A supercharged midfield performance led by Marcus Windhager has seen Sandringham return to form in magnificent fashion, toppling Richmond by 54 points at a sodden Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday afternoon.

Windhager thrived in the miserable conditions, winning a hard-fought 31 disposals, a game-high 11 clearances and two goals as he powered the Zebras to victory in just his second game at VFL level.

The 18-year-old, drafted to St Kilda via its Next Generation Academy in 2021, was joined through the middle by Ryan Byrnes (26 disposals, five clearances, one goal), Mitch Owens (20 disposals, six clearances, two goals) and the returning Jack Bytel (25 disposals, eight clearances), who all helped drive the Zebras' dominant run.

Big man Tom Campbell was equally influential at stoppage (eight clearances), pulling down a monster 42 hit-outs and two goals in a gruelling ruck duel against his younger opposition counterpart in Samson Ryan (36 hit-outs).

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Sunday’s affair wasn’t the most glamorous of matches due to the insistent downpour and slippery conditions, but the Zebras’ accuracy in front of goal (15.4) flew in the face your usual, wet-weather scorecard.

Sandringham kicked away to an early lead courtesy of a one-handed, mid-air pluck and goal from Josiah Kyle (two majors) and a back-to-back surge from Owens, before keeping Richmond to just three goals after quarter-time.

In conditions where any ground gained proved invaluable, work both in tight – in particular from Owens, Windhager, Bytel and Campbell – and coming out of defence formed the backbone of Sandringham’s dominance.

Tom Highmore (12 disposals, four marks) and Leo Connolly (23 disposals) were incredibly measured off half-back despite the weather, working well in tandem with key defender Darragh Joyce (20 disposals, 11 rebound-50s). Tyson Milne was also prominent off half-back with 22 disposals, wingman Matthew Allison connected both ends of the ground with a handy 13 touches between the arcs, while Jack Peris netted 14 touches by the final siren.

Peris’ well-regarded pace was on full display in the third quarter, burning past several Tigers to hand Chris Carey his first major of the game.

Richmond’s Tyler Sonsie (34 disposals, 10 clearances, one goal) and Rhyan Mansell (23 disposals, nine marks) were standouts for the visitors, but couldn’t contend with the Zebras’ fine performance from start to finish.

Sandringham’s surge mentality in the opening half where conditions were at their worst ultimately set the home side up for its first-up win.

Richmond had several opportunities to narrow the deficit at the start of the third term, but amounted to little as Byrnes snuck out the back to put the Zebras back in the driver’s seat.

Jake Batchelor’s side played two men down after half-time, with Jarryn Geary (concussion) and Cooper Sharman (quad corkie) forced to watch on after separate collisions.

Sandringham will play in an AFL curtain-raiser against Box Hill Hawks next Sunday at the MCG, with the match beginning at 12:00pm.

SANDRINGHAM  4.0  7.2  10.4  15.4 (94)
RICHMOND  2.3  2.7  3.10  5.10 (40)

GOALS
Sandringham: Campbell 2, Henness 2, Hipwell 2, Kyle 2, Owens 2, Windhager 2, Byrnes, Carey, Lok
Richmond: Cumberland, Martyn, Ryan, Sonsie, Street

BEST
Sandringham: Windhager, Campbell, Owens, Bytel, Byrnes, Connolly, Joyce, Milne
Richmond: Sonsie, Mansell, Ryan, Street, Collier-Dawkins