The Rebels fell 32 points short of Sandringham in a semi-final at Visy Park on Sunday.

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They bowed out of the chase in straight sets, just like Geelong Falcons in the semi before them, both after top-four finishes this season.

The Rebels worked hard, made big bumps, ferocious tackles and threw everything they had at Sandringham.

But they ran out of legs and were limited in rotations against a high-quality and fast-running Dragons’ outfit.

Injuries took their toll on the Rebels.

Forward Jacob Wheelahan was stretchered from the ground mid-way through the first quarter with a shoulder injury.

Matt Johnston was sidelined from 20 minutes into the second, helped from the ground with a lower leg injury, and Dan Butler kept hobbling through the game.

The Rebels kept fighting and held a three-point edge at the final break.

Sandringham hit back hard with five goals, three in the first 10 minutes, before the Rebels could respond with a major.

Rebels coach David Loader threw the Rebels rooms open post-match to players’ families and told his charges to keep their heads high.

“Bad luck. It was tough going out in conditions like that...you were brave against the odds and kept digging and digging,” Loader said in his final address.

“In round five if we were told we would reach the semi-finals not many people would have believed it but you did as players.”

Loader encouraged his players to learn from the experience and be better for it wherever their football journeys might lead them next season.

Learning to take charge on field has been a big part of the Rebels’ development this campaign.

The Rebels lost their first four matches then went on an eight-game winning streak.

They scraped into the top four for a finals double chance with 10 wins, sealed with a final round upset that knocked Oakleigh Chargers from prime ladder spot.

Taking charge on the field was how the Rebels fought their way back into this semi-final after the Dragons chalked up the first three goals.

Wheelahan went down – a big loss – but players regrouped in huddles and restarted with bite, the next four goals, starting with a Jesse Palmer goal from Wheelahan’s free kick.

The Rebels entered the first break aggressive, hard-working and one point up.

Ruck-forward Rowan Marshall worked tirelessly but powerfully and Joel Cowan Nich Weightman injected pace. 

The Dragons won back control in the second quarter by making the most of their scoring chances when the Rebels failed to do so.

Again, the Rebels clawed back starting with two key goals from key tall Oscar McDonald, who was moved up forward.

Loader delivered a stirring speech at the final break, urging his players to keep up their run.

Ultimately it was the Dragons with the fresher legs to stake a spot in the preliminary finals.