SANDRINGHAM Dragons got one back on rivals Oakleigh at the third time of asking, notching a dominant 50-point win in their Round 23 clash at Kennedy Community Centre on Saturday. The result sees Sandringham pip the Chargers for fourth in the Metro conference, separated by half a game.

The Dragons put together a scintillating opening term kicking with the wind, pouring on five goals to one to set up the result. They consolidated their lead shooting away from the scoring end in term two, adding a further five majors while Oakleigh lacked the same killer instinct and class to return serve.

Sandringham was star-studded but still awaits the return of leading prospects Gus Teixeira and Arki Butler. Midfielder Albert MacGowan led all comers in yet another best on ground performance, as his side looks towards a meeting with Calder in Wildcard Round. Meanwhile, Oakleigh will take on Western.

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 1.2 | 3.6 | 4.9 | 6.11 (47)
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 5.4 | 10.5 | 12.10 | 14.13 (97)

GOALS:
Oakleigh Chargers: N. Bibile 3, A. Deane-Johns 2, J. Destefanis
Sandringham Dragons: J. Surkitt 3, A. Aujard 2, C. Brookes 2, G. Dimer 2, O. Bartal, L. Browne, L. Burrows, J. Lemon, O. Mangoni

BEST:
Oakleigh Chargers: W. Johnson, J. Destefanis, N. Bibile, Z. Adams, B. George, N. Hanegraaf
Sandringham Dragons: A. MacGowan, J. Surkitt, A. Bakoulas, J. Lemon, G. Dimer, O. Bartal

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS:

#6 Flynn Woolhouse
Key Forward | 195cm | 06/05/2008

Stats: 6 disposals, 3 marks, 1 behind

Woolhouse was starved of opportunity for large parts of the game as he spent plenty of time deep forward. The mobile marking target showed his speed and ability to extend overhead on a few occasions, taking the ball at the top of his reach and occupying front position. His tackle pressure and follow-up efforts were also noticeable, including with a tackle which forced the spill for Joshua Destefanis’ second quarter goal. He only managed one minor score himself.

#10 Will Johnson
Tall Defender | 191cm | 28/05/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 7 marks (4 contested), 3 rebound 50s

A solid and reliable customer down back, Johnson had claims on being Oakleigh’s best. The intercept marking defender cut off plenty of errant Sandringham kicks, settling into position and plucking the ball cleanly overhead. He was incredibly assured in that facet of the game and moved the ball on with relative ease, showing great composure when his side was under immense pressure.

#11 Jai Leach
Ruck | 198cm | 24/11/2007

Stats: 9 disposals, 2 marks, 24 hitouts

Leach once again produced moments of promise as he engaged in a ruck battle against fellow over-ager Kayne Watt. The Queensland native showcased his athleticism, rising high to lead the hitout count while proving quite nimble across the ground. On a couple of occasions he dropped back to pluck intercept marks down the line, again highlighting his spring-heeled leap and raw talent. Leach was also prepared to carry the ball in open play and attacked the aerial contest with vigour.

#20 Archie Fogarty
Tall Forward | 193cm | 06/01/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 5 marks, 3 inside 50s

Able to play at either end of the ground, Fogarty was utilised up forward on Saturday. He acted as a connector into the front half, presenting high up the ground and where he could get separation and utilise his strong hands overhead. While not blessed with natural pace, Fogarty looked to move the ball on quickly and give flow to Oakleigh’s play, even if it invited pressure.

#48 Zane Adams (Hawthorn NGA)
Key Defender | 197cm | 17/03/2009

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Adams provided a cool head in Oakleigh’s defence, defying his bottom-age status to be highly effective with minimal fuss. That rangy tall fared well as a ‘goalkeeper’ of sorts across the last line, showcasing solid aerial range and reading of the play. He also defended well one-on-one and was hardly beaten while proving capable of reeling in relieving intercept marks. From there, the left-footer distributed the ball relatively well and looks to be a raw talent with good upside.

#85 Charlie Harper (Giants Academy)
Tall Defender | 191cm | 23/01/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 2 rebound 50s

Perhaps acting as the inverse to fellow 191cm defender Will Johnson, Harper plays smaller than his height would suggest. While more than capable of impacting in the air, he arguably did his best work when distributing and rebounding the ball out of defence. Harper’s composure and agility were on display in several passages as he stepped around opponents to navigate out of tight spots and set his side on the front foot. He complimented the likes of Johnson and Zane Adams well in that regard.

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS:

#1 Jack Surkitt
Small Forward | 177cm | 13/08/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 5 marks, 3 goals

Surkitt was at his crafty best on Saturday, bagging a hat-trick of goals and helping set up a couple more. He ventured up to stoppage and was hard-at-it at ground level, showcasing his crumbing skills and ability to pick out targets under pressure. His dinky kicks around the corner made for sharp and effective forward-50 passes, while he was prepared to apply pressure as usual.

#2 Archie Bakoulas
Tall Defender | 191cm | 05/02/2009

Stats: 17 disposals, 6 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Bakoulas had no trouble standing out among a slew of tall Sandringham defenders, thriving in the air and using the ball with aplomb. The bottom-ager clunked three contested marks and stamped his authority on the intercept while playing the percentages in one-on-one situations. His ability to relieve pressure and repel quickly on the rebound set Sandringham in motion. He’s already a great build to be that versatile and dynamic tall back.

#12 Riley Stratford
Forward/Midfielder | 188cm | 05/04/2009

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 tackles, 5 clearances

Another of Sandringham’s star bottom-agers, Stratford did the grunt work with an equal team-high 10 contested possessions. The big-bodied midfielder often looked to build up a head of steam as he charged forward out of stoppage, using his physicality and size to advantage. As a result, Stratford’s foot skills were scrappy at times but he tackled well and handled the ball cleanly under pressure.

#16 Tyson Bradley
Key Defender | 195cm | 16/09/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 7 marks, 2 rebound 50s

Bradley was relatively quiet until a strong end to proceedings, gathering half of his 14 disposals during the final quarter. In that period, he showed his playreading ability to clunk several intercept marks, owning his space and taking the ball cleanly overhead. The Vic Metro MVP was typically calm and effective with ball in hand, backing his blend of strength and skill to withstand pressure on the rebound. Generally situated deep, he had little to do at times.

#17 Lochie Burrows
Midfielder/Forward | 179cm | 11/04/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 5 marks, 4 clearances, 1 goal

A prospect who has rocketed up the order this year, Burrows bookended his game strongly but was quiet at times. He showed his patented toughness to absorb contact and burrow his way out of packs. His ability to take off and generate run was noticeable, as well as his competitiveness in one-on-one duels. Burrows looked lively as a forward late in the piece, outlasting his opponents with a ravenous work rate to connect the ground and drive the ball into dangerous areas.

#33 George Dimer
Small Forward | 173cm | 21/06/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 2 goals

Dimer had his moments in a familiar role, providing great connection and skill in the forward half. The diminutive talent played with great energy, looking dangerous at forward 50 stoppages where he sharked and snapped a goal in the first term. His slick foot skills could be observed further afield – he’s the type of player you want delivering the ball inside 50. Dimer also provided his usual tackle pressure and bagged goal number two via a free kick in term three.

#35 Albert MacGowan
Midfielder/Forward | 187cm | 27/07/2008

Stats: 33 disposals, 6 tackles, 5 clearances, 6 inside 50s

It was no surprise to see the prolific MacGowan once again lead all comers, racking up 22 uncontested possessions among his 33 overall. Based in midfield with stints up forward, he combined beautifully by hand – either releasing teammates or showing great IQ to provide an outlet in space. As has been the case in recent weeks, MacGowan’s tackling and physicality were terrific. He kicked off both feet and on sharp angles, which helped him become dynamic in the absence of genuine leg speed.

#57 Oliver Bartal
Tall Defender | 190cm | 03/04/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 7 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Bartal continues to make strides as a powerful and versatile defender. He wasn’t afraid to be aggressive, positioning high up the field to intercept and help launch the ball deep into attack. One such instance saw him thump a long ball which bounced through for a goal over the back. With good body strength and speed, he was able to bust through tackles and hurt the opposition on the back of his intercepts. He took ground with intent and was a key distributor for the Dragons.

#70 Kayne Watt
Ruck | 203cm | 30/01/2007

Stats: 15 disposals, 20 hitouts, 4 clearances, 4 inside 50s

Engaged in a ruck battle against fellow over-ager Jai Leach, Watt showed his upside while continuing to develop the grunt and mongrel required of top level talls. His pure reach and aerial range were evident from the outset, as Watt often got a hand in during each phase of play. He was also quite clean and nimble at ground level, following up and moving well for a player his height.

#77 Jasper Williams
Key Defender | 195cm | 2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 6 marks, 5 rebound 50s

Having garnered attention while rucking for Brighton Grammar this year, Williams has found a home in Sandringham’s defence. His aerial presence was felt on Saturday, with the physically imposing backman reading the flight of the ball and clunking it with a strong set of hands. While not overly athletic, Williams was solid in one-on-one situations and has quite a mature frame. He spent a good amount of time deep inside defensive 50 and matched up on Flynn Woolhouse.