Dragons, Hawks eye premiership cup
THE premiership cup was nestled between Sandhurst’s and Eaglehawk’s representatives at Wednesday’s senior footy grand final presser, but only one team can raise it on Saturday.
As the Dragons pursue back-to-back premierships, Eaglehawk’s eyes are on being the league’s number one for the first time since 2018.
Two of the league’s greatest rivals have not met in a senior grand final in 72 years.
On that occasion the Borough reigned supreme by 19 points as they played on what was known as Upper Reserve.
The ground was renamed Queen Elizabeth Oval in 1954.
There’s plenty of motivation for all 44 players as they compete at Queen Elizabeth Oval this Saturday from 2.20pm.
When it comes to grand final experience, Sandhurst co-coach Bryce Curnow has plenty to draw on.
Saturday’s showdown will be his seventh grand final at senior level.
It’s a win-loss tally of four-two across stints with Sandhurst, Kerang, Strathfieldsaye and Calivil United.
Last September’s grand final victory in which he was co-coach with Ash Connick was to have been Curnow’s last game.
A change of heart and mind meant he kept playing for the maroon and blue and has teamed up to be co-coach with gun on-baller Lachlan Tardrew.
Many of Curnow’s team-mates are chasing their first senior premiership.
“The goal is for them to celebrate success as senior footballers,” he said of a squad in which many have made their way from under-18s and reserves.
“They are hungry to join the premiership-winning club.
“It’s been another fantastic year of growth for our football club,” Curnow said.
“We have brought in a lot of younger players.
“The ability of others to lift their game by 10 per cent is all credit to the leadership group.”
Curnow said the Dragons more experienced players show the way in setting the standard at training and on match-day.
Sandhurst’s depth is shown by the reserves and under-18s footy teams being in the grand final.
Curnow said plenty of work had gone in to the Dragons being there again.
Just as importantly he warned the players not to expect grand final appearances just keep on rolling.
“ I was talking to Blair Holmes earlier in the week about his run of three grand finals in a row,” Curnow said.
The Dragons were runner-up to Strathfieldsaye in 2014 and ’15, and a year later beat Golden Square in the decider.
It was to be the last grand final Holmes played in.
Since the ’83 premiership win against Golden Square, Sandhurst has claimed the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup just three more times.
Although it has a three-nil record against Eaglehawk this season, Curnow said it will be a tough contest.
“We cannot afford to drop off in any area of our game.
“Eaglehawk has quality key defenders, an in-form ruckman, and a midfielder and captain who has just won the Michelsen Medal.”
The Dragons have scored more this season, but also been scored against more.
Sandhurst has plenty of running power and skill, but it’s defensive acts which have been crucial in a win-loss run of 15-2.
The Dragons have led the tackle tally in just about every match.
Workrate when not in possession, numbers at the contest and then surging clear have long been hallmarks of Sandhurst’s play.
Eaglehawk coaches Travis Matheson, non-playing, and Clayton Holmes, playing, said the journey to a grand final had been challenging, but also exciting.
“We had been fourth or fifth a couple of years,” Matheson said.
“A goal at the start of this season was to earn a double chance and have a real crack at reaching a grand final and winning it.”
Being the underdog does not faze those involved with Eaglehawk FNC or its passionate supporters.
Matheson said a key for the Hawks was not being heavily scored against and in a short amount of time.
“We have challenged Sandhurst in all three games, but some lapses, although not being too long, have really hurt us.
“We need to stay in the game a bit longer.
“There will be times when Sandhurst has control, and times when we are.”
Matheson said the Hawks had a core group which had been together for several seasons.
“The recruits we brought in are really invested in our club and helped us keep improving.”
Among the new faces for the ’25 campaign were Jack Donat from Cohuna Kangas, and Tyh Evans from Geelong West Giants.
“Jack already had a link to the club as Clayton Holmes is his brother-in-law,” Matheson said.
The run and skill Donat and Tyh Evans provide off half-back has played a big part in the Hawks run, especially in the qualifying and preliminary final wins against Gisborne.
Among the many key match-ups will be in the ruck where Brayden Frost is likely to face Hugh Schmetzer and Seb Collins.
“It’s been another superb season by Brayden.
“His second half against Gisborne shifted momentum in a big way.”
There will be huge challenges for the Hawks’ defence led by Jonty Neaves, Charlie Langford and Dylan Hanley.
For the on-ball duels for this grand final the Hawks have Billy Evans, Joel Budarick and Joel Mullen.
An attack that has the marking power of Clayton Holmes, Jack O’Shannessy, Bailey Ilsley and Nick Thompson will test the Dragons.
“We also have Billy Evans and Ben Thompson able to go forward from playing midfield and on-ball and having an impact near goal,” Matheson said.
The Hawks’ premiership team of 2018 which was coached by Josh Evans included Jonty Neaves who earnt the Nalder medal as best afield.
Eaglehawk also had Joel Mullen and Sam Thompson play in the grand final victory against Strathfieldsaye seven years ago.
This Saturday the Thompson brothers – Sam, Ben and Jack will be chasing glory.
The Thompson clan has played a massive part at Eaglehawk FNC for decades.
Such is the on-field impact Darren Thompson, father of Sam, Ben and Jack had the club’s under-18s fairest and best earns the Darren Thompson medal.
Another legendary name in the Borough is Ilsley.
Back in’53 it was George Ilsley who played a starring role at centre half-forward for the Two Blues on his way to becoming a Hall of Famer in the Bendigo FNL.
On Saturday it will be his great grandson, Bailey Ilsley doing all he can to help the Hawks claim the cup once again.
Although there’s plenty of tactics and mind-games the coaches declared a key factor in any match is setting up and capitalising on goalscoring chances.
