Bendigo Advertiser | GISBORNE’S season went from bad to worse on Saturday when it kicked just one goal against Sandhurst.
Andre Headberry kicked the Bulldogs’ only goal of the game in the second quarter as they were thrashed by the Dragons, 17.25 (127) to 1.4 (10)
The Bulldogs’ score of 1.4 (10) was its lowest total since joining the Bendigo Football Netball League in 2000 and the 117-point defeat was the club’s fifth-straight loss this season.
Gisborne has been decimated by injuries this season and the young Bulldogs struggled to get the ball forward of centre against a Sandhurst team that’s in peak form.
Once again the Dragons failed to fully capitalise on their chances in front of goal, but they’ve now strung together six-straight wins with margins of 62, 86, 118, 76, 83 and 117 points.
“Our injury slate is clean, Tim Martin will be an added bonus when he gets back and the rest of the guys are playing good team footy,’’ Sandhurst coach Brett Fitzpatrick said.
“In the situations we’ve been in the past few weeks it would be easy for the players to get ahead of themselves and run ahead of the ball, but it’s been quite the opposite.
“We seem to be getting better each week with our discipline and that showed in the scoreline this week.”
The most pleasing sign for the Dragons is that they’re getting strong contributions across the board.
While their high profile players continue to get the job done, it’s the form of the Dragons’ unheralded players that has the potential to make Sandhurst a better side than the one that finished runner-up last year.
Teenager James Coghlan, son of Sandhurst great Frank Coghlan, has taken his game to another level this year, while Tom Calvert has more than adequately filled the big shoes of Tim Martin in the ruck.
The Dragons could have up to six players in the inter-league team next Saturday and then they face a testing fortnight against Golden Square and Eaglehawk.
Gisborne coach Rod Sharp was unavailable for comment on Sunday.
