Fast-finishing Zebras go down to Lions

15/08/2022

Sandringham have gone down to the Brisbane Lions in our final home game of season 2022.

Photography: Mark Woods

Whilst trailing the whole day, the Zebras kicked seven goals to two in the final term to finish on a high note, cutting the margin down to 25 points.

Ollie Lowe’s stunning ending to the 2022 VFL season continued, kicking a career-high four goals from 16 disposals as well as taking five marks.

Goy Lok had one of his best games of the season in the midfield/forward, collecting 24 disposals, six marks, five inside 50’s plus a goal. Tyson Milne also continued his solid season with two goals from 14 disposals.

Amongst the AFL-listed players, Jack Bytel had 29 disposals, 10 tackles plus 14 clearances whilst Tom Campbell was dominant in ruck again with 42 hitouts, 22 disposals and 11 clearances.

On a beautiful morning for footy at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval, it was the away side on top early, kicking the first goal inside the first two minutes.

Following an even few minutes, it was us with the next goal 10 minutes into the quarter, with Chris Carey slotting a set shot from directly in front to give us the lead for the first time on the day.

The Lions though bombarded the forward 50 for the 15 minutes following that goal, kicking the next six of the match to lead by 35 points six minutes into time on.

However two minutes later Lowe responded with his first goal, calmly slotting a set shot from a tough angle and a fair distance to give us our second goal of the term.

Despite a late push for us to get a goal before quarter time, the siren rang at the 31 minute mark as we headed into the first break down by 29 points.

To start the second it was an arm wrestle, with us creating more chances as we looked to cut the large quarter time deficit.

However from the six minute mark of the term it was all Brisbane, kicking the only four goals of the quarter between the 10 and 23 minute mark and only giving us patches of territory dominance.

Despite the Lions gaining more territory, we fought back following that four-goal run to make it an even contest. However the siren rang 29 minutes in as we headed into the main break down by 58 points.

The Lions continued their dominance at the start of the third, kicking the first goal of the term two minutes in to extend their advantage to beyond 10 goals.

A minute and a half later, Vincent Zagari caused a turnover near the goal square before kicking his first goal of the season to end a run of five consecutive Brisbane goals.

We continued to press hard before Lowe took a strong mark on the lead near the goal square eight minutes into the term. He converted the set shot to give us consecutive goals for the first time on the day.

The game became somewhat of an arm wrestle as we slowly got back on top before Lowe was set up by Blake Watson for another set shot 16 minutes in, this time on the boundary.

He converted to get his second of the term, and third of the afternoon, before getting on the end of a Chris Carey inside 50 just over a minute later and snapping his third consecutive goal, and our fourth consecutive goal, of the term.

The Lions then scored right before time on, before it became an arm wrestle once more after the 20 minute mark. However they managed to kick the final two goals of the term to take a 55 point advantage into the final break.

To start the fourth it was us coming out with intent and pressing hard as we looked to add some respectability to the scoreboard.

Dean Kent then took over from the two minute mark, converting a set shot from 50m out before causing a turnover and kicking another set shot to make it a seven goal ball game four minutes into the last.

The game then became fairly even before Max Heath got a chance to kick his first goal from a set shot, converting it to give us our third consecutive goal of the last nine minutes in.

Brisbane started to get back on top and kicked the next one to push their advantage back out to seven goals at the 14 minute mark of the term.

Following a brief pause in play due to an injury, we then kicked the next one four minutes later, with Milne crumbing a Lok inside 50 at the top of the goal square for his first of the afternoon.

The Lions continued to press hard and kicked the next one three minutes into time on before we started to get right on top at the 25 minute mark.

29 minutes in, Lok received the ball from Scott Beilby inside 50, converting another set shot before Kent roved another pack and snapped through his third of the term just under two minutes later.

Milne then read a Heath inside 50 ball beautifully at the 34 minute mark, converting the set shot to give us our third consecutive goal right as the siren rang to give us something to smile about at the end of a rough day.

Final Score: Sandringham 13.10.88 defeated by Brisbane 17.11.113

Goals: O. Lowe (4), D. Kent (3), T. Milne (2), C. Carey, M. Heath, G. Lok, V. Zagari

Best: R. Byrnes, O. Lowe, D. Kent, T. Campbell, J. Bytel, G. Lok

Written by Joshua Ward - Sandringham FC Media