KYNETON Tigers' coach Peter Foster rated Sandhurst the biggest threat to Gisborne as the Graveyard Dogs pushed for a second, successive BFL flag in 2003.
Foster rated the Dragons as the best-equipped club to challenge Gisborne after the Hurst had beaten the Tigers in the elimination final, held at Canterbury Park.
After the 2000s drought had ravaged Victorian footy fields torrential late winter rains then waterlogged the QEO, forcing the first week of the BFL finals to be staged at Canterbury Park. On the Saturday Eaglehawk sneaked home over Maryborough at the same venue in the qualifying final.
The Tigers fought back from a seven-goal deficit at quarter-time to trail Sandhurst by just 19 points at the last change.
"I think they (Sandhurst) are legit," Foster told Advertiser writer Mark Brown.
"Going off this weekend's matches Sandhurst are the second best side still in it. They've got a really strong list that's tough to match up on and I think they're a real danger," Foster said.
The Dragons turned in an inspired last quarter effort booting 4.5 to Kyneton's 3.1 to hold off the Tigers.
They were pushing into the breeze at Canterbury Park as they outscored Kyneton to earn a first semi-final berth.
Dragons' coach Ben Sexton said his side had mixed up some very good footy with some pretty ordinary stuff.
"We played some very smart football in the first and last quarters, punctuated by some indifferent patches in the middle.
"Overall I think we controlled a majority of the play. So I was really pleased with the guys performance, especially at the end when the result was up for grabs," Sexton said.
THE GAME could have been effectively over at quarter-time, had the Hurst capitalized on their early opportunities and kicked straight.
The Dragons booted 7.7 in the first term, missing at least four, gettable shots. Kyneton could manage just two behinds.
Sandhurst's midfield led by Rick Andrews, Leigh Gathercole and Rob Thornton was well on top and providing a steady stream of delivery to full-forward Toby Cardew.
Cardew responded by marking everything. But he struggled to convert in the tricky conditions and landed only two goals from five shots.
Kyneton fought back in the second stanza. Michael "Mobbsy" O'Brien, Brad Else and Daniel Schmidt starred as the Tigers slammed home six unanswered goals to go into the main break just 12 points down.
Kyneton continued to shut the Dragons down in the third term, conceding only two goals to set the scene for a crucial last quarter.
And then, just when it appeared the Tigers might run away with the final, the Dragons clicked into top gear with Gathercole the difference.
The silky smooth on-baller pushed down to centre half-forward where he kicked two crucial goals. Gathercole ended the match with four majors in a best afield performance.
MEANWHILE Eaglehawk was celebrating triple victories at the start of the All Seasons BFL 2003 finals series: a trifecta for the Hawks
The Hawks downed Castlemaine in the Reserves qualifying final and at the start of the day had beaten Sandhurst in the under-18 match.
And then the seniors capped off a big day with a 21-point victory over Maryborough.
Unfortunately for senior playing coach Derrick Filo, he was sidelined.
Filo was injured and unable to take his place in the Two Blues' senior line-up. It was his first miss through injury for many seasons.
Eaglehawk stunned Maryborough with its pressure and skills from the first bounce. Daniel Geary, who clutched some big marks, had his three goals on the board by quarter-time.
Kain Robins, Clint Whitsed and Jeremy Quick added three others.
On the few occasions the Magpies passed the 50m arc Danny O'Shannessy, Jeremy Brown and Ryan Pedroti were in the way.
But Maryborough was finally able to get on the scoreboard. Troy Parker and Adam Shawcross kicked goals to keep Maryborough within 24 points at the first change.
Another goal to Whitsed in the second quarter, followed by one to Adam Rout, stretched Eaglehawk's lead. Stephen Anderson and Parker lifted their work rates and majors to Jamie Bond and James McNamee buoyed Maryborough.
With Eaglehawk completely off target in the third term adding just six behinds, Maryborough closed the gap. Anderson notched two goals while Shawcross, who took possession from a ball-up, nailed Maryborough's seventh.
That left Eaglehawk ahead narrowly by 13 points, 58-45, at the last change.
In the huddle, Filo told his players to be accountable, to play man-on-man and force turnovers.
And the Hawks were desperate in the last quarter. Maryborough kept trying but could not goal, while Rout capped off Devin Brown's attack at the contest from half-back to kick long into the forward 50 and find Robins.
Robins kicked his second major on the run as the Hawks eased over the line by 21 points.
It was Eaglehawk's first win in a senior final for 11 seasons, a fact which was especially pleasing for the Eaglehawk faithful gathered in their favourite location near the pressbox.
2003 Elimination final
Sandhurst 7.7 7.12 9.17 13.22 (100)
Kyneton 0.2 6.6 7.10 10.11 (71)
Goals – Sandhurst: L. Gathercole 4, T. Cardew 2, R. Woodford 2, M. Fitzgerald 2, R. Andrews, R. Haythorpe, K. Prowse. Kyneton: B. Else 4, A. McArdle 2, M. O'Brien 2, B. Edmonds, B. Dryden.
Best – Sandhurst: L. Gathercole, R. Andrews, W. Mitrovic, M. Keown, R. Thornton. Kyneton: M. Scerri, M. O'Brien, B. Else, Daniel Schmidt, N. Heath, D. Nolte.
Qualifying final
Eaglehawk 6.2 8.4 8.10 10.14 (74)
Maryborough 2.2 4.2 7.3 8.5 (53)
Goals – Eaglehawk: D. Geary 3, K. Robins 2, C. Whitsed 2, A. Rout 2, J. Quick. Maryborough: S. Anderson 2, A. Shawcross 2, A. Evans, J. Bond, T. Parker, J. McNamee.
Best – Eaglehawk: A. Wilson, R. Pedrotti, A. Morris, D. O'Shannessy, L. Button, J. Quick. Maryborough: S. Anderson, J. Malone, T. Parker, S. Steel, B. Tranter.
AROUND the traps and Broadford scored a 30-point win over Elmore in the Heathcote DFL preliminary final. That set up a grand final showdown with Colbinabbin (coached by current Storm mentor Darryl Wilson) at the Colbo ground.
Calivil United scraped home by seven points over Mitiamo in the Loddon Valley second semi, while Inglewood belted Bears Lagoon-Serpentine in the first semi-final.
Harcourt was far too good for Carisbrook in the MCDFL qualifying final and Trentham lasted long enough to down Newstead by five points in the elimination final, despite having five less scoring shots.
The final round had just been played in the North Central F.L. with the winners Wycheproof-Narraport, Wedderburn and Charlton.
All the scores: Broadford 17.15 (117) def. Elmore 13.9 (87); Calivil United 9.10 (64) def. Mitiamo 9.3 (57); Inglewood 17.15 (117) def. Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 11.4 (70). Harcourt 18.9 (117) def. Carisbrook 9.9 (63) and Trentham 12.6 (78) def. Newstead 10.13 (73).
Wycheproof-Narraport 12.5 (77) def. Birchip-Watchem 5.9 (39); Wedderburn 20.15 (135) def. Boort 8.6 (54) and Charlton 17.12 (114) def. St. Arnaud 11.11 (77).
Coming up that September in the BFL -- Saturday, 2nd semi: Gisborne v Eaglehawk @ QEO.
Sunday, 1st semi: Maryborough v Sandhurst @ QEO.
[Golden Square's Xerox Oval and Maryborough's Princes Park were still in the mix early that week as alternative finals venues had the QEO condition not improved.]
Richard's tips for first week of 2013 finals : Sandhurst by 31 points over Gisborne, in the elimination final: Sunday afternoon.
Golden Square by 22 points over Eaglehawk, qualifying final: Saturday night.
2013 season tally: 56.
By Richard Jones
