Bell Park coach James Saker has praised his players’ ability to grind out a win after using the breeze to their advantage in the last quarter to claim a 38-point win over Leopold at Hi Sushi Oval.
Leading by four points at three-quarter time, the Dragons kicked six goals with the aid of the warm northerly, while holding the Lions to bank the four points, 15.12 (102) to 9.10 (64).
“I said to the players after the game, it sometimes can be easy to forget that winning games at this level is really hard and most weeks you’re going to have to really earn them,” Saker said.
“And that’s what we did today. It wasn’t perfect or pretty all the time.
“But a willingness to play the contested ball, and, eventually, get some reward for our effort, was good.”
Saker said after last week’s mauling at the hands of reigning premier St Mary’s, Bell Park identified some areas it needed to tidy up before taking on Leopold.
“We probably just took a few snippets from the game that were the most obvious examples of where we’d gone away from what we value,” he said
“A fair bit of it obviously was due to our opposition, but I think, in horse racing terms, it was a bit of second-up syndrome.
“We’d had such a good win in round one, and given a lot of energy and effort to that performance, I think our guys just struggled to back that up.
“Which was why it was nice to have a six-day break this week to refocus very quickly, and just try and nail the basics that we think make us a good team.”
Despite missing Ollie Hicks (wrist), Isaac Wareham (broken nose), and Jack McMahon (concussion), Bell Park welcomed back Eli Pearce, who featured in last week’s Young Guns game, and Matt Jones.
However, it was Hamish Lucas who was the standout, especially in the last quarter, while Jack Sarcevic, despite being described by Saker as “well held”, finished with five goals.
Recruit Ziggy Lee and the experienced Daniel Pitcher were best for Leopold. Youngster Darcy Brislane kicked two goals.
The Dragons next face Grovedale, while Leopold has a tough ask against the unbeaten Newtown & Chilwell.
Star duo Fraser Fort and Matt Caldow each kicked three goals as South Barwon produced a clinical 64-point win over a struggling Colac at Australian Lamb Company Stadium.
The Swans climbed to third on the ladder with a 17.14 (116) to 8.4 (52) result, leaving the Tigers languishing in 10th spot.
St Joseph’s put the disappointment of its Anzac Day hiding behind it, making up some of the percentage lost in beating North Shore by 130 points at Windsor Park.
Recruit Jack Jovanovic returned to form, finishing with goals, while Paddy DeGrandi contributed five in the 29.15 (189) to 9.5 (59) rout.
Seagulls captain Jacob Sammut kicked three goals in his 150th appearance for the club.
A career-high six goals from high-flying Jedd Coburn was the highlight as Newtown & Chilwell handed Grovedale a 102-point hiding at Elderslie Reserve.
The Eagles kicked 13 goals after half-time, while keeping the visitors goalless, to win 20.20 (140) to 5.8 (38).
St Mary’s maintained its unbeaten start to the season, overcoming a gritty St Albans at St Albans Reserve, 14.19 (103) to 9.7 (61).
Sam Bourke kicked three goals for the Saints, while Supersaints spearhead Tom Higgins managed four majors, taking his tally to 16 for the season.
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