Sandringham has recorded consecutive wins to start the season, with their second win coming against Richmond by 54-points at the ME Bank Centre under lights on Saturday.
The Tigers started the better of the two sides, kicking the opening goal, but it was all the Zebras after that.
A five goal to two first term from the visitors gave them a great advantage, resulting in a 21-point lead at quarter time.
A much tighter and contested second quarter only produced two goals apiece, with the Zebras holding onto the lead at the main break before a spirited Tiger fightback after half-time.
The home side hit the contest harder than the Zebras in the third term, but the Tigers couldn’t win the quarter with three goals apiece.
Even an aggressive style of game, which included a ten second brawl before umpires intervened, couldn’t change the 19-point lead the visitors held heading into three-quarter time.
With the game still in the balance at the last change, the Zebras repeated 2015’s last quarter dominance at the same venue with a seven goal to nil final term.
The sheer dominance from the centre square and run into the forward 50 displayed how deep the Zebras bat and the high quality of their weapons which could see Sandringham shape as a serious premiership contender.
St Kilda ruckman Lewis Pierce (17 disposals, 7 marks, 1 goal) played predominantly as a key forward and impressed, with his AFL teammates Jason Holmes and Billy Longer sharing the ruck duties around the ground.
Goal sneak Jack Lonie (33 disposals, 3 goals) spent time through the midfield as well as up forward, with support coming from Eli Templeton (24 disposals, 2 goals) and Tom Curren (26 disposals).
Vice-Captain Myke Cook (24 disposals, 2 goals) and TAC Cup recruit Kade Answerth (24 disposals, 1 goal) also stood up in the Zebras’ biggest win of the season to date.
Sandringham Assistant Coach Matt Embling said it was a pleasing result to win away from home and finish the game well after the Tigers challenged.
“It was a good four quarter effort and a lot of our guys really stood up,” Embling told saints.com.au.
“Our back half was really strong. Tom Lee was solid and we were happy with Nick Coughlan’s game in the second half particularly, along with the run we got from Brodie Murdoch.
“Lewis Pierce was really impressive as a key forward, presented well early and gave us a real presence inside fifty. He only kicked the one goal but took some really strong marks for us, which gives our midfielders confidence of a focal point.
“Jack Lonie was fantastic for us and one of our best, along with Josh Saunders, Eli Templeton and Tom Curren. Our midfielders were really strong in the contest which was pleasing.”
SCOREBOARD
RICHMOND 2.0 4.3 7.6 7.12 (54)
SANDRINGHAM 5.3 7.3 10.9 16.15 (111)
GOALS: Lonie 3, Cook 2, Templeton 2, Delaney 2, Answerth, Noone, Coates, Shenton, McKenzie, Pierce, Holmes.
BEST: Lonie, Templeton, Saunders, Curren, Cook, Answerth.
