SANDRINGHAM has recorded its fifth consecutive victory leading into the VFL finals series, with a 16.12 (108) to 9.9 (62) win over the Northern Blues at Ikon Park on Sunday.

St Kilda forward Tim Membrey (5 goals) continues to press his claims for an AFL recall  and ex-Saint Clinton Jones (45 disposals, 7 tackles, 2 goals) again stepped up in the absence of hamstrung skipper Adam Cockie.

Midfielder Farren Ray (33 disposals, 7 marks, 1 goal) was dominant on the wing, along with Mitch Brown (27 disposals, 10 marks), who is hoping for an AFL lifeline in 2016.

It wasn't a rosy start for the Zebras, who were outgunned by a keen Blues' outfit and faced a 16 point deficit at quarter time.

Brendon Payne injured his ankle and had to be stretchered off the ground in the first term, while midfielder Eli Templeton hurt his hamstring but was able to run out the game.

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Both Payne and Templeton will have scans to determine the severity of their injuries this week.

A six-goal to two second term in favour of the visitors swung the momentum, with the ruck combination of Jason Holmes (7 disposals, 3 marks, 1 goal) and Lewis Pierce (4 disposals, 1 mark) getting on top of the Blues' big men.

Jones put the Zebras in front for the first time at the 18-minute mark, following two Tim Membrey majors and one to Kenny Ong.

From there, Paul Hudson's men never looked back.

The Zebras' confidence continued to build after half-time, keeping the Blues goalless in the third term with goals coming from spearhead Membrey and Ahmed Saad (10 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal).

The result was a 22-point advantage heading into the final term, but perhaps even more significant than the margin itself, was the momentum Sandringham had gained in 30 insatiable minutes of football.

Hudson switched key defender Luke Delaney (22 disposals, 13 marks, 1 goal) into the forward line for the last term, a move that paid immediate dividends with Delaney kicking the first goal of the final quarter.

The two sides went goal-for-goal early, but the Blues could never cut the margin back far enough to catch the Zebras.

A telling goal from Brodie Murdoch off one step extended the margin to a game high 39 points at the 18-minute mark, followed by a classic Farren Ray finish that put the result unequivocally beyond doubt.

The Blues briefly pegged it back below seven goals, but it was too little too late, when Trent Dennis-Lane (19 disposals, 4 marks, 2 goals) extended it back to the game winning 45 points on the final siren.

St Kilda Development Coach and Sandringham Coach Paul Hudson was pleased with the win but lamented poor ball use early.

"It was a good win for us," Hudson told SAINTS.com.au.

"Our skills weren’t great early and to lose two key players in Brenton Payne and Eli Templeton didn't help, but to the boys' credit we were able to regroup and swing the momentum in our favour.

"Running out the game as well as what we did and to win by a healthy margin was really pleasing.

"Our ball use and intensity is something we'll need to bring from the start against Geelong next week, so that will be our focus."

Sandringham returns to Trevor Barker Beach oval next Sunday to take on 11th placed Geelong.

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NORTHERN BLUES 4.5 6.7 6.9 9.9 (63)

SANDRINGHAM 2.1 8.4 10.7 16.12 (108)

GOALS: Membrey 5, Dennis-Lane 2, Jones 2, Delaney, Cook, Ong, Saad, Murdoch, Holmes, Ray.

BEST: Membrey, Jones, Brown, Ray, Delaney, Holmes.