The clash between the top two sides on the VFL ladder proved somewhat of a fizzer when Sandringham completely demolished the previously undefeated Werribee Tigers by 72 points at Trevor Barker Oval on Sunday.
Like the Zebras, Werribee was chock full of AFL listed players as well as some top-flight VFL stars and the Tigers had comprehensively beaten their opponents in earlier games. However, the visitors put up very little resistance as the home side's on ball brigade gained the early ascendency. With key forwards Nick Sautner and Nick Smith causing some early damage, the Zebras broke away to a 21-point quarter time break.
Daniel Ward was in exceptional form playing across half back on his return from a three week suspension incurred in the opening AFL round while Chris Heffernan continued from where he left off in the final quarter of the previous game against Springvale. He was a prolific ball winner and set up many scoring opportunities with his accurate passing.
Another player who racked up possessions and put himself in line for a debut at the highest level was Melbourne's number 5 draft pick Brock McLean. He amassed 28 possessions of exceptional quality and impressed for the second week in a row.
Sandringham's five-time Frosty Miller Medallist Nick Sautner finished with six goals to take a grip on the competition's goal kicking list yet again. The Zebras were also well served by their "small" talls in Aaron Bishop and Andy Biddlecombe who took on and beat some much taller timber from Werribee.
Nathan Carroll and Chris Lamb defended strongly and kept a stranglehold on the Tigers attacking division to such an extent that Sandy won every quarter and never looked troubled. Carroll's work in keeping dangerous Werribee forward David Mitchell quiet was particularly commendable.
In the end the Zebras cruised to victory with 19.15.129 to the Tigers' 8.9.57 and coach Mark Williams was pleased with his team's performance in beating a very highly rated opponent. After the match he commented that the Demons' impressive form had spurred the players at VFL level to stay hungry to keep alive their chances of promotion.
They're really keen to be involved at the highest level and it really shows in their game in the VFL so they're ready when the opportunity comes about," he said.
In winning, Sandringham also grabbed top spot as part of the spoils of victory. That achievement means very little at this early stage of the season however, especially when some of the teams, like undefeated Port Melbourne, have already had their first bye while others have played a full programme. Still, Sandringham's form of the past two weeks has been excellent and the team will look forward to Sunday's trip to City Oval, Box Hill with a fair degree of confidence although they must be wary because the Hawks are always a tough proposition on their home ground.
Sandringham 5.5.35 9.9.63 13.13.91 19.15.129
Werribee Tigers 2.2.14 2.4.16 4.6.30 8.9.57
Goals Sautner 6 Fisher McLean Walsh 2 Gallagher Heffernan Johnson Mills O'Keeffe SmithWard
Best Ward Heffernan McLean Lamb Carroll Williams Broadbridge Bishop
SLOW STARTING ZEBRAS STEADY IN THE END
by Barry Junior
Sandringham Reserves shrugged off a sluggish start in which they failed to score at all in the opening quarter, to come back and finally overcome a tired looking Werribee Tigers team in Sunday's curtain raiser at Trevor Barker Oval.
Despite the fact that there seemed to be no particular wind advantage, Sandringham found it difficult to score at the southern end of the ground in the opening term as Werribee took complete control of the game. The Zebras had few winners and one had the feeling that they were in for a bad day as the first quarter score line had the Tigers in front 2.6.18 to 0.0.0.
However, things altered dramatically after the break with players like Leigh Fletcher and Jason Bristow bobbing up around the ground and near the goals allowing the home side to snare the lead inside the first ten minutes of the second quarter. By half time, Sandringham had seven goals on the board and led by 15 points.
Nippy rover Jason Ritterman showed great pace through the lines and senior captain Chad Liddell, returning from a serious knee injury, also had an impact with his strong marking and long kicking. His old confidence is returning rapidly and it was great to see him backing into packs for marks with his usual courage. It should not be long before Chad is back in the seniors.
The second half was as dull as the cloudy, grey autumn weather but Sandringham was untroubled and went through the motions to record a regulation 32 point victory and cement a place in the top five. Young Demon recruit Colin Sylvia, who has been nursed through osteitis pubis over the pre season and the early matches, provided one highlight of the last half - a boomer of a goal kicked from the centre of the ground.
Sandringham meets lowly placed Box Hill away from home on Sunday.
Sandringham 0.0.0 7.4.46 9.6.60 11.12.78
Werribee Tigers 2.6.18 4.7.31 4.8.32 6.10.46
Goals: Bristow Liddell Warnock 2 Campbell Fletcher Gadsden Smith Sylvia
Best: Fletcher Liddell Hall Ritterman Conroy Warnock
Seniors - season goal kicking list
Sautner 18
Gallagher 7
Newman 6
Smith N. 4
Johnson C. 4
McLean 4
Heffernan 3
Fisher 3
Reserves - season goal kicking list
Mentiplay 7
Zantuck 5
Fletcher 5
Ritterman 4
Carson 4
Ferraro 3
Sylvia 3
Bristow 3
Last Modified on 15/02/2008 16:33