Double delight for Dragons

THE Geelong Dragons had a strong win over Grampians Giants in Stawell in Round 1 of the Western Conference of the Football Integration Development Association.

A number of players were putting on the Dragons jumper for the first time and there was plenty of excitement in the rooms prior to the game.

The Dragons started well, kicking the first couple of goals. Josh Crouch was on fire in the first term, kicking three goals for the quarter as well as setting up a number of others.

Paul Barnard and Josh Storm were instrumental in the midfield, providing the Dragons’ forwards with plenty of opportunities to score.

Kyle Galley was strong in the second half as the warm weather took its toll, and Ben LeCouteur took a mark of the day contender.

Jake Baker-Brooks was strong in the final term and continued to run through the midfield, grabbing possession after possession.

Geelong Dragons 14.12 (96) Grampians Giants 4.2 (26)

Goals: Crouch 4, Bird 3, Vanek 2, Pople, Wernicke, Galley, Je Blakeley, Baker-Brooks. Best: Storm, Barnard, Watts, B LeCouteur, Galley, Crouch

MEANWHILE, the Geelong Dragons won a tight match against Sandown Cobras in Round 2 action of Metro Division 2/3.

In perfect conditions at Hamlyn Reserve, both teams started playing positive, flowing football.

Late in the first quarter, Patrick Earley picked the ideal time to kick his first goal as he gave the Dragons a six-point lead at quarter-time.

Corey Gibbard continued his great form, finding a lot of the footy and creating forward pressure. The next two quarters were tight. In a pulsating final 15 minutes, Mitch CutterRabl provided a strong target up forward as the Dragons kicked three unanswered goals to win by nine points.

Dragons 8.4 (52) Cobras 6.7 (43)

Goals: Anic 2, Schaefer 2, Cutter Rabl 2, Vandermeer, Earley. Best: Keeley Culliver, Gration, Earley, Scott, C Ferguson, C Gibbard