90 SECONDS FROM GLORY

[Demonland 73,140]

by Barry from Beach Road

Sandringham came close to achieving an improbable victory in Saturday's VFL Qualifying Final when Williamstown midfielder Paul Licuria goaled with 90 seconds left on the clock to give his team a two-point victory after the Zebras had mounted a dramatic final quarter fight back.

The goal from Licuria, a dual Copeland Trophy Medallist with Collingwood, gave his VFL team a week's break and forced Sandringham into the semi finals for the first time in several years. It also broke the Zebras' undefeated sequence in finals starting from when they commenced their triple premiership winning run in 2004.

Sandy opened its first home final strongly despite fielding a weakened side depleted by injuries at AFL affiliate Melbourne as well as to two of its own most experienced players in David Gallagher (knee) and Chris Lamb (hamstring). Of the six Demons, two are rookies and the senior players have a total of 12 AFL games between them. The team's injury woes opened up the opportunity for Daniel Gribbin to make his senior debut in a finals game while Tom Dean lined up for only his second game at this level.

By contrast, the Seagulls had 12 Collingwood listed players, three of whom have more than 100 games experience under their belts with the Magpies. Despite this, it was the Zebras who dominated the opening term thanks to their early dominance in the middle where Shane Neaves was winning in the ruck and Peter Summers, Simon Buckley and Shane Valenti were getting plenty of the football. In much the same way as the side did last week however, it frittered away a few chances to go to a big lead and the nine point advantage did not reflect the effort put into the opening stanza by the home team.

The second term was very much a repeat of the first but late in the quarter, the Seagulls midfield led by Brodie Holland, Sam Iles, Ben Davies and Licuria started to get the upper hand and were threatening to take control when the half time siren rang.

Sandringham's worse fears were realised in the third quarter when Williamstown booted six unanswered goals in a little over ten minutes of playing time to turn the game on its head. The Seagulls burst the game open with their run all over the ground and they picked up possessions at will and seemed to be under little pressure as they piled on the goals. They finished with ten for the term as they smashed their much vaunted opponents who appeared to wilt in the warm sunshine. At one stage, Willi held a lead of 44 points before Sandy settled through goals to Guy Martin and one on the siren to Shane Valenti to go into the break five gaols down.

The last quarter belonged to seven time Frosty Medal winner Nick Sautner who was in sensational form. Sautner finished with 7.5 for the game but kicked 4.3 in the final term taking some brilliant pack marks and generating unbelievable excitement as the minutes ticked away. Inspired by their full forward, the Zebras seemed to gain a second wind and when they hit the front by four points they had turned the game around to the tune of 48 points. This could have been even more but for a brief period of inaccuracy when Sautner scored three successive behinds (all well within range) in mid quarter.

Finally, against the run of play, Licuria kicked the winning goal to end a magnificent game of football leaving the Zebras just 90 seconds away from what would have been a glorious victory.

Sandringham now meets North Ballarat in Saturday's semi final and is expected to field a stronger side this week. The loss to Williamstown means that, come what may, there will be no replay of last year's grand final because the semi final winner is slotted to meet Geelong in the Preliminary Final.

The Zebras will need to reproduce all of their characteristic commitment and desperation to make it all they way because the Roosters are always a handful. The challenge is there and Sandy showed by its stirring comeback that this team will never give in and will keep fighting at all costs.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

You might well ask what Demons?

The rules state that VFL clubs with AFL alignments are allowed to play 12 senior/rookie list players in finals and as it happened Williamstown had 12 senior Collingwood players available with something like 400 games experience. Lined up against them were six Demons but only three Simon Buckley (6 games), Colin Garland (2) and Matthew Warnock (4) have had AFL duties. Heath Neville has yet to play a senior AFL game, nor have rookies Danny Hughes and Shane Neaves.

The cavalry is on its way next week with reinforcements from the Melbourne list and the Zebras should be able to field a much stronger side for the remainder of the finals. That they came within a minute and a half of defeating such a strong Williamstown side is an achievement that should not be underestimated.

Simon Buckley - was in everything in the first half but like most of his team mates drifted out in the third. Came back strongly in the final quarter. Has improved dramatically in 2007.

Colin Garland - much quieter than in recent weeks and had to come off with what appeared to be an ankle injury. Returned to the field after having his ankles restrapped but couldn't get into the game.

Danny Hughes - marked strongly in patches but couldn't convert on the scoreboard.

Shane Neaves - had a great duel with the Williamstown ruckman Meyer and I had him ahead overall. Also took some strong marks around the ground.

Heath Neville - has made little impact in two years at the club and this was another quiet game.

Matthew Warnock - defended well for most of the game but unfortunately couldn't stem the tide when the Seagulls were on song in the third term.

Sandringham 3.5.23 6.7.43 9.8.62 16.15.111

Williamstown 2.2.14 4.8.32 14.9.93 17.11.113

Goals

Sandringham Sautner 7 Martyn Poyas Valenti 2 Buckley Dean Summers

Williamstown Licuria Williams 3 Lockwood Rose 2 Beaumont Davies Dawes Dick Holland Iles Stanley

Best

Sandringham Summers Sautner Paterakis Buckley Valenti Biddlecombe

Williamstown Iles Stanley Davies Picken Toovey Licuria