Sandringham’s balance of defensive rigidity and scoring power came to the fore, with their key backs shining while 11 individual goalkickers got to work at the other end. The Dragons will return to Preston City Oval to face Northern Knights on Saturday, while Calder’s strong season ends early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CALDER CANNONS 1.5 | 4.7 | 9.9 | 10.10 (70) GOALS:<\/strong> BEST:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n CALDER CANNONS: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n #1 <\/strong>Blake Justice<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>24 disposals, 11 clearances, 5 inside 50s<\/p>\n\n\n\n Justice was central to Calder\u2019s clearance dominance, winning 11 overall and a whopping eight at the centre ball-ups. His strong hands and frame served him well on the inside, complimented by the willingness to make repeat ball-winning efforts. Justice desperately applied pressure and continued to play the team game by bringing others into the fray. He showed glimpses of added expansiveness with bursts of speed and drill kicks heading inside 50, although did much of his best work when combining by hand out of the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n #4 <\/strong>Tevita Rodan<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>23 disposals, 5 marks, 4 clearances, 1 goal<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rodan produced one of his best and most effective performances of the season, playing an ideal high forward\u2019s game. He prolifically found possession up the ground and used his speed to take the game on heading back to goal, connecting the lines better than anyone afield. His leading patterns and one-on-one craft were terrific, and he compounded that impact with a long goal in term three. Rodan\u2019s end product can waver at times, but his ability to attack with power is outstanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n #8 <\/strong>Koby Bewick<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>26 disposals, 5 marks, 4 clearances<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bewick led all comers and was typically industrious in Calder\u2019s midfield, racking up 20 uncontested possessions. He sought to run the game with his running patterns and ball use, although dished up a handful of uncharacteristic clangers along the way. A pleasing part of Bewick\u2019s game was his turn of speed, showing great pace out of the middle and changing gears to escape pressure from behind. Even when he\u2019s slightly off, he can orchestrate plenty of productive passages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n #10 <\/strong>Isa Merhi<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>21 disposals, 4 marks, 4 rebound 50s<\/p>\n\n\n\n Merhi was another of Calder\u2019s key connective pieces, sparking plenty of attacks out of the backline. He was typically neat from the kick-ins and dipped into his running power to chain possessions up the field, carrying the ball into dangerous launch zones. He hunted handball receives and wasn\u2019t afraid to show some dash and dare before finishing off by foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n #20 <\/strong>Jackson Watkins<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>23 disposals, 5 inside 50s, 3 goals<\/p>\n\n\n\n Watkins capped off an underrated campaign in powerful form, dealing damage on the way forward. His explosive speed was a weapon, with the top-ager bursting through traffic and taking on tacklers through the middle of the ground. Watkins\u2019 attacking intent was rewarded with six scoring shots, three being goals in open play. He also held his own in midfield to win 17 contested possessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n #2 <\/strong>Archie Bakoulas<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>17 disposals, 10 marks, 4 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bakoulas was his confident self in Sandringham\u2019s backline, intercepting and rebounding prolifically. He operated across a high line, getting into good spots to cut off Calder kicks with his playreading and aerial game. The bottom-ager also attacked well with his athleticism and foot skills, proving an all-round versatile threat in defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n #12 <\/strong>Riley Stratford<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>21 disposals, 7 marks, 6 tackles, 1 goal<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stratford put together arguably his best performance at this level, showing just why he is potentially being courted by Tasmania. The bottom-ager got on the board early with a classy goal on the run and covered ground beautifully as a bigger-bodied prospect. He dropped back and snuck forward to impact at both ends of the ground, working hard to find pockets of space around the ground. While not overly quick, his strong frame allowed him to withstand pressure and fight out of congestion. Stratford\u2019s kick distribution was also sound given he found the space to be effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n #16 <\/strong>Tyson Bradley<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>15 disposals, 8 marks, 6 rebound 50s<\/p>\n\n\n\n With support from Jasper Williams<\/strong> as another physically robust key defender, Bradley\u2019s intercept marking was allowed to shine. The Vic Metro MVP clunked a series of strong grabs, seemingly planting himself in all the right spots to cut off errant Calder entries. He was safe as houses across the back 50, reading the play expertly and never looking like fumbling. With his strength and one-on-one craft, he shapes as a prospect in the Tom Barrass <\/strong>mould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n #17 <\/strong>Lochie Burrows<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>14 disposals, 5 marks, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was an energetic outing from Burrows, who offers an array of weapons both offensively and defensively. He started out with an early goal, winning the ball at ground level before bursting out of traffic to snap it home. That kind of explosive movement became a staple of Burrows\u2019 play, seeing him break the lines and pose a threat heading forward. He also showed his spring with some terrific marking feats, proving gutsy when competing overhead to reel in a pair of contested grabs. One of them led to his second goal. He\u2019s a genuine powerhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n #22 <\/strong>Quentin Hofmann<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>12 disposals, 5 marks, 3 goals<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hofmann cashed in with a hat-trick of goals, one in each of the first three quarters, and provided ample marking presence inside 50. He was clever and nimble enough to finish in open play, either sneaking out the back or recovering after the initial marking contest. His speed off the mark, combined with terrific reach and a strong set of hands made him a threat both on the lead or deep in attack. He has some great traits as a mobile tall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n #33 <\/strong>George Dimer<\/a> Stats: <\/strong>11 disposals, 1 goal<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dimer was relatively well contained but had his usual moments of class up forward. While he invited pressure at times, his evasive technique and wicked turn of foot caught the eye, most notably as he slipped away from his direct opponent to snap a first quarter goal. Dimer\u2019s agility served him well as he looked to create from further up the field, using his dancing feet to find space and get a crafty disposal away. He was only credited with one tackle, but is capable of applying tenacious pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 6.4 | 10.7 | 13.9 | 17.16 (118)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calder Cannons: <\/strong>T. Lincoln 3, J. Watkins 3, M. Darwish, C. Robbins, T. Rodan, B. Taylor
Sandringham Dragons: <\/strong>Q. Hofmann 3, A. Aujard 2, C. Brookes 2, L. Burrows 2, K. Watt 2, O. Bartal, A. Brown, S. Demetriou, G. Dimer, A. MacGowan, R. Stratford<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calder Cannons: <\/strong>B. Justice, T. Rodan, J. Watkins, K. Bewick, I. Merhi, T. Lincoln
Sandringham Dragons: <\/strong>R. Stratford, O. Bartal, A. MacGowan, L. Burrows, T. Bradley, Q. Hofmann<\/p>\n\n\n\nCalder Cannons<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Sandringham Dragons<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
Midfielder | 191cm | 29\/09\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Forward | 180cm | 18\/02\/2009<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Midfielder | 178cm | 10\/01\/2009<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Defender | 177cm | 14\/05\/2009<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Forward\/Midfielder | 185cm | 04\/10\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/300826-CC-Jackson-Watkins-2-1024x683.jpg\")
Tall Defender | 191cm | 05\/02\/2009<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Midfielder\/Forward | 188cm | 04\/05\/2009<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key Defender | 195cm | 16\/09\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Midfielder\/Forward | 179cm | 11\/04\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/300826-SD-Quentin-Hofmann-5-1-1024x683.jpg\")
Tall Forward | 190cm | 12\/01\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Forward | 173cm | 21\/06\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n