurst.
The Bulldogs struck back through the skilful Josh Kelly.
Joint recipient of the George Symons Medal as league fairest and best, Oscar Cail goaled for Sandhurst.
When Reid booted his second major the Dragons led 26-19 at nine minutes to go in the half.
An Oliver Stewart goal gave the Mal Borchard and Darcy Mills-coached Sandhurst a 13-point buffer by half-time.
Heat was right on the Bulldogs when Jaxon Howard goaled for the Dragons.
More than halfway through the third quarter and Golden Square broke through the Dragons’ defence to goal.
Another goal by the classy Cail meant Sandhurst led 47-29 going into the final quarter.
Consecutive goals by Charles Duke made it 60-31 at less than seven minutes to play.
Seth Cooke-Kingston kicked Golden Square’s fifth goal.
A Miller Armstrong goal at 45 seconds to play capped a 66-38 victory for Sandhurst.
The Dragons’ attack was led by Cail, Duke and Reid on two each as Armstrong, Hay, Howard and Stewart were also on target.
Goalkickers for Golden Square were Seth Cooke-Kingston, Archie Eaton, Josh Kelly, Melvic Pambai and Jaxson Smith.
Best for the Dragons were Carter Reid, Shannon Tardrew, Zane Connick, Harvey White, Gus Hay and Noah Willits.
Golden Square’s best were Melvic Pambai, Archie Eaton, Axel Drummond, Josh Kelly, Xavier Cain and Xavier Grant.
The Rod Ashman Medal for best-on-ground was presented to Sandhurst’s Carter Reid.
Melvic Pambai from Golden Square earnt the AFL Victoria medal.
Sandhurst’s premiership-winning team:
B: Jaxon Howard, Thomas Davie, Harry Byrne.
Hb: Harvey White, Charles Duke, Shannon Tardrew.
C: Hudson Banfield, Gus Hay, Kobi Macdonald.
Hf: Miller Armstrong, Zane Connick, Carter Reid.
F: Charlie Bombardieri, Lachlan Borchard, Oliver Stewart.
Foll: Miller Nihill, Noah Willits, Oscar Cail.
Inter: Jack Harvey, Charles Kealy, Thomas Smith, Darby Whatley.
There have been some great eras for Sandhurst across the 71-year history of the under-18s competition.
Highs include the premiership four-peat of 2011 to ’14.
In ’26, Sandhurst will be aiming for a Cup hat-trick.