This week Team GWS were back at home going up against the Sandringham Dragons.

In what proved to be a tough contest, a young and exciting Team GWS were out muscled by a more experienced Dragons side.

Losing 11 players to the NSW/ACT Rams, the inexperienced side showed great flare and run to start off the game.

The boys showed great courage over the football in the opening term and their consistent pressure lead to the first goal being kicked by Oliver Tweedale.

More run and uncontested footy gave GWS some great flow, and when young 15 year old All Australian Jake Neade snapped his first goal the team moral was high and the boys were looking good.

The Dragons were able to stem the flow towards the end of the quarter kicking a couple of quick goals and taking a three goal lead into quarter time.

Unfortunately the Dragons came out firing from the break and dominated every area of the game. Their strength and skill was simply too good for the less experienced GWS side.

Jake Neade carried on his form from the first quarter and his run through the middle was one of the few highlights. The Dragons kicked nine unanswered goals to take a commanding lead into half time.

Head Coach Alan McConnell described Jake Neade as the biggest positive in the first half.

"I thought his first half was absolutely outstanding, he was the boy we spoke most about at half time in the fact that the youngest, most inexperienced boy in our team is the one who is playing with the most spark, energy and enthusiasm."

The boys responded well bouncing back in the third term to put together a clinical display against a very strong Dragons side.

Working off Neade’s enthusiasm the boys began playing with the flare and run that their youth brings them.

Thomas Masden got the ball rolling with his first goal for GWS as the boys started playing with urgency and moving the footy faster.

Some silky play on the wing from Jack Dimery and Sam Milne lead to Oliver Tweedale kicking his second goal.

When Nukarin Lewington kicked his first for the game, GWS went in to the final change on a high.

McConnell described the style of play as infectious.

"Their intensity and handball use was fantastic, but the most important thing is that they were enjoying yourselves, and it came through in the footy they were playing."

Team GWS came out in the final term very excited and enthused and this showed in the first 15 minutes.

Tweedale linked up well with Anderson for a goal as the boys looked fast and effective in general play.

Unfortunately GWS ran out of legs in the final ten minutes, allowing a quick goals to the Dragons, who ran away with it in the end.

Despite the big loss McConnell found some positives and constructive comments in the performance.

"We had a quarter and a half of really good footy where the team actually took responsibility for the scoreboard and not just their own individual form.

"We had some passages of play which were a bit too individualistic and spasmodic which is something we need to work on as a team.

"As a young team we need to play high energy footy with a lot of run which can be difficult to sustain throughout the whole match, but we did it in periods today, which was impressive."

Team GWS

Goal Kickers:

O. Tweeddale 2, J. Anderson, J. Neade, T. Madsen, N. LewingtonBest Players: J. Dimery, T. Kickett, S. Milne, J. Anderson, J. Neade, C. Bernasconi6.6.42Sandringham Dragons 24.18.162