IT TOOK more than 20 years, but the reserves premiership cup in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL made its way to the Borough of Eaglehawk on Saturday night.
Runner-up at six previous attempts to break the “twos” drought, Eaglehawk took on Sandhurst in the decider for the 2026 season at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Dragons were also fired up after being beaten by Golden Square in the previous September’s grand final.
It was one-all in their meetings across the home-and-away series.
The Lachlan Prest-coached Sandhurst went in as favourite to claim the cup after it beat the Hawks in the qualifying final at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington by 29 points.
A week later and the Dragons outpointed South Bendigo to win the second semi by four goals.
The Rhys Foster and Ryan Wellington-coached Eaglehawk bounced back from defeat on day one of the finals series to score a 69-14 victory against Strathfieldsaye in the first semi.
The Borough overturned a 17-point deficit in the second quarter of the preliminary final clash with South Bendigo into a 10-point win.
Huge inclusions for Eaglehawk were Clayton Holmes, co-coach of the seniors team, and key forward Bailey Ilsley who was the Nalder medallist as Eaglehawk won last season’s seniors grand final.
The Borough also regained ruckman/forward Jordan Mangan who had played in the seniors preliminary final against Gisborne.
The marking power of Holmes, Ilsley and Mangan was a massive plus for the Two Blues.
Sandhurst raced to a 14-nil lead by the sixth minute of the grand final after goals by Oscar Cail and Billy Bassett.
The Hawks were on the board at seven minutes to go in the first term when Wellington was on target.
By the first break the Dragons were up 15-7.
Isley goaled less than a minute into the second quarter of his latest match.
Sandhurst struck back with majors by Daniel Noden and Oscar Cail to lead 27-14 at 12 minutes to play in the half.
A Corey Roberts goal for the Two Blues was answered less than 2 ½ minutes later by Bassett.
It was Eaglehawk’s confidence which soared in the final minutes of the quarter as goals by Holmes and Mitch Ronchieri meant Sandhurst’s lead was 34-32 at half-time.
The Dragons were first to goal in term three through Oscar Cail.
Defences were well on top as Roberts kicked the only other goal of the quarter at just under 10 minutes to play.
Sandhurst clung to a 42-41 lead going into the final term.
When Noden slotted his second goal the maroon and blue led 48-41 at 16 minutes to play.
An Ilsley major cut the margin to a point.
When Wellington goaled the Hawks were up 53-49 at 6:40 on the clock.
The Hawks finished with a hat-trick of points to clinch a 56-49 victory.
Ilsley, Roberts and Wellington led the Two Blues attack on two goals each as Holmes and Ronchieri booted one each.
Leading goalkicker in the match was Sandhurst’s Oscar Cail with three as Bassett and Noden kicked two.
The R.F. Turner Medal was awarded to Jaxon Vroom.
This season’s Alan McDonald medallist as the competition’s fairest and best player, Eaglehawk captain Ethan Hanley raised the premiership cup.
Best for Eaglehawk were Noah Eliades, Ethan Hanley, Jordan Mangan, Jaxon Vroom, Mitch Ronchieri and Jack Kerr.
Sandhurst’s best were Louis Banfield, Darby Whatley, Oscar Cail, Wil Pinniger and Hamish McNamara.
Eaglehawk’s reserves premiership-winning team in the 2026 season:
Cahal Blanthorn, Brody Brown, Zack Bulger, Sam Dean, Jake Dickens, Liam Drummond, Noah Eliades, Tyler Eliades, Ethan Hanley, Jakeb Hanley, Jordy Holland, Clayton Holmes, Bailey Ilsley, Jack Kerr, Jordan Mangan, Isaiah Phillips-Adams, Corey Roberts, Mitch Ronchieri, Jaxon Vroom, Corey Webb, Ryan Wellington and Thorne Wilson.
Coaches: Rhys Foster and Ryan Wellington.
