THE STORY OF 2016

It was a case of two halves for Sandringham in 2016, well entrenched in the top-four at halfway mark only to win one game in their last seven matches of the season to finish seventh heading into the finals series.

The Zebras did get on a roll from rounds 7-14 but ultimately it was a lack of efficiency that hurt them in the run home.

On the back of the 1-7 record in the back end of the VFL season, most pundits didn’t give the Zebras a chance in the elimination final against Port Melbourne but a shock win showed just how good Sandringham can be when they put full four quarters together.

ROUND-BY-ROUND

Round 1 vs Box Hill Hawks - LOSS (37 points)

A big test at Box Hill City Oval proved just that, with a 37-point loss for the Zebras after strong output by the Hawks across four quarters. Tom Lee was among the best patrolling the back half with 19 disposals and 12 marks, along with 34 disposals to Blake Acres. TAC Cup recruit Kade Answerth made the step up from U18s to state football in fine fashion, finishing with 19 disposals and two goals.

Best players: Tom Lee, Blake Acres, Kade Answerth

Round 3 vs Footscray - WIN (28 points)

Sandringham registered their first win for 2016 with a hard-fought battle at home. Matt Kreymborg was the highest goal scorer with four goals and Tom Curren booted three. Jade Gresham and Eli Templeton racked up the numbers through the midfield.

Best players: Matt Kreymborg, Tom Curren, Jade Gresham

Round 4 vs Richmond - WIN (54 points)

A really strong away win for the Zebras, running out 54-point victors under lights at Punt Rd. Goal sneak Jack Lonie provided class up forward and through the midfield with three goals and 33 disposals, along with Myke Cook and Kade Answerth again gathering high numbers.

Best players: Jack Lonie, Myke Cook, Kade Answerth

Round 5 vs Collingwood - WIN (67 points)

Arguably the Zebras most complete four-quarter performance for the season, disposing of the Pies on their home deck with aplomb. Sandringham handled the dewy conditions under lights very well with an even spread of goal kickers. Cam Shenton and skipper Trent Dennis-Lane led the goal scorers with three-apiece.

Best players: Cam Shenton, Paddy McCartin, Kade Answerth

Round 6 vs Casey Scorpions - LOSS (31 points)

Sandringham’s stretch of wins came to a halt against the first-placed Casey Scorpions, inconsistency across four quarters hurting the Zebras’ intent. Cam Shenton and Trent Dennis-Lane led the goal scorers with three goals each.

Best players: Cam Shenton, Dan McKenzie, Tom Lee

Round 7 vs Werribee - WIN (37 points)

Sandringham rebounded after a slow start and trailed by 26-points half way through the first quarter to run out convincing victors, following a spur on from the coach at quarter time. Jack Lonie was superb with four goals and Blake Acres gathered 36 disposals and laid six tackles.

Best players: Jack Lonie, Blake Acres, Brodie Murdoch

Round 9 vs Geelong - WIN (2 points)

Sandringham produced their best win of the season to date, coming from behind to snatch a two-point win from Geelong away from home. Trent Dennis-Lane headed the goals with a six-goal haul, along with significant midfield numbers from Darren Minchington and Blake Acres, which saw them rewarded with AFL selection.

Best players: Trent Dennis-Lane, Darren Minchington, Blake Acres

Round 10 vs Essendon - WIN (28 points)

Sandringham secured their third straight win heading into the last bye round, also matching their longest winning streak of the season with the 28-point win over the Bombers. Jack Lonie produced another standout performance with five goals, with big midfield numbers to Jack Billings and Eli Templeton also.

Best players: Jack Lonie, Jack Billings, Eli Templeton

Round 12 vs Northern Blues - WIN (40 points)

Fresh off the bye, Sandringham won their fourth game in a row against the Blues in Preston. Eli Templeton starred with 36 disposals and six tackles, while Cam Shenton and Nick O’Kearney kicked six goals between them. Brodie Murdoch also controlled proceedings off half-back with 29 disposals and two goals.

Best players: Eli Templeton, Brodie Murdoch, Cam Shenton

Round 13 vs Frankston - WIN (60 points)

Five wins on the trot came against the struggling Dolphins at Trevor Barker Oval with the Zebras firming a premiership contender. VFL products Joe Fisscher (5 goals) and Kade Answerth (24 disposals, six tackles) stood up alongside Jack Sinclair, Nick O’Kearney and Eli Templeton, who all gathered big numbers.

Best players: Joe Fisscher, Jack Sinclair, Kade Answerth

Round 14 vs Coburg - WIN (49 points)

Another win on the road and their sixth consecutive performance over Coburg entrenched the Zebras inside the top-four. Cam Shenton kicked another three goal haul, while Jack Billings gathered 45 disposals and kicked two goals. Jack Sinclair had 36 disposals and the experienced VFL campaigner in Myke Cook was critical with 33 disposals and nine tackles.

Best players: Jack Billings, Jack Sinclair, Myke Cook

Round 15 vs Port Melbourne - LOST (21 points)

Sandringham suffered a shock loss to Port Melbourne at Trevor Barker Oval, in what would become a series of shortcomings in the run home. Eli Templeton and Nick O’Kearney gathered 35 and 26 disposals respectively, along with two goals from Jack Lonie to be the Zebras’ best.

Best players: Jack Lonie, Eli Templeton, Nick O’Kearney

Round 16 vs Casey Scorpions - LOST (46 points)

Another dire day from Sandringham saw them go down to the Casey Scorpions at Casey Fields, where the Zebras could only manage seven goals across four quarters. Cam Shenton battled in attack for two majors, while Nick O’Kearney and Josh Saunders worked hard for 21 disposals each and ten tackles between them.

Best players: Cam Shenton, Nick O’Kearney, Josh Saunders

Round 17 vs Williamstown - LOST (24 points)

An improved performance but Sandringham’s third loss in a row was mirrored with poor efficiency on the scoreboard, kicking just six goals from 28 scoring shots. The Zebras kicked just one goal in three quarters, before swinging Tom Lee forward for a three goal haul and a five goal last quarter to ultimately fall short.

Best players: Tom Lee, Josh Saunders, Jack Lonie

Round 18 vs North Ballarat - WIN (53 points)

A winning return for Sandringham following three consecutive defeats, the highlight being eleven goals kicked between Paddy McCartin and Cam Shenton in a potent attack. Nick O’Kearney again strung together an impressive performance with three goals of his own, along with 35 disposals from Josh Saunders.

Best players: Paddy McCartin, Cam Shenton, Nick O’Kearney

Round 19 vs Box Hill Hawks - LOST (22 points)

Inaccuracy and poor efficiency was again the hurdle for Sandringham, resulting in the loss to Box Hill at Trevor Barker Oval. Cam Shenton was a highlight with four goals while Jack Sinclair and Brandon White both collected more than 25 touches.

Best players: Cam Shenton, Jack Sinclair, Brandon White

Round 20 vs Richmond - LOST (9 points)

For the second week in a row, poor conversion in front of goal came back to sting the Zebras. Cam Shenton produced a three goal haul and Josh Saunders gathered 26 disposals. Brandon White impressed enough to earn himself an AFL debut in Round 23 for St Kilda against the Brisbane Lions.

Best players: Cam Shenton, Josh Saunders, Brandon White

Round 21 vs Werribee - LOST (20 points)

Sandringham produced an improved effort after two successive losses, although the Zebras fell short again to lose only their third fixture on the road for the season. Cam Shenton booted another four goals in attack, while Jack Sinclair and Josh Saunders accumulated a lot of the ball to be influential.

Best players: Cam Shenton, Jack Sinclair, Josh Saunders

Elimination Final vs Port Melbourne - WIN (45 points)

A complete form reversal after losing the last three games of the home and away season, Sandringham came to play in what coach Paul Hudson described as “our best and most complete win of the season”. Tom Lee and Cam Shenton kicked nine goals between them while Myke Cook was prolific with 24 disposals and 10 tackles.

Best players: Tom Lee, Cam Shenton, Myke Cook

Semi-Final vs Williamstown - LOST (46 points)

Sandringham’s season came to a close in the second week of September on a tough afternoon. The Zebras lost Lewis Pierce pre-game and Jack Noone broke his leg in the second quarter to make the going tough. Sandringham could only manage seven goals for the game, which was never going to be enough once Williamstown got going.

Best players: Jack Sinclair, Tom Curren, Kade Answerth.

BEST AND FAIREST

Sandringham’s night of nights will be a two horse race between St Kilda pair Cam Shenton and Eli Templeton, who both had excellent years at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

Shenton started the season as a medium-sized utility up the ground only to be moved into attack and finishing with 42 goals to kick the second most goals in the VFL for the season.

Across 19 games, Shenton’s form included five three-goal hauls, three four goal performances inside the last month of the season and a career best six against North Ballarat in Round 18.

Fellow St Kilda teammate Eli Templeton enjoyed a breakout VFL season, averaging 26 disposals, five inside 50s and four tackles across 17 games.

Templeton finished equal fifth in the VFL’s J.J Liston Trophy count this week, highlighting how influential a season he had that holds him in good stead to take out the Zebras’ highest award.

DRAFT BOLTER

Kade Answerth: Best on the ground in last year’s TAC Cup Grand Final with the Oakleigh Chargers, many would not have expected Answerth to play senior VFL football straight away. The 19-year-old midfielder put together a very impressive maiden VFL season for the Zebras, his determination and hardness at the contest making him a lock in Paul Hudson’s team. Having forced his way in after being the 23rd man for the first few weeks of the season, Answerth has gathered consistent high numbers, his best being a 30 disposal game in the Round Four win over Richmond.

THE FUTURE

With the St Kilda-Sandringham alignment set to continue, the future looks bright along the south east. The development of St Kilda talent has been exceptional - the likes of Tim Membrey early in the season, along with Blake Acres and Brandon White, who made his AFL debut in round 23.

The Zebras’ VFL contingent also produced much, the likes of Joe Fisscher, Mitch Wilkins, Taylor Grace, Luke Verma, Jonathan Haidon and Kade Answerth showing the progressing development of local talent.