JUST one goal separated Sandringham and Box Hill on Sunday at Trevor Barker Beach Oval, but midway through the final term the contest looked all but over with the Hawks leading by 26 points and kicking with a healthy breeze.
The Zebras fought back and almost pulled off what would have been a miraculous win, but ultimately time was the enemy for the home team against the top-of-the-table Hawks.
“I thought we competed well for three-and-a-half quarters,” Sandringham head coach Simon McPhee told SAINTS.com.au post-game.
“Our effort was there … which has been an issue for us in the last couple of weeks. We gave ourselves a chance but in the end our ball use was the reason we didn’t win.”
Sandringham led by one point at the final break, but couldn’t contain the dash of Box Hill’s engine room in the opening 15 minutes of the quarter, conceding four quick-fire goals. Strong-bodied teenager Brodie Murdoch stemmed the flow with his third for the afternoon, before Cameron Shenton narrowed the margin to 14 points with five minutes to play.
Terry Milera then snapped opportunistically to register his fifth for the day and the margin was cut to seven points. With just seconds remaining, Jay Lever took a strong grab but his set-shot drifted across the face for a behind, putting the Zebras one straight kick behind Box Hill, ultimately the final margin.
Sandringham was left to rue 15 minutes of football.
Earlier, St Kilda rookie Tom Curren, versatile swing-man Tom Simpkin and Milera ignited the vocal crowd with a six goals-to-three third term, turning a 17-point deficit at the main break into a one-point lead at three-quarter-time.
Milera’s urgency in the forward half was rewarded with three majors for the term, while Spencer White provided a focal point across half-forward.
“Milera certainly helped us in the third term. We were trying to get him into the game to be honest because had only been fair up until then.” McPhee said.
“Tom Simpkin was also good. He really got in off the back of the square and his leading and marking in the third quarter was especially good. It was a really pleasing effort from him.”
Midfielder Tom Ledger was prolific in the final term, collecting eight disposals to finish 18 for the game. The 21-year-old told SAINTS.com.au after the match that his belief never wavered despite Sandringham’s four-goal deficit halfway through the last quarter.
“I looked at the score and we were 26 points down and I thought ‘gee, if we get a couple we are still in this,” he said.
“At the end we just ran out of time but if it went for another five minutes I reckon we would have been in with a shot.”
Sam Dunell worked hard for his 14 disposals on the wing and across half-forward, while Curren tirelessly burrowed in-and-under for the ball in another solid display.
Simpkin's presence as a lead-up centre-half-forward drew praise from his coach.
“Tom Simpkin was good,” McPhee said. “He really got in off the back of the square and his leading and presentation in the third quarter was especially good. It was a really pleasing effort from him.”
In defence Jordan Staley and Jackson Ferguson were resolute. Staley in particular was faced with the tough task of limiting monster forward Luke Lowden’s influence, a task which he handled credibly given the height differential.
What began as a tussle finished as an almighty arm-wrestle. But sandwiched in between was a free-flowing, enthralling contest.
FINAL SCORE: Sandringham 12.11 (83) defeated by Box Hill 12.17 (89)
You can follow Tom Morris on Twitter: @tommorris32
