AN ILL WIND FOR SANDY

[Demonland 73,208]

by Barry from Beach Road

The gusty northerly blowing straight down the spine of the Trevor Barker Beach Oval yesterday proved an ill wind for the Sandringham Football Club when ladder leader and traditional rival Williamstown took full advantage of its benefit and booted the opening nine goals to take a match winning stranglehold on their game.

The Zebras fought back to win the remaining three quarters but it was all in vain as their slow start had again given their opponent too great a lead. They went down fighting by 14 points and now have a battle to hold their tenuous spot in the top eight after their fifth defeat on the trot, four of them to teams in the top four.

The team was strengthened by the inclusion of Melbourne’s Jeff White, Aaron Davey and Adem Yze and leading goal kicker Nick Sautner but the highlight for Zebra fans was the return of David Gallagher after almost a year out after knee surgery. Gags played with his customary skill and desperation and he received rousing acclamation from team mates and supporters alike when he booted his first goal on return during the game.

Sandringham has become known lately as a slow starter and this game, played in freezing cold conditions, was no exception to the rule. The Seagulls opened with 211cm tall Peter Street dominating in the ruck duels (he did so virtually unchanged all day) and giving his team first use of the ball at clearances enabling them to stream forward for goal after goal as they cut a swathe in the Sandy defences to boot the first nine for the game.

The wind advantage was at its strongest early and Willy was moving the ball forward so quickly that the home side had little opportunity to get numbers behind the ball. At one stage the stiff breeze was so strong that a rare foray forward for a Sautner shot at goal from thirty metres out was held back from scoring by its sheer force and it took until late in the quarter for the Zebras to finally get some system going with goals to Yze and Sautner. Unfortunately, the nine goal start was to prove crucial later in the day.

At the first break, coach Andy Lovell called for at least six goals for the term but the Seagulls booted the first for the quarter before his team was able to mount its response. The mantle of responsibility for the team's recovery rested, as it has so often in the past, with Sautner. He was in sparkling marking form and his strong work helped peg back a few goals and give the supporters some hope but the Zebras kicked poorly and Williamstown regrouped to steady and goal against the run of play. At the main break, the margin was still 26 points.

The third quarter was Sandy's best with Andy Biddlecome, Gallagher and Ricky Petterd all lifting and Peter Summers breaking his heavy tag to give the team some much needed drive in the difficult conditions against the stiff breeze. The Zebras outscored the visitors by four points for the term and the atmosphere was optimistic and full of determination in the huddle at the final break.

Sandringham attacked vigorously at the start of the quarter with Yze, Petterd and Gallagher proving the inspiration and Nathan Carroll the strength. Aaron Davey showed his great pace and skill to give the Zebras some run and the fans were starting to sense victory. Williamstown however, had other ideas and their clever midfielders were able to force the ball forward for goals whenever the margin was narrowed. They also had the advantage of the best conditions of the day as the wind moderated and they ultimately held sway for a well earned victory.

For the Zebras it was again a case of no points but they did come away with the knowledge that the gap between themselves and the leaders is narrow and not insurmountable. They play host to a much improved Tassie Devils next Sunday and will be desperate to get back on the winning list.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Jace Bode –beaten in defence.

Nathan Carroll – like most of his team mates, Carroll struggled early in the game but was a major factor in Sandy's turnaround when he went forward. Ruffled a few feathers and kicked a nice goal to finish among his team's best.

Aaron Davey – clearly a cut above this standard, Davey worked hard and showed some of his genuine pace at times and accumulated 21 possessions but was hampered overall by the confined spaces of the TBBO.

James Frawley – lowered his colours in a defence that was under the pump all day and made some crucial mistakes under that immense pressure during the course of the game.

Addam Maric – since his brief stint in the reserves has shown a much harder work rate and again had an impact both in the midfield and up forward where his crumbing was always dangerous. His kicking for goal, normally clever and accurate, was off beam in the windy conditions - he kicked 1.4, hit the post twice and a couple of his shots went out of bounds.

John Meesen – after a patchy start, Meesen started coming into his own after quarter time and was a useful contributor despite being part of a losing ruck combination.

Ricky Petterd – a heavy knock early in the game saw him in the hands of the trainers but he showed great composure to not only recover but also display his sublime skills off half back and underlined his enormous potential. Looks to be recovering well from his early season injury woes and can be expected to have a substantial impact at AFL level with a full pre season next year.

Jeff White –beaten in the ruck by Peter Street, but worked tirelessly around the ground and marked strongly in a vain attempt to turn the game around for his team.

Adem Yze – put in a good case for a return to the red and blue with a strong performance showing desperation, winning a lot of the football (22 touches) and kicking three telling goals.

Sandringham 2.3.15 7.8.50 10.10.70 15.15.105

Williamstown 9.3.57 12.4.76 14.8.92 18.11.119

Goals

Sandringham Sautner 5 Yze 3 Liddell 2 Carroll Davey Gallagher Maric White

Williamstown Rose 4 Little 3 Cook 2 Cloke Galea Johnson O'Keefe Picken Reid Stack Street Stretton

Best

Sandringham Yze Petterd Biddlecombe Gallagher Sautner Carroll

Williamstown Picken Street Rose Johnson Stretton Little

The undefeated Seagulls dominated the Zebra Reserves for the second time this year. The home side was outscored in the opening term and was no match for the brilliance of the opposition in the second. They fought hard after half time but Willy had too much system, strength and teamwork and ran out winners by 95 points. Andrew Fleming and Marc Johnston were the team's best players.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Not particularly well. Jack Grimes played off half back and looked a player but found it tough to get any system working. Often he ran hard to make the play but failed to get a response from struggling team mates. Tom McNamara was beaten early but came back and finished the game off well but after the game, he was seen with his arm in a sling. Isaac Weetra and Trent Zomer struggled and Jake Spencer showed some aggression in the ruck.

Former Demon rookie Daniel Hughes was at the game and could soon make his return after a long lay off with injury.

Sandringham 2.2.14 2.2.14 4.7.31 4.10.34

Williamstown 4.2.26 11.7.73 14.11,95 19.15.129

Goals

Sandringham Cleeve Fleming Hardiman Weetra

Williamstown Mulligan Wood 3 Boumann Miller Smith Urch Young 2 Cartelli Georgiadis Langlands

Best

Sandringham Fleming M Johnston Lockwood Gilchrist Monaghan Calder

Williamstown Boumann Young Tanner Boyd Wood Chiu