Jake Carlisle has made a successful return through the VFL.
The popular defender played out the entire game (15 disposals, seven marks) in what was his first game after back surgery
Despite Sandringham clawing back to within six points in the final quarter, six unanswered goals from Werribee in the second term proved too far to come back from - the final score 7.7 (63) to 13.7 (87).
Darragh Joyce (17 disposals, 10 marks) was impressive in defence, while Ben Paton (27 disposals) enjoyed a solid outing.
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At the game, all were momentarily marred by a suspected knee injury to King.
King landed awkwardly after a marking contest in the first term and was taken down to the rooms for further evaluation before being ruled out of the contest.
Initial scans confirmed the pick No. 4 has not sustained any damage to his ACL and that the graft on his much-discussed reconstructed knee remains intact, while further tests later confirmed a syndesmosis injury to his right ankle.
READ: Max King injury update
The 18-year-old prospect looked dangerous early on, clunking a strong overhead mark and converting after a perfect lace-out kick from Dan Hannebery (23 disposals) from the centre bounce.
Sandringham struggled to find someone to fill the void left by King, with Sam Rowe, Kai Owens, Jack Mayo and Jackson Hille trialled in the makeshift offensive.
It was a major factor in the four-goal loss, as was the Tigers’ ascendancy in the contested ball (+16), quick exits from stoppages and overall hunt around the contest; all of which coach Aaron Hamill labelled as “costly”.
“Overall, it was a disappointing day and we weren’t able to execute for all four quarters,” Hamill told saints.com.au.
“We knew coming in that we had to take their contested footy away and we were unable to do that, and when they’ve lost, that’s been their pattern against Footscray, Geelong and Port Melbourne.”
“They were able to gain territory on us and when they were able to do that, they put us under pressure.”
“There wasn’t much we could do about losing King – we were sort of shuffling deck chairs so it was a bit frustrating, but all in all, it was quite a disappointing day and an opportunity we didn’t take.”
Bailey Rice (eight tackles, six marks, one goal) and Ben Long (14 disposals, six marks) were tireless at the contest across the afternoon and helped restrict the Tigers gaining ground, with the latter providing plenty of speed and rebound in a new role on the half-back flank.
Oscar Clavarino (16 disposals, seven marks) continued to build upon his growing form and kicked a handy major in the third term, while Doulton Langlands (16 disposals) and Hannebery offered grunt through the middle, bolstered by the rucking efforts of Rowe (26 hit-outs).
Defender Nick Coffield pieced together 21 disposals after a modest opening half, while Robbie Young’s two goals and seven tackles showed glimpses of his pressure-driven play.
But with the injury to King aside, the story of the day was the successful return of Carlisle, which served as a silver lining alongside the efforts of Joyce and Paton.
The key position defender played majority of minutes and moved fluently across the defensive 50 before his influence diminished in the game’s later stages.
Carlisle’s name will be thrown around at the selection table, as too will Hannebery’s, whose 23-disposal performance will have him in the mix for the Saints’ game against Brisbane.
Sandringham will have just six days to recover before heading to Box Hill City Oval to take on the Hawks for the second time this season.
SANDRINGHAM 5.3 5.4 7.7 9.9 (63)
WERRIBEE 2.2 8.4 8.7 13.9 (87)
GOALS
Sandringham: Young 2, Answerth, Clavarino, Fox, Haidon, Hille, King, Rice
Werribee: Barlow 3, Riccardi 3, Declase 2, Clayton, Gribble, Hebron, Maishman, Malual
BEST
Sandringham: Paton, Joyce, Seccull, Hannebery, Clavarino, Carlisle, Rice
Werribee: Barlow, Gribble, Sodomaco, Hebron, Riccardi, Bennett, Berry
