It may have been a trip up to Queensland, but Sandringham’s opening to the 2023 VFL Season against Southport was anything but a holiday.
Last year’s Grand Finalists proved far too powerful for the traveling Zebras brigade, ramming home the first nine goals of the game – seven of which came in the first-quarter onslaught – before eventually settling on a 17.16 (118) to 4.8 (32) scorecard.
The Sharks lived up to their name, quickly smelling blood in the water and ruthlessly devouring their opposition at every turn to vividly signal their intentions of being at the pointy end of the season yet again.
Spearheaded by the fleet-footed Zac Foot (24 disposals, four goals), burly Fraser Thurlow (three goals), and brilliance of Jackson Edwards (35 disposals, nine inside-50s) and Jacob Dawson (36 disposals, eight clearances), Southport nevertheless had no shortage of contributors in their near-unchallenged run.
Options up forward were ample courtesy of the Sharks’ speed and precision in transition, with Tom Highmore amassing 32 disposals – half of which were rebound-50s – in what was a double-shift down back as Sandringham’s key defender.
Southport recorded 60 inside-50s to Sandringham’s 27, holding sway over every key metric as the latter tried to gain a footing in the one-sided affair.
VFL MATCH CENTRE: View all news, stats and videos from Round 1
The Zebras tightened up after the first break to rein in the home side’s scorching start, but took until the third quarter to put through their first major, courtesy of Blake Watson.
Max Heath (14 disposals, 14 hit-outs, six clearances) rolled up the sleeves in the ruck in tandem with Sandringham debutant Mason Hawkins (17 disposals, 11 hit-outs), while fellow first-gamer James Van Es hit the scoreboard late in the game after being swung forward.
Leo Connolly ended his day with 16 touches and three clearances playing as a midfielder, Cooper Sharman had the 12 possessions, while Oscar Adams joined Highmore in working around the clock down back to finish with 11 disposals.
Sandringham will have an eight-day break to recover before facing Essendon at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval, while Southport will hit the tarmac to battle North Melbourne this coming Saturday at Arden Street.
SOUTHPORT 7.2 9.5 13.10 17.16 (118)
SANDRINGHAM 0.3 0.6 3.8 4.8 (32)
GOALS
Southport: Foot 4, Thurlow 3, Pescud 2, Fields 2, Woodbock, Manteit, Joyce, Heron, Crossley, Banks-Smith
Sandringham: Watson, Van Es, Lohmann, Gown
BEST
Southport: Edwards, Foot, Joyce, Dawson, Pescud, Shannon, Manteit
Sandringham: Highmore, Hawkins, Lowe, Heath
