2011 VFL Seniors
Sandringham 7.3 9.8 13.12 18.14 (122)
Geelong 0.3 5.7 10.9 13.13 (91)
GOALS:
Sandringham: Gamble 6 Lourey 4 Siposs 2 Heyne 2 Polo 2 Stanley Irving
Geelong: Brown 5 Vardy 2 Guthrie 2 Schroder Raidme Christensen McLean
BEST:
Sandringham: Clarke Gallagher Stanley Magner Gamble Lynch
Geelong: Christensen Simpkin Corrigan Hunt McLean Guthrie
Match Report - By Troy Snow
Fifteen minutes into the last quarter Geelong had all the momentum, the lead had been whittled down to 12 points and serious questions were being asked of Sandringham.
In the past the Zebras might have laid down but not this year, the determined young group who had led all day ran out 31 point winners much to the delight of the Sandringham faithful.
Sandringham built what was a match winning lead in the opening term kicking seven goals to none with St Kilda listed Ryan Gamble showing his class kicking four majors for the quarter.
Coach Brett Lovett was very impressed with his sides opening term after coming off a bye last weekend.
“You always worry coming off a bye,” Lovett said.
“It was the best quarter of football the boys have played for the year, we won a lot of contested ball, clearances were good and got the ball into the forward line nice and quickly.”
Scoring was a little tougher in the second quarter with Geelong getting numbers behind the ball and putting more pressure on the Zebras and kicked five goals to two to reduce the lead heading into the main break.
Lovett urged his players to lift after half time and to work together and that they did kicking the first couple of goals to give themselves breathing space.
The ever reliable David Gallagher was instrumental all over the ground and Saints big man Rhys Stanley was on top in the ruck.
Geelong kept coming all day but it was the more experienced Sandringham players that sealed the 31 point win for Sandringham.
Raph Clarke was Sandringham’s best along with Gallagher, Tom Lynch and James Magner.
Gamble kicked six goals for the winners while Michael Lourey also chipped in for four of his own.
Geelong forward Mitch Brown looked lively all day kicking five for the visitors while Cam Guthrie and Allen Christensen were among the best.
Lovett said despite Geelong making a late comeback he was always confident his chargers would come through with the goods.
“I thought our boys stuck to what we wanted to do for most of the day,” Lovett said.
“It would have been nice to have a bit more breathing space but it is always hard when you have been chasing all day.
“I was quietly confident we had the legs to do the job.”
Sandringham will next week travel to take on the unbeaten Williamstown, a challenge the Sandringham Football Club should be very much looking forward to.
2011 VFL Reserves
Sandringham 6.3 10.7 12.10 15.12 (102)
North Ballarat 1.2 6.9 11.15 13.17 (95)
GOALS:
Sandringham: Boland 5 Jetta 5 Crocker Stapleton Curren Orr Andrews
North Ballarat: Bell 4 Dare 2 Kelly 2 Hughes Suban Driscoll McDermott Nicholls
BEST:
Sandringham: Waller Boland Jetta Andrews Fleming Stapleton
North Ballarat: Evans Kelly Currie Struth Driscoll Bell
Match Report - By Mick Ablett
In a pleasing although not overly convincing performance on the weekend we managed to notch our second win of the season against Nth Ballarat getting home by 7 points. After a major turnaround in our start to the game from previous weeks, the boys jumped out of the blocks banging on 6 goals to 1 in the opening term, in what was a fine display of quick, exciting, skilful football. Unfortunately after reversing the trend and putting ourselves in a position to attack rather than play catch up after the quarter time break, we took our foot off the pedal over the next 2 1/2 quarters and allowed Nth Ballarat to impose themselves on the game. At 3/4 time I challenged the group to now find out what each other are made of when it comes to character and the boys certainly responded. Nth Ballarat found the lead mid-way through the last term and it would have been quite easy for the boys to put up the white flag, however in a show of the character the group does posses, they answered in the best possible manner by taking back the lead and getting the chocolates.
Some of the better performers for the day included Chris Waller in a clearly best on ground display across Half Back and through the midfield, he was well supported by Maddison Andrews and Andrew Fleming, all three displaying an attitude that was second to none in their attack on the footy and tireless work rate. Matt Boland (Captain for the day) and Rodney Jetta both kicked 5 in very dominant displays up forward and were very ably assisted by Matt Stapleton. Warwick Andreoli was the best of the St Kilda rookies continuing his impressive season.
We now face a big challenge in the next fortnight of football with Williamstown and Box Hill on the radar. Providing we can continue to start the game with the same mindset as we did on the weekend, we will be more than in the hunt when the questions start to be asked. We now sit 2-2 and in a position to build on what we hope will continue to be an exciting season. Congratulations To Mick Sikora and Tim Sullivan on their first up debut games in Sandringham colours. GO ZEBS!
Last Modified on 02/05/2011 14:01