Sandringham Ready for Season 2020
Sandringham players are raring to go for the 2020 Hard Yakka / Totally Workwear VFL season, which is set to get underway on August one. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, this year’s season is going to be unlike any in recent memory, as the remaining clubs will be competing as VFL-standalones in a shortened fixture.
The Zebras have been back training with no-contact for three weeks now, with full-contact training to begin from Monday 13th July. Newly appointed Coach Adrian Connolly likes what he’s seen so far.
“You can see out there the noise and the high-fiving in the COVID way, with a few elbow slaps and things, there’s a real genuine excitement that they’ll get the opportunity to represent Sandringham Football Club,” he said.
The Sandringham side will look a little different this year, with plenty of fresh faces around the group as the Zebras prepare to play as a standalone VFL club for the first time in 20 years. Reigning Best and Fairest Winner and Captain Brede Seccull sees it as a great opportunity for all the players.
“It opens up a lot more opportunities for guys who probably otherwise wouldn’t have got them with the Saints guys in there,” he said.
“So, you know some guys are going to play senior footy (that may not have before) and hopefully we can do the Sandy jumper proud and the community proud.”
Getting the community on-board will be a big focus for the year according to Connolly.
“We want to represent the community really well too, getting back to what our roots were as a football club and just remind everyone that we’re here for everyone,” he said.
“And bring some smiles on their faces to come down and watch a real exciting brand of football, that’s what it’s all about, and representing the black, yellow and blue as best we can.”
The club culture will no doubt benefit from the fact that the Zebras had 30 of their pre-lockdown list, return to training. Connolly says it “speaks volumes of their (the players’) character”.
“For the work that Ben McGlynn and all the coaches did pre the COVID break, the group had a really strong bond, and I think that probably shows now that they all want to come back and play footy together,” he said.
“So as a group and a club we’re really lucky to have this group together.”
As for season expectations, the Coach is just excited about the prospect of playing other standalone clubs.
“There’s excitement in our vulnerability that we’re coming out against VFL listed players, it’s an even playing field, and we’ll go into every game expecting to win,” he said.
“So, if we go into every game with those expectations and do our best then we can all be pretty proud of what we put out.”
