SANDRINGHAM has gone down by eight points to a tough Williamstown outfit in a qualifying final at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.
In gusty conditions the Seagulls took advantage of the breeze in the first term, keeping the Zebras scoreless and kicking five goals themselves.
A 34-point deficit gave the Zebras plenty to think about, with an inspired speech from coach Paul Hudson at quarter-time the catalyst for an improved second term.
Nine scoring shots that produced four goals to the Seagulls' two majors got the home side back in the contest, the margin reduced to just 17 points by half-time.
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The difference was the Zebras' willingness to tackle hard at ground level and gut run from the contest to create scoring opportunities, highlighted by successive running goals to Arryn Siposs (19 disposals, 11 tackles, 2 goals) and Daniel Markworth (15 disposals, 4 marks, 1 goal) kicking into the wind.
St Kilda ruckmen Tom Hickey (10 disposals, 8 handballs, 1 mark, 1 goal) and Lewis Pierce (6 disposals, 2 marks) didn't gather large numbers based on statistics but competed well, bringing the ball to ground, feeding to the likes of Clint Jones (31 disposals, 8 tackles).
The gut running from Siposs and Josh Saunders (27 disposals, 7 tackles, 5 marks, 1 goal) proved pivotal in the home side's resurgence.
A poor third term saw the visitors slam through six goals to the Zebras' one to effectively end the contest.
An imploring plea from Hudson at the last change to throw everything at the Seagulls' again inspired his troops with some success.
The Zebras kept the visiting Gulls scoreless in the final term with six consecutive goals coming from the home side.
Saunders kicked things off with a long running goal outside 50, before Matt Kreymborg (17 disposals, 3 tackles, 2 goals) and Tom Simpkin (14 disposals, 8 tackles, 1 goal) joined the list of goal kickers.
Kenny Ong roved a loose ball and snapped truly to bring things back to 22 points at the 20 minute mark, before Arryn Siposs took a courageous mark going back with the flight of the football and the Zebras in full swing.
Siposs kicked truly and when Tom Hickey grabbed a loose ball at a stoppage and snapped it home, the deficit was cut back to eight points and it was game on.
Despite the Zebras' bold efforts, the siren came too soon.
St Kilda Development Coach and Sandringham Coach Paul Hudson said he was pleased with the belief to fight back when challenged, despite the loss.
"The five-goal advantage kicking into the wind played into Williamstown's hands early," Hudson told SAINTS.com.au.
"We challenged the group to fight back and to their credit that's exactly what happened. It was just some poor ball use that let us down at crucial stages.
"It's a do or die clash against Collingwood next week so we'll be ready to give what we expect to be a four quarter effort."
Sandringham faces Collingwood next Sunday in a semi-final at North Port Oval, with the winner to come up against the Box Hill Hawks in a preliminary final.
SANDRINGHAM 0.0 4.5 5.6 11.11 (77)
WILLIAMSTOWN 5.4 7.4 13.6 13.6 (84)
GOALS: Kreymborg 2, Siposs 2, Hickey, Dennis-Lane, Ong, Simpkin, Saad, Markworth, Saunders.
BEST: Jones, Siposs, Saunders, Shenton, Kreymborg.
