SANDRINGHAM has kept its finals hopes alive after completing a thrilling comeback to defeat Richmond by 13 points at the ME Bank Centre on Saturday.

Trailing by 18 points at three-quarter-time, the Zebras rallied under the leadership of the St Kilda-listed players to upset the local crowd.

Sam Dunell, Spencer White, Terry Milera, Darren Minchington and Seb Ross all hit the scoreboard with multiple goals while Clinton Jones and Josh Saunders were once again busy in the midfield.

It was a tight affair right from the opening bounce with both teams unable to shake each other for the entire day.

With the margin never extending beyond seven points during the first quarter, it was Sandringham who managed to end the term with its noses in front after goals from Minchington, White, Milera and Dunell handed the Zebras a five-point lead.

Not to be outdone in front of their own supporters, Richmond hit back early in the second quarter.

The Tigers pilled on three unanswered goals and looked like they could take the game away from the Zebras before Dunell kicked back-to-back goals to steady the Zebra’s ship.

A second major to Spencer White in the closing minutes before half-time quelled the first of Richmond’s run-ons and left the Zebras with a six-point lead at the main break.

Richmond once again started the quarter well in the third term and this time, the Zebras struggled to contain them as Richmond began to turn the game on its head.


Sam Dunell, Seb Ross and Spencer White celebrate a goal late in the game. (Photo: Dave Savell)

An eight-goal quarter to the home team looked likely to prove fatal to Sandringham’s chances as the Tigers had turned the half-time deficit into a four-goal lead right in the death of the quarter.

However a very late goal to Minchington provided the Zebras with some hope, as the boys ran to the three-quarter-time huddle with a boost in confidence and the margin reduced to 18 points.

Goals to Minchington and Dunell to open the final quarter brought the contest right back to life as the Zebras began to show belief that they could pull off the win.

Richmond refused to lie down however and managed to hang on to their lead for most of the quarter.

With only a few minutes left and merely a point separating the teams, it was Seb Ross who stood up and sealed the game for the Zebras.

Ross received a free kick in the centre of the ground before being awarded a 50-metre penalty to give him a set shot from 40 metres out, which he duly converted to extend the margin to seven points.
Only a couple of minutes later the young left footer slotted his second goal, a miracle finish from hemmed in on the boundary, to secure a well-earned result for the Zebras.

The victory leaves the Zebras half a game out of the final eight with three matches remaining.

Sandringham will host Coburg at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday 9 August with the game commencing at 2pm.

Richmond        3.3  6.5  14.7  16.10   106
Sandringham 4.2  7.5  11.7  18.11   119

Goals: Dunell 4, Milera 3, White 3, Minchington 3, Ross 2, Dennis-Lane, Saunders, Verma
Best: Dunell, Saunders, Minchington, Milera, Simpkin, Ross