Three consecutive losses have left Sandringham on the precipice of the top-eight with two games left to play in Round 14, with a relentless Sydney advancing into the upper tier of the ladder with a 21-point win at Lakeside Oval.
Early dominance set the tone for the Swans, whose inaccurate scoring in the 13.12 (90) to 10 (69) affair kept the Zebras in the contest.
Despite getting the opening goal through Dean Kent, the Zebras struggled to handle the Swans’ pressure around the ground for much of the afternoon. Joel Amartey (five goals, 23 disposals, seven marks) and James Bell (33 disposals, seven clearances) caused headaches for Jake Batchelor’s side, with neither able to be reined in across the afternoon.
Sandringham struggled to assert their own control of the game, and despite a quickfire four goals either side of three-quarter time to cut the margin back to two goals, the Swans responded to get the game back on their terms.
In the absence of Jarrod Lienert and Darragh Joyce in defence, Tom Highmore stood tall with an incredible defensive display for the Zebras, collecting 33 disposals and 12 marks with his intercept marking a prominent feature.
Ruckman Tom Campbell (23 disposals, 41 hit outs, seven clearances) was again superb for Sandringham around the ground, showing his ruck and aerial dominance throughout the match. The big man even chipped in with an early goal thanks to a brilliant soccer off the ground from Nick Hodgson.
Ollie Lowe (two goals, 14 disposals, six marks) was one of the best forward targets for the Zebras on the day, with Dean Kent (14 disposals) also bobbing up with two majors of his own.
Jack Higgins (one goal, 17 disposals) was quiet early for Sandringham before a move into the middle got the 23-year-old involved around the contest, while Mason Wood (one goal, 13 disposals) was good early on the wing for the Zebras.
On a difficult day for the side, youngsters Leo Connolly (14 disposals) and Jack Peris (one goal, 11 disposals) battled hard all day, as did Matthew Allison (10 disposals) and Max Heath (five disposals, eight hit outs).
SYDNEY 2.5 6.7 10.8 13.12 (90)
SANDRINGHAM 2.3 3.3 7.8 10.9 (69)
GOALS
Sydney Amartey 5, Morrison 3, Warner 2, Hall-Kahan, Ronke, Wicks
Sandringham Kent, Lowe 2, Campbell, Higgins, Henness, Hodgson, Peris, Wood
BEST
Sydney Amartey, Bell, Warner, Ronke, Shipley, Hall-Kahan, Wicks, Roberts
Sandringham Highmore, Campbell, Lowe, Higgins, Kent
