Plenty of Saints will be out to impress in the VFL this weekend when Sandringham hosts the winless Coburg Lions on Saturday afternoon.
Darren Minchington, Luke Dunstan and ruckman Tom Hickey are three players notably on the cusp of AFL selection and have a big opportunity to put their best foot forward following the Zebras’ VFL bye last week.
ALL THE DETAILS
Where: Trevor Barker Beach Oval
When: Saturday, 24 June
Time: 2pm (Development League v 11am).
Conditions: Partly cloudy with an predicted top of 13 degrees.
Last time they met:
Sandringham 15.10 (100) def. Coburg Lions 14.5 (89) at Piranha Park, round 5 2017.
Goals: McCartin 4, Long 3, Marshall 3, Phillips, Cook, Holmes, McKenzie, Scagliarini.
Best: McCartin, Long, Marshall, Savage, McKenzie, O’Kearney.
Form guide:
Sandringham will be refreshed following last week’s bye round and eager to start round ten with a win at home. The Zebras have lost their past four with their last win coming against Coburg at Piranha Park five weeks ago.
It’s an important month ahead for the Zebras with three out of four games at Beach Rd and need wins to jump back into the top eight.
Coburg’s season continues to struggle with Peter German’s Lions winless with nine consecutive losses. They were shown up badly by a strong Port Melbourne side at Piranha Park last week, going down by 64-points.
Selected team:
B: 2. K. Answerth, 61. D. Joyce, 73. N. Coughlan
HB: 62. R. Connellan, 75. B. Rice, 9. M. Cook
C: 41. D. Minchington, 84. L. Dunstan, 63. N. O’Kearney
HF: 80. S. Savage, 67. P. McCartin, 36. J. Battle
F: 32. J. Lonie, 77. R. Marshall, 34. B. Long
R: 69. J. Holmes, 33. N. Freeman, 70. D. McKenzie
Int: 64. B. Acres, 68. B. Miller, 78. J. Baker-Thomas, 6. J. Fisscher, 30. T. Hickey, 71. L. Pierce, 1. D. Weickhardt, 16. M. Hayes, 93. J. Webster, 35. J. Steele, 65. B. White
23P: 44. H. Brayshaw
Players to watch:
SANDRINGHAM
Nathan Freeman
The talented midfielder is playing well at VFL level and building towards an AFL debut, having put together nine games and averaging 17 disposals per game. To put his games in perspective, his nine games in 2017 is the most he’s played since the under-18’s. Freeman gathered 30 disposals, seven marks and three tackles in Sandringham’s loss to Williamstown before the bye.
Darren Minchington
Minchington is a class above at VFL level and will again be out to earn another opportunity in Alan Richardson’s AFL team. He’s averaging 27 disposals and nine tackles in three VFL games whilst having kicked nine goals to date for the Zebras. Despite a quiet first half in the round eight loss to Williamstown, finished with three goals and 27 disposals.
COBURG LIONS
James El-Moussalli
Coburg’s highest possession winner with 31, nine tackles and a goal against Port Melbourne, the Lions will need El-Moussalli at his best away from home against Sandringham. In what has been a difficult season for all involved at Piranha Park, one of their premier midfielders needs to continue his strong form.
Nick Dodge
Three goals as Coburg’s only multiple goal kicker against the Borough last round, Dodge will again be a key target inside fifty. If the Lions get their hands on the football early they can give their forwards and Dodge every opportunity to challenge the Zebras on the scoreboard.
