Zebs in Good Hands for 2024
The Sandringham Football Club is pleased to announce our leadership group for the 2024 VFL season.
As the dust settles on an entertaining round one, Zebras fans got a taste of what to anticipate in the next year. With that, here's a preview of the new leadership team for the 2024 season.
In 2024, the leadership group will consist of five members. Anthony Seaton and Darby Hipwell serve as co-captains, Hugo Hall-Kahan as vice-captain, while Oliver Lowe and Vincent Zagari complete the leadership team.
The Zebras have chosen Co-Captains for the first time since the St Kilda alignment began. Darby Hipwell, the reigning Neil Bencraft Medalist, will join returning captain Anthony Seaton.
Seaton outlined the positivity for the upcoming season, with many new faces bringing a new level of honesty and hard work to the football club, which he is excited to lead alongside Darby in 2024.
Seaton expressed glowing remarks about Hipwell's presence in the captaincy frame, praising his work ethic and ambition to succeed, which the group notices and wants to emulate. His ability to challenge the group's standards over the last two seasons has been impressive, providing challenges to teammates as they strive to evolve personally and together as a football club.
Hipwell noted that he is very honoured to have the confidence of the playing group and is excited to contribute to a club with such a great history, something he does not take lightly. There is a tremendous mutual respect between the co-captains, as he remarked of his relationship with Seaton.
“He (Seaton) has been someone who I’ve looked up to ever since I came to the club in 2021. I really respect the way he presents himself on and off the field and how passionate he is about the club and bringing it success. I feel very comfortable in the role with him by my side. He has great leadership experience and is someone I can continue to learn off and turn to for support when I need.”
Hugo Hall-Kahan, vice-captain, has returned to Sandringham following a period with the Sydney Swans, and he is settling back into Melbourne life with a newfound desire to get the most out of himself and the Zebras.
“All I wanted to do was put my head down get to work and just get better every day. Being back in Melbourne has made me extremely hungry to get back to the top level again and I’m just trying to showcase those habits I learnt of trying to be the best you can be.”
Hall-Kahan is familiar with Sandringham, having been drafted from the Dragons in mid-2022. Finding his way into a fresh environment in the Zebs, he quickly made a positive impact and was elected Vice-Captain.
“The vice captaincy was a big honour. To know the playing group trusted me in such a short period of time was something I am proud of. I really do love playing and training with this group. We have a lot of fun and it makes doing what we do so much more enjoyable. Going forward with this team and leadership group is something that I am really excited about, and I can wait to see where we can go as a team.”
The 2024 leadership group is filled out by prominent Zebs players. Oliver Lowe has played important roles both on and off the field, rising from 23rd man to leadership group. A true clubman, well deserving of official recognition. Vincent Zagari's tenure with the Zebs began in 2021, and he has been a club stalwart ever since. He is well-known for his unshakable dedication to the game and his club, making him a terrific candidate for the position.
Written by Tom McQuillan – Sandringham FC Media