A big crowd packed Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday, to witness the Sandringham and Box Hill Hawks first game of the season. It was a game listed with over 30 AFL primary and rookie listed players, but in the end Sandringham prevailed with a comfortable 54 point victory as Nicholas Ciantar reports.
Both teams had a productive offseason, with key signings to bolster their 2012 lineups. The signings of Adam Cockie and Myke Cook for the Zebras enhanced the midfield of Sandringham, which was obvious in the first game.
Cockie kicked 2 goals, had 23 disposals and amassed 10 tackles in great debut.
“He’s just a bull in the middle and he gets his hands on the ball and gets it forward.” Assistant coach for Sandringham, Jaymie Graham said about Cockie.
Cook also had over 20 disposals, kicking 3 goals and laid over 5 tackles as well. Cook played a terrific game, in which he was the best on the ground.
In a game which was filled with many gut running bursts and long kicks, Sandringham always had the advantage by leading at each of the breaks. Sandringham dominated the first quarter, through Box Hill turnovers and pieces of individual brilliance by Zebra players. Sandringham had more run and carry and that showed on the score board by setting up an 18 point margin leading into the first break.
They led by a healthy 40 points at half time, but that did not deter Box Hill from fighting back. In the 3rd quarter, Box Hill got on a run of 3 goals to make the margin only 33 points, and it looked like the game had turned into the Hawks favour. In the longest quarter of the day, over 33 minutes long, the Hawks looked to be crawling their way back, until some Terry Milera brilliance for the Zebras. Sandringham then kicked 3 in a row, to put them up by 51 points and what looked like a unbeatable margin at the three quarter time break.
The main target for the Zebras was Beau Wilkes. Wilkes kicked 3 goals, in which was a strong performance by the new Saint. Wilkes smashed the packs to take contested marks, but if he didn’t mark them, crumbers such as Saad, Sam Dunell and Jackson Coleman pounced on the ball. Coleman showed plenty of positive signs, one for instance kicking a beautiful left footed goal near the boundary line in the last quarter. This was the play of the match, as Coleman finished it off nicely to edge the score over 50 points.
For the Box Hill Hawks, Kyle Cheney had a ripper of a first quarter and was arguably Box Hill’s best. He played mainly in defense, in which he amassed over 25 disposals. A low light for the Hawks, was the arm injury to youngster Mitch Hallahan in the third quarter. He played no further part in the game.
As it was the first game for many this year, it didn’t disappoint in the highlights reel. A great pack mark in the 3rd quarter by Hawks ruckmen Sam Grimely, had the fans screaming loudly. He came from three deep, to take a spectacular mark. The game was also filled with great courage, shown by Zebras player Tom Simpkin. He went back with the flight of the ball, to set up a shot at goal.
Sandringham did have mainly a St Kilda listed squad, but the senior Zebra players do know that they will get their chances this year.
"They realize it is going to be a tough year,” Graham said regarding the senior Zebra players that played for the Development Squad.
“They went back with positive attitudes and all played very well.”
Sandringham had the better of the play all day, by winning it out of the middle on many occasions. The Zebras ball usage was more efficient and they defended very well. The Hawks showed some promising signs, but by the Zebras having the more experience, they were able to defeat the Hawks in most aspects of the game.
Sandringham will face North Ballarat at Eureka Stadium this Sunday, whilst Box Hill has the bye, but will be playing the AIS/AFL Academy side on the MCG as the curtain raiser to the Richmond vs Carlton game this Thursday.
Last Modified on 28/03/2012 10:46