21
Apr
South Men
Palmer handles Braves, sets up Rd4 Blues clash
Dandenong Rangers guard Joe Palmer controlled the offence in a 37-point performance against Bendigo. Photo: Rachel Louise Photography
Joe Palmer, Anthony Drmic lead Round 3 wins as NBL1 South men ladder begins to separate early
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Joe Palmer and Anthony Drmic set the tone in Round 3, combining for 66 points as Dandenong and Hobart secured wins that reinforced their place at the top of the NBL1 South men’s ladder.
Palmer’s scoring broke Bendigo early, while Drmic controlled a tight finish against Northern Force. Across the round, offence came easily – five teams cleared 100 – and the gap between the top group and the rest started to show.
Round 4 now shifts the focus to consistency, with Dandenong looking to maintain early control and Hobart aiming to turn close wins into cleaner performances.
What the Round Told Us
- Palmer set the scoring tone early — Dandenong plays through him
- Drmic controlled both ends — Hobart trusts him late
- Top group forming — Dandenong, Knox, Hobart all 4–1
- Points coming easy — multiple teams give up 100+
Dandenong Rangers 109 def. Bendigo Braves 84 – Watch the Replay
Quarter Scores: 35–18, 34–21, 13–20, 27–25
Joe Palmer had 37 points by full time, but the damage was done in the first half.
Dandenong went into the break up 69–39. Palmer scored inside, stepped out to three, and forced Bendigo to shift coverages early.
Once the margin hit 30, the game settled. Bendigo found some offence in the third, but the gap never moved.
Harrison Froling controlled the paint and the glass, and Dandenong kept generating clean looks without needing to rush possessions.
Key Performers
- Joe Palmer – 37 points (15/24 FG, 5/11 3PT), 8 rebounds, 6 assists
- Harrison Froling – 27 points (10/14 FG), 12 rebounds
- Sam Davidson – 20 points, 4 threes
Why It Matters
Dandenong didn’t chase the game — they owned it early.
- +30 at halftime
- 12 threes
- 22 assists
They’re playing through Palmer and getting balance around him.
Hobart Chargers 89 def. Northern Force 87 – Watch the Replay
Quarter Scores: 26–23, 21–20, 20–20, 22–24
Anthony Drmic had 29 points and five steals, and Hobart needed all of it.
They controlled the first half, but Northern kept coming through second chances and physical play inside.
It never broke open. Every possession late mattered.
Drmic kept them organised, Jacob Richards handled the ball and rebounded, and Hobart got enough stops to hold the margin.
Key Performers
- Anthony Drmic – 29 points, 9 rebounds, 5 steals
- Jacob Richards – 21 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists
- Luke Rosendale – 22 points
Why It Matters
Different game, same result.
- Stayed composed late
- Won key possessions
- Closed at the line
Hobart can play from in front – and finish when it tightens.
The Ladder After Round 3
- Dandenong Rangers – 1st
- Knox Raiders – 2nd
- Hobart Chargers – 3rd
- Nunawading Spectres – 4th
- Eltham Wildcats – 5th
Early shape:
- Three teams at the top
- Pack behind them
- Bottom teams leaking points
Other Results
- Eltham 95 def. Frankston 81
- Kilsyth 100 def. Waverley 87
- Melbourne Tigers 81 def. Sandringham 66
- Mt Gambier 101 def. Ballarat 99
- Casey 101 def. Ringwood 84
- Diamond Valley 104 def. Geelong 91
- Knox 109 def. Nunawading 95
- Frankston 106 def. Kilsyth 101
- Keilor 86 def. Sandringham 79
- Eltham 107 def. Ballarat 60
- Nunawading 102 def. Keilor 83
Round 4 Watchlist
Frankston Blues vs Dandenong Rangers
- Can anyone slow Palmer early?
- Dandenong has been winning games in the first half
Hobart Chargers vs Casey Cavaliers
- Can Drmic back it up?
- Hobart won late — now they need control
Round 4 Questions
- Can Palmer keep that scoring level?
- Does Hobart clean up late-game execution or stay in close games?
- Who separates behind the top three?
- Do teams adjust defensively?
