UNFURLING THE FLAG - A SANDRINGHAM STORY

[Demonland 73,140]

by Barry from Beach Road

Sandringham capped off a memorable day in the club's history to open its 2007 campaign with a 10-point victory over last year's VFL grand final opponent Geelong. The Zebras raced away to a half time lead in excess of 10 goals but slackened off considerably after the main break to hold on to win what turned out to be an exciting and high scoring game.

The afternoon had started in brilliant autumn sunshine with the unfurling of the 2006 premiership flag by Libby Gilchrist, wife of the club's late president Gary Gilchrist who tragically passed away in July last year. There was little time however, for the team to soak up the atmosphere of the previous year's triumph - it was a case of getting straight down to business for the opening bounce of the season!

With 2005 Liston Medallist Paul Johnson back in harness and rucking strongly and Peter Summers and Shane Valenti drilling the ball out of the middle, the forwards in Sautner, Sylvia and Garland were able to give the Zebra faithful a perfect start to the season with four goals in the opening five minutes and seven of the first eight goals of the match before the Cats came back with four of their own. A steadier just before the siren had Sandy three goals in front after a frenetic opening quarter.

The second quarter was Sandringham at its best with the home side playing champagne football to completely dominate the opposition scoring eight goals to nil. Summers, Valenti and Demon great Adem Yze worked tirelessly to lead the dominant Zebra midfield as the team stretched the margin to 64 points by half time. Full forward, Nick Sautner had five goals on the board and the Cats went into their rooms with heads bowed.

It's hard to tell whether it was the warm weather or perhaps it was a mindset that the game was already over, but the course of the game changed entirely after the main break. Now it was Geelong's turn to win the ball out of the middle and to force its opponents into costly mistakes and bad turnovers. Playing inspired football, the Cats clawed their way back into the game by kicking a stunning eleven goals for the third term to cut Sandy's lead to just 16 points at three quarter time.

It was probably to Sandy's good that any complacency that might have crept into the team, was extinguished so early in the season. The memory of the third term of the opening game will no doubt be recalled for the players by the coaching staff as the season unfolds.

Still, the Cats kept on coming but Sandy's resistance was also strong. With an exhausted looking Byron Pickett being rested in the final quarter and Ezra Poyas also being nursed through his return from injury, the Zebras now had their backs to the wall and had to pluck up some resistance or be overrun in the finish. The team was able to steady thanks to the sterling efforts of Summers, Valenti, David Gallagher, the strength and brilliance of Sylvia and a tightened defence led by Ryan Ferguson. Sandringham managed to hold out the Cats and save the game aided also by some wayward kicking for goal by Geelong's forwards. However, the Cats were always under pressure in their efforts to catch up from such a long way behind and, like all good sides, the Zebras steadied when the going got tough.

The game marked a major milestone for Chris Lamb who played his 100th for the Zebras. He was solid at centre half back and helped with some desperate saves but it wasn't his best game. The high scoring affair in which both sides booted over 20 goals in perfect conditions wasn't exactly made for defenders.

It was also the debut game of young Sandringham Dragon Tomi Johnston who joined brother Marc, playing only his third game. The sons of former Carlton champion Wayne "The Dominator" Johnston had minor roles coming off the bench but both showed they would be useful players at the club. Slightly built Tomi showed some exciting skills and courage and looks to have a bright future.

It was fitting in the end that Paul Johnson, the dominant ruckman on the day, managed to snaffle the ball and pass to the dominant forward of the game, Nick Sautner, who scored the goal thirty seconds from the final siren to save the match for the team and to see it home by 23.11.149 to 20.19.139. The club recently announced boxing superstar Sam "King" Soliman was its new number one celebrity member for 2007 but it was once again Sautner who delivered the knock out punch.

Next Sunday the Zebras take on Werribee at Bartercard Oval, Werribee. Seniors at 2.00pm, Reserves at 11.20am.

And so the magic carpet ride continues ...

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Simon Buckley - a player with explosive pace and all of the athletic ability necessary to play the game at the highest level. He was played mainly at halfback where he displayed a good approach on the football and generally disposed of it well. He is still on a steep learning curve as he showed when he tried to mark from behind instead of spoil deep in defence during the last quarter. However, at his very next opportunity, he did the right thing and punched the ball away from his opponent’s hands.

Ryan Ferguson - in a game where both defences were under siege Ferguson was better than most but that doesn't really say much at all. His marking was very good and some of defensive work was adequate but he let himself down with poor disposal and he was guilty at times of some very ordinary decision-making. On one occasion, he punched the ball into the middle corridor when he should have marked (or at least punched in the direction of the boundary) and he also committed a few other clangers that resulted in opposition goals.

Colin Garland - started like a house on fire and was dangerous early with two goals and an assist to Colin Sylvia but faded as the game wore on and spent time on the bench. Has good hands, is mobile and also plays tall. An exciting player of the future but probably not ready for AFL until 2008.

Ben Holland - Benny played a better game against St. Kilda last Friday week after which he was dropped to play in this game. I think that just about sums it all up apart from the fact that he did mark and goal at a crucial time in the final quarter.

Paul Johnson - probably the most effective ruckman on the ground and he showed great mobility for a big man. Took some good marks, including a couple overhead, but committed a few obvious clangers under pressure before redeeming himself close to the end with a good pick up and pass in the Sautner direction, which resulted in the match saving goal.

Shane Neaves - was reasonable given his role as second fiddle to Paul Johnson but there was nothing spectacular in his game.

Michael Newton - the man is an enigma and a coach’s nightmare. He has freakish ability and great skills, especially his marking and kicking but he can be oh, so, frustrating at times. He started on a wing where some half-hearted tackling efforts and poor decision-making earned him time on the bench. After his return, he worked his way back into the game and in the final quarter, he kicked a beautiful (and much needed) goal and took the mark of the day to cut off a threatening Geelong forward thrust.

If and when Newton learns to concentrate on his game for four quarters, he will be an absolute beauty but in the meantime, he is more on the erratic and unreliable side. To be fair, I don't think the small Beach Road Oval suits him and he didn't appear all that comfortable playing on a wing, but as I've said on a few occasions, players of his type can blossom into something special which is a prospect that's well worth waiting for!

Ricky Petterd - the more the game went on, the more Petterd impressed me. He's very poised and balanced and he plays with a definite purpose. Give him another half a dozen games at this level and he will be ready for a crack at the big time.

Byron Pickett - sadly overweight and unfit, returning from a hamstring injury and a trip to Perth for family reasons, Pickett managed a little over half a game intimidating opponents and providing some glimpses of his magic (e.g. that brilliant interception and goal) before running out of puff and spending the last quarter and a half on the bench.

"He ran out of gas, we didn't want to run him into the ground," coach mark Williams said after the game.

For AFL watchers, he’s a good few weeks away!

Colin Sylvia - a sensational performance given his limited preparation and the fact that this was his first full match of four quarters this season. Played mainly on a forward flank and in the pocket, marked strongly, kicked three goals, menaced the opposition defenders with hard tackling and spoiling and proved that he is ready to take on the Cats again in a week's time but only on a different stage.

Matthew Warnock - spent most of the first half sitting on the pine and then was sent into defence for the second half deluge of opposition goals. This alone alone is enough to suggest that he has a tough task ahead of him if he wants to play the game at the highest level. He has good pace and used it to advantage a couple of times but wasn't overly impressive.

Adem Yze - kicked two goals and picked up 32 possessions playing mainly in midfield with a couple of stints at half forward. Contrary to what the Yze naysayers might think, he took his demotion like a champion and produced the goods for his team. I don't believe anyone could have asked more from him on the day.

RESULTS

Sandringham 8.5.53 16.8.104 19.10.124 23.11.149

Geelong 5.5.35 5.10.40 16.12.108 20.19.139

Goal Kickers:

Sandringham N Sautner 7 C Sylvia 3 C Garland S Valenti A Yze 2 R Crowe R Ferguson B Holland P Johnson M Newton B Pickett P Summers

Geelong S Johnson 5 C Urie 3 D Barnes J Davenport S Hogan M Spencer 2 J Byrne N Djerrkura T Grima S Hunt

Best:

Sandringham P Summers R Ferguson C Sylvia S Valenti N Sautner A Yze

Geelong S Johnson D Barnes J Byrne H Playfair T West J Davenport

RESERVES AMBUSHED

The Sandy reserves were ambushed by a strong Box Hill reserves which took advantage of their senior team's bye to include two senior level AFL Hawthorn emergency list player’s for the Easter Monday's game - Jarryd Roughead and Michael Osborne as well as Josh Thurgood who also plenty of senior AFL experience. These players were easily the difference between the two sides.

Box Hill Hawks are the reigning reserve grade premiers and they piled on nine goals in the opening quarter but the young Zebras fought manfully and went down by 47 points in the end. Rennie Gilchrist and Phil Zarra (4 goals) were the pick of the players. Demon rookie Daniel Hughes kicked three goals on return from a groin injury.

RESULTS

Sandringham 3.3.21 8.9.57 10.11.71 12.15.87

Box Hill Hawks 9.4.58 13.6.84 16.12.108 20.14.134

Goal Kickers:

Sandringham P Zarra 4 D Hughes 3 D Gribbin K Hall S Martin S Monaghan S Tregear

Box Hill Hawks J Roughead 8 D Bradshaw 3 M Osborne 2 J Allan S Daniher E Johnson A Marguccio L McEntee T Pollett J Thurgood

Best:

Sandringham R Gilchrist P Zarra S Monaghan P McGettigan M Gibb S Martin

Box Hill Hawks M Osborne J Roughead D Marcius J Allan L McEntee A Quinn