ZEBRA REVIEW - THE SEASON SO FAR …

by Barry from Beach Road

After seven rounds of VFL football, Sandringham's quest for three successive premierships is on track with five wins and one defeat and second placing on the VFL ladder. However, the enormity of its task is becoming more apparent with each round as we see the resurgence of some of the less "fashionable" clubs in the competition which the experts had previously not considered likely challengers for high honours.

Coburg Tigers, Frankston, North Ballarat and Casey Scorpions have been showing good form and winning matches and last year's wooden spooner Geelong is also putting some excellent performances on the board. No team can be taken for granted and this week's game against the Cats at Skilled Stadium is definitely a danger game for the reigning premiers as they come off the bye and face a team that had an emphatic away win over Werribee on Sunday.

Sandy has again been well served by a very handy mix of VFL players comprising mainly of home grown locals with some excellent recruits and, of course, the Melbourne AFL listed group. Together they have been a successful force in the competition for some time - one that other clubs seek to emulate.

Full forward Nick Sautner has been a revelation thus far into the season as he leads the competition goalkicking with 29 goals. The new look Sautner has trimmed down considerably from last year and looks as fit as a fiddle as he wreaks havoc with opposition defenders. David Gallagher and injured defender Andy Biddlecombe have also been having great seasons. The signing of former Demons Guy Rigoni and Chris Lamb has added experience to the Zebra list while young Shane Valenti from the Sandringham Dragons has shown great maturity with his prolific midfield play. The Zebras also have Rod Crowe, Ezra Poyas, Peter Summers and courageous skipper Chad Liddell among their senior contingent making them the envy of most other clubs.

The team has managed some good victories against strong opposition and has shown it is capable of winning on even the most hostile territory as evidenced by strong wins at Werribee and in Tasmania. The latter game ended amid some controversy about the home side's alleged strong arm tactics which resulted in a break to Biddlecombe's jaw, the suspension of a Tassie player and a VFL investigation which proved fruitless.

The Zebras have another tough task this Sunday when they travel to Skilled Stadium to take on a resurgent Geelong team which thrashed Werribee at Werribee last week. Sandringham convincingly won both of its 2005 games against the Cats - by 84 and 49 points but they are a different proposition this year. Another factor is the fact that the Zebras are coming off a bye and they lost twice after coming off byes in their last two premiership seasons.

On the whole however, coach Mark Williams should be pleased at the way the team is traveling at the present time as everything is on track for another top four finish.

VFL Seniors Ladder

NORTHERN BULLANTS 20

SANDRINGHAM 20

COBURG TIGERS 16

WILLIAMSTOWN 16

NORTH BALLARAT 16

CASEY SCORPIONS16

FRANKSTON 12

TASMANIA 12

Geelong 12

Werribee 8

Box Hill Hawks 4

Bendigo Bombers 4

Port Melbourne 4

Games - Seniors

6 - BUCKLEY, Simon CROWE, Rod JONES, Nathan LAMB, Chris MOTLOP, Shannon POYAS, Ezra READ, Phillip SAUTNER, Nick SMITH, Nick SUMMERS, Peter VALENTI, Shane

5 - BIDDLECOMBE, Andy GALLAGHER, David HUGHES, Daniel RIGONI, Guy

4 - DUNN, Lynden JOHNSON, Chris LIDDELL, Chad NEAVES, Shane WARD, Daniel

3 - BATE, Matthew CORP, Daniel FLEMING, Andrew WARNOCK, Matthew

2 - GODFREY, Simon HOLLAND, Ben JOHNSON, Paul JOHNSTON, Marc NEWTON, Michael

1 - BELL, Daniel BROWN, Nathan NICHOLSON, Alistair RIVERS, Jared

Goals - Seniors

29 - SAUTNER, Nick

9 - DUNN, Lynden HUGHES, Daniel

6 - CROWE, Rod SUMMERS, Peter

5 - SMITH, Nick VALENTI, Shane

4 - GALLAGHER, David

3 - BATE, Matthew JONES, Nathan MOTLOP, Shannon POYAS, Ezra READ, Phillip

2 - BROWN, Nathan GODFREY, Simon LIDDELL, Chad WARD, Daniel

1 - BUCKLEY, Simon HOLLAND, Ben JOHNSON, Chris NEAVES, Shane NEWTON, Michael

Best - Seniors (based on published best players)

13 - JOHNSON, Chris

12 - GALLAGHER, David HOLLAND, Ben SAUTNER, Nick

10 - BIDDLECOMBE, Andy

9 - SMITH, Nick

6 - JOHNSON, Paul JONES, Nathan WARD, Daniel

5 - HUGHES, Daniel LIDDELL, Chad VALENTI, Shane

4 - LAMB, Chris SUMMERS, Peter

3 - BROWN, Nathan CROWE, Rod DUNN, Lynden MOTLOP, Shannon

2 - BATE, Matthew READ, Phillip

1 - POYAS, Ezra

After a slowish start to the season, the Reserves are gaining some momentum and are currently in fifth place. In recent weeks they have provided some young talent in Daniel Corp, Andrew Fleming and Marc Johnston and it would not surprise to see the likes of half forward Peter McGettigan and ruckman Stephen Ott gaining promotion in the near future. Mark Gibb, Thomas Dean. Leigh Fletcher and Kenton Hall have all pressed their claims. Last Sunday saw the successful return from injury of Mark Corrigan, Guy Martyn and Tom Paterakis and they will further strengthen the Sandy list once they fully settle back into the game.

The Reserves have also benefited from the relationship with Melbourne. In addition to youngsters like Heath Neville, Jace Bode and Andre Gianfagna adding to the talent pool, the team has also benefited from the presence of experienced players like Clint Bizzell, Ben Holland and Paul Wheatley in recent matches along with sensational young forward prospect Michael Newton who kicked 8 goals against Bendigo matching Tom Mentiplay's performance in the opening round against Frankston.

Another highlight of the successful association between the clubs has been the recruiting via the rookie draft of Matthew Warnock (now senior listed) and Danny Hughes who kicked six goals from a flank against Tasmania. Both players came through the ranks and started with the Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup team before joining the Zebras.

The Sandy Reserves have their second bye for the season this Sunday.

VFL Reserves Ladder

WILLIAMSTOWN 24

BOX HILL HAWKS 20

FRANKSTON 16

NORTHERN BULLANTS 16

SANDRINGHAM 16

Coburg Tigers 16

Werribee 8

Casey Scorpions8

North Ballarat 4

Port Melbourne 4

Bendigo Bombers 4

Games - Reserves

6 - FLETCHER, Leigh GIANFAGNA, Andre GIBB, Mark HALL, Kenton LOCKWOOD, Scott MCGETTIGAN, Peter MENTIPLAY, Tom OTT, Stephen TURCARELLI, Daniel

5 - DEAN, Thomas JOHNSTON, Marc NEVILLE, Heath NEWTON, Michael

4 - BODE, Jace FROST, Andrew GOOLD, Adrian MARSTON, Nick PAULE, Thomas SEMMELL, Ryan

3 - CORP, Daniel EVANS, Vaughn FLEMING, Andrew GULLIFER, Will HEYWOOD, Ryan McKENZIE, Ewen PATERAKIS, Tom

2 - HOLLAND, Ben NEAVES, Shane TARANTO, Andrew

1 - BELL, Daniel BIZZELL, Clint CLEEVE, Stuart CORRIGAN, Mark HUGHES, Daniel MARTYN, Guy WHEATLEY, Paul

Goals - Reserves

15 - MENTIPLAY, Tom

14 - NEWTON, Michael

5 - HEYWOOD, Ryan MCGETTIGAN, Peter

4 - GIANFAGNA, Andre JOHNSTON, Marc PAULE, Thomas TURCARELLI, Daniel

3 - HOLLAND, Ben HUGHES, Daniel SEMMELL, Ryan

2 - FLEMING, Andrew GULLIFER, Will LOCKWOOD, Scott

1 - BELL, Daniel CORP, Daniel CORRIGAN, Mark FLETCHER, Leigh MARSTON, Nick MARTYN, Guy TARANTO, Andrew

Best - Reserves

17 - JOHNSTON, Marc MCGETTIGAN, Peter

14 - OTT, Stephen

12 - NEWTON, Michael

11 - CORP, Daniel

10 - NEVILLE, Heath

8 - GIBB, Mark

6 - DEAN, Thomas FLETCHER, Leigh HALL, Kenton

5 - FLEMING, Andrew

4 - HEYWOOD, Ryan

3 - GIANFAGNA, Andre TURCARELLI, Daniel

2 - HOLLAND, Ben

1 - MENTIPLAY, Tom SEMMELL, Ryan

ODD SPOT - DEGREES OF SEPARATION

Whenever a VFL team has a bye or players are not selected, they can nominate a club a "local interchange" club of their choice to which the player can be cleared to play. Last weekend Guy Rigoni made a special trip back home to join his brother Chad at his original club Myrtleford in the Ovens and Murray League. "Gus" kicked a goal but was upstaged by his brother who booted two and gained best on ground honours in a 15 point win for the Saints.

A few weeks ago, Peter McGettigan played for St. Bedes in the VAFA C Grade competition when the reserves had a bye. Last Sunday, he lined up in the same team as experienced Demon paid Ben Holland and Paul Wheatley.

It's a fascinating aspect of the game that one week, a player can be rubbing shoulders on the same ground with the elite and in another, they join suburban and bush footballers in the pursuit of their favourite sport!

Whispering Jack joined me for last week's Sandy Reserves game and provided this HOW THE DEMONS FARED:-

Clint Bizzell - no show. I guess the non-appearance will be a bit of a mystery until the official injury list is published on Monday evening. It's premature however, to suggest that his career is over based on the fact that he didn't play in a reserves game for Sandringham.

Andre Gianfagna - a slow start but when the team got going in the second half, he got better and ended up with two goals.

Ben Holland - a reasonable performance for someone who normally plays well above this standard. Took a few good marks, kicked a goal and generally coasted around the ground trying his best to look interested.

As an aside, he would be one of the few people ever named as an emergency for an AFL team to line up 24 hours later in the VFL reserves.

Michael Newton - too good all day and particularly so after half time when he went to full forward and kicked 7 of his 8 goals. The first nine minutes of the second half were bizarre. Sandy ruckman Ott was killing them, the midfield got the ball out time and time again and Newton marked everything that came his way kicking 5 goals 1 behind (the behind was definitely kickable too!). Then the Bomber coach put a 175cm dwarf on him and I thought, "geez, he's going to break Fred Fanning's record in one quarter" but he ball stopped coming down with as much regularity, the dwarf positioned himself in front and the other Bombers crowded the general area. Newton finished with just one more for the quarter.

Heath Neville - disappointed me really. Played down back, had a slippery little opponent who he struggled with at times and was probably trying too hard. Missed the pre season with OP and has a fairly serious amount of work to do at the moment.

Paul Wheatley - went off before quarter time and headed straight to the rooms for treatment for a corkie

Sandringham 4.5.29 9.9.63 18.12.120 23.14.152

Bendigo Bombers 1.1.7 4.2.26 6.6.42 9.8.62

Goals Newton 8 McGettigan 3 Gianfagna Heywood Lockwood Turcarelli 2 Corrigan Fletcher Holland Martyn

Best McGettigan Ott Newton Johnston Hall Gibb