Zebras go down to Bulldogs
11/07/2022
Unfortunately the Zebras lost their sixth game of 2022 last weekend, this time at the hands of the Footscray Bulldogs.
We put up a fight for most of the contest, however a massive goal run towards the end of the third term saw the Bulldogs run away with a nine-goal victory.
Darby Hipwell was a shining light in a new role in the midfield, finishing the game with a career-high 19 disposals, six clearances, seven tackles, four inside 50’s plus two goals.
Cody Henness also fought hard in the midfield, collecting 19 disposals, six clearances, four inside 50’s as well as a game-high nine tackles.
Goy Lok was also a lively presence up forward and in the midfield once more, getting 11 disposals, seven marks plus kicking a goal.
Amongst the best of the AFL-listed players, Leo Connolly had 29 disposals plus 10 marks off half back and Tom Campbell continued his good season with 24 disposals, 32 hitouts, six clearances and a goal. Ryan Byrnes also had 25 disposals, one goal, nine clearances & seven tackles.
The match started off with the away side gaining some early territory and looking for an early goal. However after quick movement from defence to attack Lok marked strongly at the top of the goal square, converting for the first of the match four minutes in.
It was Footscray who started to get on top for the next few minutes before more ball movement, this time calculated, saw Chris Carey mark and convert a set shot from forty out to give us the second of the match 11 minutes in.
It was our turn to get on top in the territory battle following that Carey goal for five minutes. However after they slowly got back on top on the cusp of time-on they kicked the next one at the 22 minute mark.
As they continued to press, the Dogs kicked the next one four minutes after their first before an even final few minutes saw us head into Quarter Time down by just four points.
We started the second quarter on top of the contest for the first five minutes before it started to become an arm wrestle once more. But whilst it was a scrappy arm wrestle it was the away side that were slightly on top of the territory battle.
It was them who kicked the first of the goal 16 minutes into the term before we started to improve and get back on level terms following that goal. Right at the start of time on it was us that kicked the next goal through Byrnes, roving the pack and snapping on his left to give us back the lead.
Following the Dogs gaining territory once more, we smoothly moved it from defence to attack before Hipwell snapped another goal to give us back the lead eight minutes into time on.
The Dogs then kicked the next goal of the match a minute later before the siren sounded for Half Time as we headed into the main break down by three points.
Once more it was the Dogs who were on top for the first five minutes before the game became an arm wrestle, with the ball locked between the two 50m arcs.
We kicked the first of the quarter though 14 and a half minutes in, with Hipwell launching and slotting a set shot from just inside 50 to give us back the lead.
After an arm wrestle following that goal, it was all Bulldogs from the 19 minute mark, kicking five goals in time on to make it a 32-point deficit for us heading into the final break.
Footscray were on top for majority of the last, kicking the first three goals of the term in the first 16 minutes to extend their advantage past the 50-point mark.
After their third goal, Campbell managed to slot a set shot for his first of the match to put a stop to the Bulldogs run of eight consecutive goals.
The Dogs got back on top in time-on, kicking the last goal at the 24 minute mark to get it back to a 50+ point lead. As the siren sounded following a 33 minute final term it signalled the end of a tough day at the office for us.
Final Score: Sandringham 6.6.42 defeated by Footscray Bulldogs 13.18.96
Goals: D. Hipwell, R. Byrnes, T. Campbell, C. Carey, G. Lok
Best: T. Campbell, R. Byrnes, C. Sharman, A. McLennan, C. Henness, J. Peris
Written by Joshua Ward - Sandringham FC Media