SANDRINGHAM has advanced to a preliminary final against the Box Hill Hawks following a hard-fought seven-point win over Collingwood at North Port Oval on Sunday.

Fans filled the main grandstand at Port Melbourne to witness an often tight and highly pressured game of finals football under clear blue skies.

Former Saint Clinton Jones (44 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal), who finished third in the VFL's J.J Liston trophy, played an integral role in the midfield with skipper Adam Cockie still sidelined with a troublesome hamstring.

The Zebras put to bed a recent history of ordinary starts by kicking the first two goals of the game, before the Pies closed things down to only trail Paul Hudson's men by three points at quarter time.

Collingwood began the second quarter strongly, putting through five majors to Sandringham's two in dominant fashion.

Such was the Pies' dominance in the contest, that the Zebras didn't manage their first goal of the quarter until the 18-minute mark, when Daniel Markworth pounced on a loose ball to soccer it through for a goal.

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Staring at an 18-point half-time deficit, the Zebras regrouped at the main break and responded with an inspiring third quarter.

A great passage of play to begin the third term saw Darren Minchington (17 disposals, 6 tackles) hit Mitch Brown (16 disposals, 9 marks, 3 goals) lace out before setting up a goal to Eli Templeton two minutes in.

The Zebras continued to push the Magpies, with a Matt Kreymborg behind drawing scores level on the three quarter time siren.

Paul Hudson's decision to shift Mitch Brown from the backline to the forward line provided the Zebras with a critical forward target, highlighted by his nine marks for the game and two last quarter goals.

The belief in the Zebras' camp continued to grow and when they finally hit the front for the first time since the first quarter, they never looked back.

Trent Dennis-Lane (12 disposals, 5 goals) provided the lead running into open goal at the 17-minute mark, before the Pies brought the margin back to one point with the clock ticking into time on.

The Zebras' desperation to lock the ball inside the forward 50 eventually gifted Dennis-Lane his fifth for the day and Josh Saunders (20 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal) extended the lead out to 13 points with just minutes left to play.  

The Pies rallied late for one more major of the day, bringing the margin to seven points at the final siren.

St Kilda Development Coach and Sandringham Coach Paul Hudson was very proud of the win and particularly the belief within the playing group.

"I'm so proud of the players and their attitude to will themselves across the line," Hudson told SAINTS.com.au.

"Collingwood are a very formidable football side and there were times today when they could've ran away with the game. But to credit of our players, they never allowed that to happen.

"Clint Jones again willed himself as he has done all year and switching Mitch Brown up forward in the second half gave us a great target. Tom Curren (21 disposals, 4 tackles), Darren Minchington and Josh Saunders gave us a lot of drive forward also.

"The Box Hill Hawks next week in a preliminary final is a huge test for us but we've earnt it and look forward to hitting that challenge as hard as we possibly can."

Sandringham will return to North Port oval next Saturday afternoon for a do-or-die preliminary final against the Box Hill Hawks.

SANDRINGHAM 2.5 4.6 10.9 15.14 (104)

COLLINGWOOD 2.2 7.6 10.9 14.13 (97)

GOALS: Dennis-Lane 5, Brown 3, Jones, Saad, Templeton, Shenton, Markworth, Saunders, Pierce.

BEST: Dennis-Lane, Brown, Jones, Saunders, Minchington, Curren.