Six grand finals and three flags for the Dragons
It was another year of successful results on the field and court for the Sandhurst Dragons in 2026 with all NINE teams making finals. Six of the nine played in a Grand Final while it was the Dragons youngest crop that came away with Premierships with the 15 & Under, 17 & Under netball plus the Under 18s football all claiming the ultimate glory.
The Dragons’ youngest athletes completed an undefeated season in the BFNL’s maiden 15 & under competition winning the grand final in dominant fashion 58–32 over South Bendigo. While their 17 & under side proved to strong on Grand Final day defeating Strathfieldsaye in a nail-biting 37-35 win.
The ever-consistent Sandhurst A-Grade team made another Grand Final going down to the undefeated Kangaroo Flat 54-64.
On the football field, the Sandhurst Under 18’s claimed the 2026 premiership after they defeated Strathfieldsaye by 41 points after finishing the home & away season in 3rd position.
The Dragons Seniors squad made their fourth consecutive Grand Final and were minor premiers at 14–2 which includes winning their last 10 home-and-away games. Highlights of this stretch include a one-point and five-point wins over Strathfieldsaye and Gisborne late in the season.
The Senior Dragons played another tight match against Eaglehawk in the second semi-final, edging the two-blues out by 4 points. After another week off, the Dragons were in the Grand Final at half time and fell away eventually losing the last match of the season to Gisborne, 7.13.55 to 12.12.84.
Their Reserves also reached the grand final and lost a tight one to Eaglehawk by 7 points.
It was another big year for individual accolades for Dragon players with no less than eight players receiving League recognition for their stellar 2026 performances headlined by a Bart n Print Rising Star double with A-Grade defender, Harriett Whiteacre claiming the netball award and Intercept defender, Jaxon Howard claiming the football award.
Other Sandhurst winners were:
· Elle Gilchrist – 15 & Under League Medal Winner – 18 votes
· Ese Phillips - 17 & Under League Medal Winner – 26 votes
· Reese Gilchrist – A-Reserve Holborn Medal Runner Up – 17 votes
- Shae Clifford - A-Grade Betty Thompson Medal Runner-Up
· Jack Moresi – Under 18 Symons Medal Joint Winner – 17 votes
· Evie Gretgrix – 15 & Under Best Representative Player
· Miller Armstrong – Under 18 Leading Goalkicker – 50 goals
The Dragons also claimed the 2026 McCann Award as the Champion Club for winning the most games across all grades for the season and the 2026 Coffee Storm Leading Goal Shooting Award for the most netball goals across the season.
Sandhurst were very well represented in BFNL interleague Squads:
15 & Under – Harper Gordon, Elle Gilchrist, Sienna Raco, Ellie Macumber, Evie Gretgrix & Alana Borchard.
17 & Under – Eva Grant & Maycee Rinaldi
Open netball – Meg Williams & Sophie James
Under 18’s – Harry Byrne, Miller Armstrong & Lachlan McKay
Seniors – Lachie Hood, Lachie Wright, Cobi Maxted, Fergus Greene (Captain), Caleb Connick
2026 results snapshot
|
Team
|
W–L–D
|
Finish
|
Finals / best result
|
|
Seniors (football)
|
14–2–0
|
1st
|
Won 2nd semi v Eaglehawk by 4; lost GF 7.13.55 to 12.12.84 v Gisborne
|
|
Reserves (football)
|
12–4–0
|
3rd
|
Won QF and 2nd semi; lost GF 7.7.49 to 8.8.56 v Eaglehawk
|
|
Under 18s (football)
|
13–3–0
|
2nd
|
PREMIERS: d Strathfieldsaye 13.10.88 to 7.5.47
|
|
A Grade (netball)
|
13–3–0
|
3rd
|
Lost QF; won 1st semi and PF; lost GF 54–64 v Kangaroo Flat
|
|
A Reserve (netball)
|
9–5–0
|
4th
|
Won EF 71–44 v Eaglehawk; lost 1st semi v South Bendigo
|
|
B Grade (netball)
|
8–8–0
|
5th
|
Lost elimination final 35–41 v Kangaroo Flat
|
|
B Reserve (netball)
|
9–7–0
|
5th
|
Lost elimination final 38–53 v Strathfieldsaye
|
|
17 & Under (netball)
|
14–2–0
|
1st
|
PREMIERS: d Strathfieldsaye 37–35
|
|
15 & Under (netball)
|
12–0–0
|
1st
|
PREMIERS (undefeated): d South Bendigo 58–32
|
