ALTHOUGH it’s hot favourite, Sandhurst knows it will not be easy against Eaglehawk in Saturday’s senior footy grand final to cap the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
These clubs lead the league’s premiership tally, but have not met in a senior grand final since 1953.
As the Dragons fight for back-to-back Bendigo Advertiser premiership cups, Eaglehawk eyes its first flag since 2018.
It’s a huge challenge for Eaglehawk on the Dragons’ turf at the city’s showpiece arena, Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The big game will start at 2.20pm.
This season’s meetings between the teams stand at three-nil in favour of Sandhurst.
Latest hit-out was the second semi-final in which the Bryce Curnow and Lachlan Tardrew-coached Dragons broke clear in the final quarter to mark a 95-34 victory.
It’s a Sandhurst team which has played just one final against a Hawks’ line-up which has played every weekend of the finals campaign.
A great run by an Eaglehawk team coached by Travis Matheson, non-playing, and Clayton Holmes, playing, includes hard-fought wins against Gisborne in the qualifying and preliminary finals by nine and 33 points.
Grand final week kicked off with Eaglehawk captain Billy Evans being declared the Michelsen medallist as league fairest and best at Sunday night’s awards ceremony at Bendigo Club.
Evans will play a significant role as ruck-rover or rover as he teams with ruckman Brayden Frost, Joel Mullen and Ben Thompson.
They are up against a formidable on-ball brigade which has Hugh Schmetzer in the ruck, Michelsen medallist and Sandhurst co-coach Lachlan Tardrew, Lachie Hood and co-captain Cooper Smith.
Among the many strengths of the Sandhurst team is the attack.
The Dragons are led by co-captain Fergus Greene who has kicked 42 goals in 11 matches; Tom Campbell, 35 goals; Cobi Maxted, 26; and Matt Wilkinson, 25.
Add in the experienced Nick Stagg and James Coghlan and the Dragons are capable of kicking many goals and quickly.
A tight-knit Hawks’ defence led by Charlie Langford, Jonty Neaves and Dylan Hanley competes well in the aerial duels.
At ground level there’s Jack Donat, Tyh Evans and Sam Thompson.
Midfield contests are always a key factor on the wide expanses of the QEO.
Dragons’ wingman Caleb Connick and Jack Keating join forces with the hard-running and skilful Tardrew.
Huge roles will be played by Hawks’ midfielders Tom Bennett, Ben Thompson and Jacob O’Brien.
Sandhurst’s defence has the height and marking power of Lachlan Wright, Sean O’Farrell, Bryce Curnow and Liam Ireland.
The Dragons will look to Will Brohm and Dayten Uerata to set up plenty of play from the defensive 50m arc.
Number one priority is to limit the influence of Hawks’ forwards Jack O’Shannessy, 39 goals; Clayton Holmes, 27 in 10 matches; Nick Thompson and Nick Hoare.
The Hawks also have Ben Thompson and Billy Evans capable of going forward and slotting goals.
Sandhurst
B: Bryce Curnow, Sean O’Farrell, Will Brohm.
Hb: Liam Ireland, Lachlan Wright, Dayten Uerata.
C: Caleb Connick, Lachlan Tardrew, Jack Keating.
Hf: Fergus Greene, Nick Stagg, Cobi Maxted.
F: James Coghlan, Tom Campbell, Matt Wilkinson.
Foll: Hugh Schmetzer, Lachie Hood, Cooper Smith.
Inter: Oliver Morris, Seb Collins, Darcy Mills, Jacob Austin.
Coaches: Bryce Curnow, Lachlan Tardrew.
Eaglehawk
B: Sam Thompson, Charlie Langford, Jonty Neaves.
Hb: Jack Donat, Dylan Hanley, Tyh Evans.
C: Tom Bennett, Ben Thompson, Jacob O’Brien.
Hf: Nick Hoare, Clayton Holmes, Jack O’Shannessy.
F: Nick Thompson, Pala Kuma, Blake McGregor.
Foll: Brayden Frost, Joel Mullen, Billy Evans.
Inter: Joel Budarick, Bailey Ilsley, Jack Thompson, Aydan Hanley.
Coaches: Travis Matheson, Clayton Holmes.
Sandhurst’s run to the grand final:
Rd 1: d Castlemaine, 107-53 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 2: d Strathfieldsaye, 96-46 at Triple M Park.
Rd 3: d Golden Square, 108-60 at Wade Street.
Rd 4: d Kangaroo Flat, 171-15 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 5: d South Bendigo, 114-37 at Harry Trott Oval, Kennington.
Rd 6: lt Gisborne, 73-85 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 7: d Eaglehawk, 81-48 at Canterbury Park.
Rd 8: d Castlemaine, 147-38 at Camp Reserve.
Rd 9: d Strathfieldsaye, 102-32 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 10: d Golden Square, 131-55 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 11: d Kangaroo Flat, 176-42 at Dower Park.
Rd 12: d South Bendigo, 115-66 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 13: lt Gisborne, 39-76 at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 14 d Eaglehawk, 71-52 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 15: d Golden Square, 119-42 at Wade Street.
Rd 16: d Gisborne, 147-28 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
2nd semi-final: d Eaglehawk, 95-34 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Eaglehawk’s path to the grand final:
Rd 1: d Golden Square, 108-48 at Wade Street.
Rd 2: d Kangaroo Flat, 149-17 at Canterbury Park.
Rd 3: d South Bendigo, 71-34 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 4: lt Gisborne, 94-105 at Canterbury Park.
Rd 5: d Strathfieldsaye, 85-49 at Canterbury Park.
Rd 6: d Castlemaine, 144-65 at Camp Reserve.
Rd 7: lt Sandhurst, 48-81 at Canterbury Park.
Rd 8: d Golden Square, 93-42 at Canterbury Park.
Rd 9: d Kangaroo Flat, 100-37 at Dower Park.
Rd 10: d South Bendigo, 100-85 at Canterbury Park.
Rd 11: lt Gisborne, 51-66 at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 12: d Strathfieldsaye, 61-31 at Triple M Park.
Rd 13: d Castlemaine, 52-20 at Canterbury Park.
Rd 14: lt Sandhurst, 52-71 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 15: d Kangaroo Flat, 134-17 at Dower Park.
Rd 16: d Castlemaine, 71-44 at Canterbury Park.
Qualifying final: d Gisborne, 65-56 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
2nd semi-final: lt Sandhurst, 34-95 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Preliminary final: d Gisborne, 85-52 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
It’s the Dragons aiming to outrun the Bulldogs as Sandhurst takes on Golden Square in the Drummond Golf reserves clash from 11.50am.
Sandhurst has a three-one lead in this season’s meetings with the Bulldogs.
Most recent showdown was the second semi-final which went the way of the Dragons, 53-44.
Their previous clash at Golden Square’s Wade Street in the 15th round ended in a 38-28 win for Sandhurst.
The Bulldogs dominated the round 10 match on the QEO to win 49 points.
First meeting this season was in round three at Wade Street where the Dragons fought on for a 46-39 victory.
Sandhurst is chasing back-to-back premierships.
There’s a great mix of experience and talented youngsters in this Sandhurst team.
Alex and Joel Wharton, Tanner Nally and Jarrod Bateson have all played in many big matches.
The Dragons’ run to the reserves premiership against Golden Square in 2014 included Bateson earning the R.F. Turner Medal for best-on-ground.
Skilful youngsters to watch in the maroon and blue include Jack English, last season’s Symons medallist as fairest and best in the league’s under-18s competition; Wil Pinniger on a wing, Charlie Robinson and Wilson Butler.
Famous names at Sandhurst also feature in this line-up as Patrick O’Farrell and Connor Sexton will be in action.
After the second semi-final defeat, Golden Square struck back to win the preliminary final against South Bendigo by three goals.
Key target in the Bulldogs’ attack is Tanner Rayner who booted 28 to be joint winner of the league’s goalkicking race with South Bendigo’s Will Purcell.
A premiership ruckman for Golden Square seniors in ’23, Matt Compston has played on and is an integral part of this line-up.
The Bulldogs have Sheldon Burke and Noah Ware in the key defensive posts, Dean Norris and Jack Sampson as ruck-rover and rover.
An attack that includes Tommi Turner, Nic Ross and the hard-running Zac Tickell will test the Dragons in every quarter.
Famous names from the Wade Street kennel in McConville and Jenkyn are represented in this contest through Flynn McConville and Ned Jenkyn.
Sandhurst
B: Murdoch Mulqueen, Louis Banfield, Tom Calvert.
Hb: Patrick O’Farrell, Declan Stevenson, Tanner Nally.
C: Alex Wharton, Jack English, Wil Pinniger.
Hf: Mackenzie Whittle, Wilson Butler, Jarrod Bateson.
F: Joel Wharton, James Vlamenick, Angus Dickson.
Foll: Connor Sexton, Henry Edwards, Charlie Robinson.
Inter: Campbell Rowland, Billy Bassett, Zac Gray, Thomas Hawke.
Golden Square
B: Seb Pellegrino, Sheldon Burke, James Wilkinson.
Hb: Lachlan Monti, Noah Warfe, Jesse Gill.
C: Darcy Connell, Liam Thomas, Ned Jenkyn.
Hf: Zac Tickell, Nic Ross, Jordan Salathiel.
F: Tommi Turner, Tanner Rayner, Dermott Bell.
Foll: Matt Compston, Dean Norris, Jack Sampson.
Inter (from): Flynn McConville, Rory McCrann-Peters, Bailey Rackstraw, Thomas Dillon, Jayden Chaffey.
Grand final day kicks off with the SportsPower under-18s clash between Sandhurst and Golden Square from 9.15am.
Victorious in all four matches with Golden Square this season, Sandhurst will start hot favourite to mark back-to-back premierships.
Margins have been 49, eight, 22 and 46 points.
These clubs have built some incredible dynasties at under-18s level.
Sandhurst through the Ben Dyett-coached era, and Golden Square when John Fisher was in charge.
A superb year for Sandhurst’s Oscar Cail included being joint winner of the George Symons Medal as league fairest and best with Eaglehawk’s Cahal Blandthorn.
A tally of 44 goals by Cail also clinched the goalkicking award.
Players to watch for Sandhurst include Gus Hay in the centre, Zane Connick and Lachlan Borchard in attack, ruckman Miller Nihill, and Shannon Tardrew and Harvey White off the half-back flanks.
The Bulldogs will look for big games from the likes of Melvic Pambai in the centre, ruckman Riley Webster, wingman Axel Drummond, rover Josh Kelly, and Llogan Mayman and Archer Weeks across half-back to upset the Dragons.
Golden Square has Ryan Brown and Seth Cooke-Kingston as marking targets in attack and Archie Eaton and Billy Buhagiar ready to swoop on the loose ball.
Sandhurst
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: Darby Whatley, Jack Harvey, Charles Kealy, Thomas Smith.
Golden Square
B: Xavier Cain, Tyson Hoban, Mehtaab Sandhu.
Hb: Archer Weeks, Llogan Mayman, Byron Ritchie.
C: Axel Drummond, Melvic Pambai, Logan Wescott.
Hf: Archie Eaton, Ryan Brown, Billy Buhagiar.
F: James Peter, Seth Cooke-Kingston, Zach Barker.
Foll: Riley Webster, Xavier Grant, Josh Kelly.
Inter (from): Lewis Ritchie, Otis Patton, Aurelius Upton, Jaxson Smith, Liam Dole, Harvey Jackson.