A gutsy performance from the Murray Bushrangers wasn’t enough to stop the Sandringham Dragons from winning the TAC Cup grand final on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bushies were left to rue a series of missed opportunities late in the fourth quarter, as the Dragons ran away with a 12.13 (85) to 9.14 (68) win.
It was a game of see-sawing momentum.
The lead changed hands a number of times in the second half, after a hard-fought, but mostly even, contest in the first.
The Bushies came out with renewed intent in the third quarter, drawing level in the opening minutes thanks to a pair of strong marks and conversions from Will Brodie and Lachie Tiziani.
But some basic skill errors, which reared their ugly head at crucial times for the Bushies, would prove to be costly.
A late goal, which stemmed directly from a turnover from the kick-in, handed the Dragons a handy 10-point buffer at the final change.
It was far from over for the Bushies, though.
Brodie, Fletcher Carroll and James Cousins began the final quarter like men possessed.
We continued to fight, we certainly had our opportunities...in a game like that against a good side you can only hold momentum for so long.
- Leon Higgins
Their work resulted in goals to Todd Marshall and Trent McMullan, opening up a slim three-point margin.
The Bushies clung to their lead for a few minutes, but the Dragons seized the momentum when Jack Scrimshaw goaled to put them up by five points with as many minutes remaining.
Further goals to Tom Maloney and Josh Trew were icing on the cake for the Dragons, as they ran away with a 17-point victory.
Bushrangers coach Leon Higgins said it was a bitter pill to swallow.
“We get marked on different criteria throughout the year, we need to get as many of our boys in a position to be drafted as possible,” he said.
“Today's focus was completely different, it was all about winning a grand final and we didn't play well enough to do that.
“We're really disappointed at the moment.”
With the Bushies not able to hit their straps as they had in the qualifying and preliminary finals, Higgins said they were made to pay by a strong Sandringham outfit.
“We continued to fight, and we certainly had our opportunities,” he said.
“In a very close game like that against a good side you can only hold momentum for so long.
“At half-time we talked about how we weren't necessarily playing well, but we were still right in the game, it wasn't far away from us.
“But their pressure was too good, we weren't clean enough, we weren't able to get the ball out into space because they tackled well.”
Sandringham's Andrew McGrath won best on ground for his dominant 38-possession, eight-clearance performance.
Charlie Spargo enjoyed a strong game to be among the Bushies’ best alongside Carroll and Brodie.
