ANYTHING to do with statistical analysis on the Sandringham Dragons this season – or most seasons to this point of the year – is largely irrelevant. The majority of the Dragons list plays school football, making at times as many as 17 changes when it starts or stops, and up to nine or 10 changes each week depending on which school has the bye, and other injuries or omissions. To sit third after 14 rounds ahead of getting their top-end talent back is remarkable. After storming to three wins with a full-strength side, the Dragons dropped the next few games as they tinkered with their line-up. But since then, their form has been as good as any side in the competition, and now they face two genuine premiership contenders in the final two rounds. The Round 16 showdown between the Dragons and Dandenong Stingrays could well be a Grand Final preview, in what will be a fantastic spectacle to watch.

Wins: 10
Losses: 4
Draws: 0
Position: 3rd
Points For: 874 (8th)
Points Against: 976 (8th)
Percentage: 90
Points: 40

Fixtures:

R15: vs. Oakleigh Chargers – Avalon Airport Oval
R16: vs. Dandenong Stingrays – Trevor Barker Beach Oval

National Combine Invitations: [7] Joel Crocker, Angus Hanrahan, Will Kennedy, Ben King, Max King, Bailey Smith, Liam Stocker

State Combine Invitations: [4] Harry Houlahan, James Rendell, Harry Reynolds, Alastair Richards

Sandringham had the second most invitees of any side to the National Combine, receiving an impressive seven invitations. Given two of them have been injured practically the entire year – Joel Crocker (since last year’s finals) and Max King (first round of school football) – it shows the quality that could have been in this finals series coming up. With Ben King and Bailey Smith linking up, and the likes of Liam Stocker on the inside and Angus Hanrahan on the outside, the Dragons pose a huge threat to any side hoping to claim the flag this year. Will Kennedy and James Rendell are strong bookends, while Harry Houlahan and Alastair Richards have proven to be handy this season. We will get a much better idea of where the Dragons sit in the next two weeks with wholesale changes returning to the line-up for Sunday’s game.

Top Fives:

Disposals:

1 – Liam Stocker – 216 (43rd overall)
2 – Nicholas Stamatis – 189
3 – Ryan Byrnes – 176
4 – Corey Watts – 168
5 – Kai Owens – 162

Marks:

1 – Corey Watts – 55 (21st overall)
2 – Nicholas Stamatis – 35
2 – James Rendell – 35
4 – Kai Owens – 33
5 – Liam Stocker – 32
5 – Will Kennedy – 32

Contested Possessions:

1 – Liam Stocker – 115 (18th overall)
2 – Ryan Byrnes – 95
3 – Kai Owens – 68
4 – James Rendell – 67
5 – Nicholas Stamatis – 58

Tackles:

1 – Kai Owens – 51 (eq. 31st overall)
2 – Dawit McNeish – 50
3 – Liam Stocker – 49
4 – Ryan Byrnes – 44
5 – James Rendell – 41

Hitouts:

1 – Andrew Courtney – 183 (6th overall)
2 – James Rendell – 104
3 – Joe Griffiths – 99
4 – Ethan Casey – 69
5 – Fischer McAsey – 28

Clearances:

1 – Liam Stocker – 52 (eq. 12th overall)
2 – Ryan Byrnes – 33
3 – Kai Owens – 30
4 – Bailey Smith – 23
5 – Dawit McNeish – 22

Inside 50s:

1 – Liam Stocker – 53 (7th overall)
2 – Alastair Richards – 38
3 – James Rendell – 30
3 – Nicholas Stamatis – 30
5 – Ryan Byrnes – 27

Rebounds:

1 – Corey Watts – 36 (eq. 15th overall)
2 – Liam Stocker – 21
2 – Jackson Voss – 21
4 – Nicholas Stamatis – 19
4 – Miles Bergman – 19

Goals:

1 – James Rendell – 12 (eq. 25th overall)
2 – Nicholas Stamatis – 8
2 – Harry Bede – 8
2 – Max King – 8
5 – Jack Denborough – 7