The Sandringham Football Club is just one victory away from an appearance in the 2004 Grand Final after a strong 11.17.83 to 7.10.52 Qualifying Final victory over Werribee in which the Zebras took the initiative early and remained in control throughout the game.
Although Sandringham was on top all day, it was a dour struggle in which both defences were on top and, as a result, the game was not pretty.
The Zebras had the benefit of a winning following division with Darren Jolly shading Werribee beanpole Peter Street in the ruck and around the ground. Midfielders David Gallagher, Adam Fisher, Brock McLean and Steven Armstrong gained an abundance of touches in a stellar on ball team display.
The midfielders were certainly on song. Gallagher has returned refreshed and revitalised after his recent one game suspension and impressed with his hard work and run into the forward line. Rigoni was just as busy and his penetrating long kicks set up many scoring opportunities while Fisher was dominant early but faded after half time although his opportunities were limited as the game went on. McLean and Armstrong showed great strength and youthful talent and will be pushing for places in Melbourne's qualifying final team this Saturday.
A special mention must be made of a late season bloomer in wingman Toby Conroy who has taken the step up from reserves to seniors in his stride and is becoming an important cog in the team's makeup. Sean O'Keeffe was his usual solid self and Andy Mills was in good form until he went down with an unfortunate knee injury.
It was the Sandringham defence however, that was the difference between the two sides. Ryan Ferguson started the game like a house on fire with some courageous marking and he was capably backed up by Chris Lamb and Nathan Carroll who did the job on dangerous Tiger forwards in Matthew Croft and David Mitchell.
When the ball hit the ground out of defence Luke Williams, Daniel Bell and skipper Chad Liddell mopped up everything and it was a great effort to keep the 'Bees down to just two goals at half time. At the final break, the Tiger goal tally stood at four, of which three were from frees and two of those thanks to some very charitable fifty metre penalties.
At the other end of the ground Nick Sautner was crowded out of most contests and had a disappointing day while Nick Smith also faded after a strong opening burst. It was the on ballers who went forward to score most of Sandringham goal's giving the club, in the end, a relatively easy victory and set the club up for a shot at a grand final in a fortnight's time.
Sandringham 2.5.17 6.7.43 8.11.59 11.17.83
Werribee 0.2.2 2.3.15 4.8.32 7.10.52
Goals McLean 3 Jolly Mills 2 Biddlecombe Gadsden Gallagher Warnock
Best Carroll Ferguson Lamb McLean Gallagher Conroy Rigoni Williams Bell Armstrong
Sandringham fought another close and exciting game in their qualifying final against North Ballarat and trailed by a solitary point at the final siren. This was the second time this season that the Zebras had suffered a narrow loss at the hands of the Roosters as they went down by two points earlier in the year at Ballarat.
Leigh Fletcher and Stephen Gravina were solid four quarter winners while ruckman Stephen Ott was a star in the ruck. Cameron Hunter booted four goals from a forward pocket and was instrumental in keeping his team in with a chance throughout the four quarters.
Sandringham 2.1.13 7.3.45 11.6.72 13.8.86
North Ballarat 4.3.27 7.6.48 10.9.69 13.9.87
Goals Hunter 4 Molan 3 Zantuck 2 Ritterman Carson Johnson
Best Fletcher Gravina Ott Hall Hunter Bristow Ritterman
Last Modified on 18/02/2008 14:35