Live stream: Sandringham Dragons v Geelong Falcons, Coates Talent League boys semi-finals

For three quarters, the match was very much in the balance, then Sandringham turned on the afterburners to set up a Coates League decider against Eastern Ranges. Re-live all the action.

Sandringham Dragons will play Eastern Ranges in the Coates League boys grand final next weekend after finally getting the better of Geelong Falcons in an often chaotic semifinal on Sunday.

The Dragons, who trailed at quarter time and needed two late goals in the second term to grab a halftime lead, eventually won 101-67, but the scores were close right up until midway through the final term.

They will now face the Ranges, who beat Tasmania Devils 108-68 earlier in the day, in the decider.

After a tight opening two quarters where the lead swapped back and forth, the Dragons gained some momentum in the third term and opened up a 16-point advantage.

The Falcons closed to within nine points early in the final term before the Dragons again responded, this time with four straight goals to blow the margin of victory out to a 34 points.

Geelong player Patrick Hughes is met by some tough Dragons defence. Pic: Getty.

Sandringham’s: Harvey Johnston

Xavier Ivisic of the Geelong Falcons.

Will Brown celebrates a goal for Sandringham. Pic: Getty.

PREVIEW

Lachlan Voss’ return to the Sandringham Dragons line-up in the last several weeks has been nothing short of sensational.

The key defender suffered a serious ankle in round one and would not return to the field until round 14.

Now he’s playing a key role for the Dragons as they prepare for a semi-final showdown against the Geelong Falcons on Sunday.

The playoff for a grand final spot will be live streamed on KommunityTV from 2pm.

In last week’s quarter-final win over the Northern Knights, Voss played a key role opposed to top-10 draft prospect Nate Caddy.

Now he’s ready to take on the Falcons’ best.

Sandringham talent manager Mark Wheeler said the 200cm prospect was beginning to show all the signs the club were hoping would come together.

“It was a really unfortunate start to the year but he’s responded really well,” he said.

“Since coming back, he’s produced some really good footy, we thought he broke even with Caddy last week.

“Voss and Ollie Murphy are two developing defenders who have been learning the craft. They’d previously been rucks or forwards. We’ve been really impressed with their development.”

Dragons defender Ollie Murphy has shown a lot of development.

In recent weeks, the Dragons have been able to put their best side on the park.

That’s thanks to school footy and national carnival commitments coming to an end for 2023.

It’s allowed the likes of Ryley Sanders and Levi Ashcroft to excel in the middle of the ground while Charlie Edwards has “gone to another level” according to Wheeler.

“As soon as we got the boys back, we knew we were going to get better every week,” he said.

“And that’s no different heading into this weekend as well. Our wingers, which is a core rotation of about three or four boys, is really starting to generate what we need on the outside for us.

“Guys like Cooper Lord, Will Nish, Josh Docking and Tarkyn O’Leary have been building really nicely.”

Forward of centre, the Dragons are also starting to find more consistency in their goalkicking.

Hawthorn father-son prospect Calshear Dear, Luke Lloyd and Will Brown all finished with multiple last weekend.

“The forwards are clunking their marks and finishing off their work which isn’t what was always happening before,” Wheeler said.

The Dragons don’t have any recent history against the Falcons this year with Sunday’s game set to be the first meeting between the two sides.

“We’re expecting a tough challenge, a well drilled side,” Wheeler said.

The Falcons will roll into the clash off the back of a dominant quarter-final win over GWV Rebels last weekend in which key forwards Thomas Burke and Will McLachlan each bagged three up front.