NAB League Boys: Sandringham Dragons nose out Northern Knights

Defenders Caleb Lewis and Luke Cleary led the way for Sandringham Dragons in their close win over Northern Knights.

NAB League Boys action from Cramer St on Saturday.

Caleb Lewis. Luke Cleary. Charlie McKay. Lachie Benton. Darby Hipwell. Lachie Riley.

They’re all out to play well and catch a few eyes early in the season for the Sandringham Dragons, and on Saturday they did just that.

The aspiring six played key roles as the Dragons went 2-0 in the NAB League Boys with a fighting 6.10 (46) to 5.11 (41) victory at Cramer St in Preston.

In rugged conditions, the visitors held on after a pair of goals from clever small forward Eren Soylemez in the last quarter.

Lewis played on highly regarded Knights key forward Jack Rossimel and displayed his lockdown traits, a week after his more dashing efforts against Oakleigh Chargers.

Two of his intercept marks at important times in the third quarter helped the Dragons absorb Knights pressure.

“His defensive game was outstanding,’’ Dragons coach Jackson Kornberg said.

“He showed he can be a really solid one-on-one defender,’’ he added of Lewis, who represented the Vic Metro Under 16 team and who will also turn out for Brighton Grammar this year.

Sandringham Dragons newcomer Oliver Lowe chases the ball. Picture: Steve Tanner

Cleary played alongside Lewis in defence.

“That’s probably the best game I’ve seen Luke play, just more from a composure point of view,’’ Kornberg said.

“I think he did the basics really well. He was very clean with his ground ball, composed with his kicking, he was good aerially.

“It was a game he needed to have, just to remind people of what he can do and what his strengths are. He was one of the unlucky boys last year who didn’t get to play and show off all the gains he’d made in the preseason. He still met with a lot of clubs last year and there was a fair bit of interest in him.’’

McKay, the son of former Carlton star Andrew, started on the ball and took a knock to the face that required stitching.

He’s a tenacious young fellow; he returned to play as a big-bodied backman in defence in the second half, taking marks and spoiling.

Riley, the son of “Bomber’’, continued his pleasing form, with his running ability apparent when he twice worked back from stoppages at half forward to claim marks in the back 50.

“That’s an area he’s starting to highlight, that he can get outside, that he’s not necessarily just an inside player, that he can accumulate and strike that balance as a midfielder,’’ Kornberg noted.

Ruckmen Max Heath and Domanic Akuei go at it. Picture: Steve Tanner

Hipwell, a 19-year-old player, is the Dragons’ co-captain this year ans the coach regards him as a “born leader’’.

Similar to Clearly, his fundamentals were to the fore.

As for Benton, he again showed his versatility, slotting in as a midfielder with a willingness to run and carry. He picked up 20 possessions.

“He can change angles really aggressively. That makes him really dangerous to the opposition,’’ Kornberg said of the Vic Metro Under 16 players.

“He’ll continue to play different positions and develop his versatility. He’s another one of our boys who hopefully can continue to show off his strengths individually and playing his role for the team.’’

The Dragons were also chuffed with ruckman Max Heath, who had been quiet in Round 1.

His follow-up efforts around the ground were exceptional: he had five tackles to go with his 31 hit-outs.

The Sandringham Dragons brought in Ollie Lowe for a debut and he played at both ends of the ground, and Nick Grech also came into the team, as a small defender.