THE first round of the NAB League Boys saw a number of impressive performances both individual and team across the weekend, with Sandringham Dragons storming to a triple-figure win, while Bendigo Pioneers got off to a great start with a win over Geelong Falcons. Other winners included reigning grand finalists, Dandenong Stingrays and Oakleigh Chargers, Western Jets and Gippsland Power.

GREATER WESTERN VICTORIA REBELS 1.4 | 2.8 | 6.9 | 11.14 (80)
DANDENONG STINGRAYS 5.2 | 7.6 | 10.8 | 13.8 (86)

By: Cameron Ross

GOALS:

GWV: M. Lloyd 3, J. Wright 2, M. Jorgensen 2, I. Thomas, M. Martin, T. Mahony, C. Craig-Peters
Dandenong: E. Cahill 2, B. Nyuon 2, C. Gay 2, H. Sullivan, L. Goonan, J. Toner, K. George, H. Berenger, C. Weightman, J. Nanscawen

BEST:

GWV: C. Craig-Peters, M. Martin, L. Herbert, J. Hill, M. Lloyd, R. Polkinghorne
Dandenong: L. Williams, J. Toner, C. Gay, J. Nanscawen, D. Popa, B. Schmidt

The Dandenong Stingrays held off a spirited GWV Rebels comeback to hold on by six points at MARS Stadium on Saturday. The Rebels could not handle the immense pressure from the Stingrays in the first quarter. Every time a Rebel got a metre of space they were closed down and hit hard by a Stingray. This gave the Dandenong boys a huge lift, and they shot out of the blocks. Jai Nanscawen and Bigoa Nyoun had huge starts to the game kicking early goals. Mitch Martin, playing unusually as a midfielder, and Cooper Craig-Peters were good for the Rebels but were unable to stop the Stingrays taking a four-goal lead into the first break. In the second quarter, the Rebels had plenty of opportunities to get themselves back into the game but simply could not convert. Dandenong kicked clear, and looked to be extremely comfortable and good for their lead at half time. However, in the third quarter, Matty Lloyd sparked the Rebels’ revival. He had an outstanding second half, winning a lot of the ball and converting opportunities. The second half saw Jed Hill also come into the game after a move into the midfield. The Stingray’s steadied the ship with a few late third quarter goals, but you got the sense that this was a different GWV Rebels. In 2018, the Rebels were notorious for their poor second halves. It was obvious in the final term, that this was ancient history. The Rebels continued to claw their way back into the game, and before you knew it, they were only a goal down. Hill had a huge opportunity to bring the Rebels back within a point with under a minute remaining, but the talented forward/midfielder pushed his kick and the Stingrays clung on for a six-point victory. Nanscawen was the best player on the field, he racked up 15 possessions and 1.3. Nyuon and Ned Cahill also played well for the Stingrays. Craig-Peters was terrific onball for the Rebels, and had a complete four-quarter game. Lloyd, as stated earlier, was also terrific in the second half and played an important role in his side’s comeback. The Rebels are at home again this week, taking on the Falcons at Mars, while the Stingrays play the Gippsland Power in Morwell.

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 5.4 | 8.7 | 13.10 | 19.13 (127)
CALDER CANNONS 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 1.12 (18)

By: Peter Williams

GOALS:

Sandringham: C. Dean 5, R. Bowman 3, J. Mifsud 2, J. Bell 2, R. Byrnes, A. Hanrahan, F. Maginness, J. Mahony, N. Burke, A. Courtney, B. O’Leary.
Calder: S. Ramsay.

BEST:

Sandringham: R. Byrnes, R. Bowman, C. Dean, O. Lewis, F. Maginness, C. Watts
Calder: B. Newman, C. Brown, T. Browning, S. Callander, N. Gentile, S. Ramsay

In the first commentary streamed game of the new NAB League Boys competition, Sandringham Dragons stormed past Calder Cannons at RSEA Park. The Dragons never looked like losing in the 19.13 (127) to 1.12 (18) victory, booting five goals to zero in the first term, and by half-time had 55 points on the board. It only got worse after half-time for the Cannons, and while Sam Ramsay managed to kick a classy goal from the boundary line, Sandringham piled on another 11 goals to run away with the match by 109 points and stamp their authority on the competition. The Dragons had 32 scoring shots to 13, with the Cannons managing just one major for the contest. Charlie Dean booted five majors, while former Stingray, Riley Bowman added three goals. Jacquin Mifsud and Jack Bell booted two goals apiece, with Bowman and Dean named among the best with Dragons captain, Ryan Byrnes. For the Cannons, Calder captain Brodie Newman tried his best to stem the flow across half-back, while Curtis Brown and Tye Browning were also among the best in the heavy defeat.

EASTERN RANGES 3.0 | 4.1 | 5.3 | 7.5 (47)
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 2.3 | 6.9 | 10.13 | 12.16 (88)

By: Peter Williams

GOALS:

Eastern: L. Gawel 2, J. Tilly, J. Rossiter, T. Garner, L. Stapleton, B. McCormack.
Oakleigh: N. Anderson 4, T. Graham, J. May, C. Oglethorpe, H. Mundy, N. Dempsey, D. Williams, M. Rowell, S. Tucker

BEST:

Eastern: L. Stapleton, C. Hirst, Z. Pretty, C. Downie, J. Gilbee, M. Zalac
Oakleigh: N. Anderson, N. Guiney, W. Phillips, N. Bryan, T. Bianco, K. Schreiber

In the second game of the double header at RAMS Arena, Eastern Ranges put up a fight before eventually going down to one of the premiership favourites in Oakleigh Chargers. The Ranges booted three goals in the opening term to lead by three points at the first break, before the Chargers hit back in the second term with four goals to one, albeit with inaccuracy plaguing them. They booted 6.9 in the first half, and then 6.7 in the second half, finishing the game strongly and holding the Ranges to just three goals in the last half. Noah Anderson was the clear best on ground with four goals from 26 disposals, while Lachlan Gawel booted two goals for the Ranges. Nick Guiney, Will Phillips and Nick Bryan were named among the best for the Chargers, while Lachlan Stapleton and Cody Hirst were impressive for the Ranges. While the loss would be disappointing, the fact Eastern was able to match it with one of the top teams will give them plenty of confidence going forward.

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS 2.4 | 6.6 | 9.9 | 9.12 (66)
GIPPSLAND POWER 2.1 | 6.3 | 9.4 | 10.9 (69)

By: Peter Williams

GOALS:

Murray: C. Wilson 3, W. Christie 2, K. Chalcraft, C. Byrne, J. Hillary, E. Hollands.
Gippsland: K. Dunkley 3, H. Pepper 2, J. Smith 2, M. McGannon, F. Phillips, S. Berry.

BEST:

Murray: C. Wilson, B. Kelly, D. Clarke, L. Ash, S. Durham, E. Hollands
Gippsland: K. Dunkley, S. Berry, R. Sparkes, B. Maslen, S. Flanders, T. Hourigan

Gippsland Power survived a scare from a plucky Murray Bushrangers in a thrilling contest at RAMS Arena on Sunday. The Bushrangers led at every break but never looked entirely comfortable, with the largest margin at the break standing at just five points. Digging deep in the final term with a blustery gale behind them, the Power found a way through to boot the winning goal amidst five behinds, while the Bushrangers could only manage three behinds for the term. The game was an exciting first round game, as Bushrangers’ co-captain Cam Wilson and former Oakleigh Charger and Sydney Swans father-son prospect, Kyle Dunkley both booting three goals for their respective sides. Wilson was named the best for the Bushrangers, while Ben Kelly and Lachlan Ash‘s work in defence was superb. For the Power, Sam Berry stood up throughout the contest, while Ryan Sparkes was crucial in the back half, as was Sam Flanders in the front half. Josh Smith and Harrison Pepper benefited with two goals each inside 50, while Will Christie managed two up the other end. Both sides had plenty to take out of the contest ahead of Round 2 clashes this weekend.

GEELONG FALCONS 0.1 | 4.2 | 6.4 | 6.7 (43)
BENDIGO PIONEERS 6.1 | 9.5 | 11.5 | 13.8 (86)

By: Michael Alvaro

GOALS:

Geelong: H. Stubbings 2, C. Sprague, M. Annandale, C. Page, N. Gribble
Bendigo: C. Vick 2, M. Johnson 2, T. Dow 2, W. Shaw, J. Dick-O”Flaherty, R. Ironside, R. Wilson, J. Rodi, C. Fisher, E. Roberts

BEST:

Geelong: J. Clark, C. Lazzaro, J. Dahlhaus, S. Christensen, S. Bourke
Bendigo: R. Wilson, J. Schischka, W. Wallace, T. Dow, J. Rodi, B. Kemp

Bendigo Pioneers made a perfect start to its NAB League season, toppling the Geelong Falcons by 43 points in Colac on Sunday. Signs were ominous early as the travelling side were nothing short of clinical in front of goal, piling on six majors while keeping a shell-shocked Falcons goalless. The home side duly responded after the first break with four goals to bridge the gap, but it was almost all undone as Bendigo again clicked into gear with three of their own. As the third term marked a deadlock with two goals apiece, the Pioneers finished off the job with two goals to nil in the final stanza to double their opponent’s total. Thomson Dow was outstanding for the winners with 28 disposals and two goals, forming a formidable midfield duo with Brodie Kemp (22 disposals, five clearances). Cooper Vick and Max Johnson each joined Dow as multiple goal kickers, while Harry Stubbings was Geelong’s only player to do so. Co-captains Cooper Stephens (22 disposals, four clearances) and Jesse Clark (24 disposals, seven marks) were the best Falcons, with 19-year-old Charlie Sprague also showing signs of his talent with 20 touches and a goal. Both sided face another all-country clash next round, with Bendigo travelling to face Murray, and Geelong heading to Ballarat to face Greater Western Victoria.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS 1.2 | 5.3 | 9.5 | 11.7 (73)
WESTERN JETS 3.3 | 5.3 | 6.5 | 12.8 (80)

By: Taylah Melki

GOALS:

Northern: R. Sturgess 2, J. D’Intinosante 2, L. Mcmahon 2, S. Brazier, S. Philp, Z. Costello, B. Nikolovski, A. Carafa
Western: A. Manton 3, A. Clarke 2, L. Failli 2, E. Jeka, K. Borg, J. Honey, S. El-Hawli, E. Ford

BEST:

Northern: R. Sturgess, N. Cox, B. Nikolovski, J. Davies, S. Philp, R. Gardner
Western: J. Kellett, A. Manton, E. Acevski, B. Ryan, J. Honey, K. Borg

In what was a close encounter it was the Western Jets that came away with a seven-point victory against the Northern Knights. The Jets skipped out to a handy lead in the first half of the game but the Knights fought back to take control in the second but were unable to finish it off, falling narrowly in the dying minutes of the game. Ryan Sturgess led the way for the Knights with his two goals and impact in and around the stoppages, while his Western Jets counterpart Josh Kellett accumulated plenty of touches. Archie Manton made his presence felt on the scoreboard with his three majors for the Jets, leading up at the footy and clunking some big marks. Josh D’Intinsonate played his part for the Knights chipping in with his two goals, while Adam Carafa was handy around the contest and slotted a major to keep the Knights in the game.