Sandringham coach Andy Lovell gives us an insight into the form of the Zebras’ Melbourne listed players, following wins by both seniors and reserves against Box Hill in Round Four.

Sandringham Seniors
Box Hill Hawks 1.3.9 -  3.4.22 -  5.8.38 - 11.10.76
Sandringham 8.3.51 - 17.9.111 - 21.10.136 - 25.14.164

Adem Yze
Played his best game of the year for us. He has shown patches of brilliance, but this was his first four quarter performance. We played him on the wing, and across half forward. He had 32 possessions and eight marks, and had a real impact on the game. He used the ball well, found space and his defensive pressure was outstanding. Adem’s attitude at Sandringham over the past month has been outstanding - he has shown good leadership qualities, which have benefited the team.

Matthew Warnock
Matt Warnock has been consistently in our best three players over the past three weeks. He had 28 touches across the half back line. He showed a real balance in his game, he beat his man one on one, and marked well and attacked the game off half back. With Matt’s recent form, he is on the verge of senior selection.

Colin Garland
Colin Garland was ‘best on ground’ for us on Sunday. We played him across half back, and he won every contest he was involved in. He had 25 possessions, his ball use was terrific, and he was really hard when the contested ball was up for grabs. He rebounded off the half back line, and influenced the game really well.

Shane Valenti
Valenti has been in our best five players over the past month. He had a quiet game last week, when he got tagged, but on the weekend he was ‘in and under’ and won a lot of contested ball. He had 23 possessions and played a really honest, hard working game throughout the midfield and across half forward.

Simon Buckley
This has been the second week in a row that ‘Bucks’ has played well. He played across a wing and half back, and impacted the game well with his 23 possessions. He is an outside player who can run and break the lines, and he showed plenty of that on the weekend.

Matthew Bate
Matthew Bate had 22 touches, playing primarily in the midfield but also across the half forward line. He played a really good game in only his second game back from injury (he was our best on ground last week in the reserves, playing as a midfielder). He worked really hard and had a really good balance of being inside, winning the contested ball, but also won it outside and broke the lines. Matthew was one of our best midfielders on the day.

Chris Johnson
This was his first game back after missing out on selection in the AFL. He played across the half back line.  He had 20 possessions, beat his man and gave us some good rebound run and carry out of defence. He didn’t use the ball as well as he could have to impact the game, but it was a good solid performance, which we hope he can build confidence from.

John Meesen
John Meesen was really competitive for us on the weekend and played his best game for the Club. This was his first game back after a slight ankle injury. He played on the wing and in the ruck. He was strong overhead, and was impressive as a ruckman, jumping well and constantly giving our midfielders first use of the ball.

Jace Bode
Jace played in the back line and took the opposition’s best small forward out of the game. When he had the ball, he attacked the game and displayed some good run and carry out of defence. He had four entries inside 50, and did his job on the day. 

Ben Holland
This was his first game back after missing the last couple. He played in the forward line, and his team work on the weekend was really good. He blocked for his teammates, and his work off the ball was really strong. He kicked two goals, but it was the work he did off the ball helping out Newton and Saunter which made his game performance ever better.

Michael Newton
‘Juice’ Newton played his best game for the year for us. Playing as the centre half forward, he led very hard all day, had 10 possessions, took six marks and kicked two goals. He worked hard defensively, but was reported and suspended for a week.

Stef Martin
In the first half he played at full back, and played really well. His form has been very consistent this year. Each week he takes the opposition big forward, and he hasn’t yet been beaten one-on-one in that role. In the second half we moved him to half back, where he struggled a little, but he has steadily improved and we are looking to develop him into a key defender.

Addam Maric
Addam has been playing in the forward line, and has looked really dangerous. On the weekend, he only had eight possessions, but he also had seven tackles. His defensive pressure was outstanding, and he played a really important role for us. He didn’t kick the goals he would have wanted to, but his team game was really good for us.  We rated his game as equal to the game last week, when he kicked five goals.

Jake Spencer
Played his second senior game for the Club. He has competed really hard for us – he is a tough kid and we like his hardness. On the weekend, his ruck work at centre bounces was exceptional and his following up work at ground level was just as pleasing. He only had six possessions, but his ruckwork was a real highlight. 

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Sandringham Reserves
Box Hill Hawks 4.3.27  -  7.7.49   -  11.10.76   -  16.13.109
Sandringham 5.1.31  -   9.3.57  -   17.7.109   -  20.13.133

Kyle Cheney
Played really well, was probably our best in the reserves with 35 possessions. He played half back, but we also played him through the midfield, to try to develop him into a running type of player. He’s hard at the footy, stands his ground and really finds the ball well. He is a very smart young player for us.

Tom McNamara
He is showing signs for us that he is a good player, when he goes and gets the ball. It’s fair to say that he is struggling for confidence at bit at the moment. He probably hasn’t adapted to playing at Sandringham just yet, but at only 17 we think that he is not to far away. He has got a fantastic ability to read the play really well, and is strong overhead. His work ethic has been a little inconsistent, but he is certainly a talented player for us.

Isaac Weetra
Isaac is playing across the half back line, just to give him a reference point on the field. He has been struggling to get his hands on the ball at half forward and his confidence is a little down. We have played him in a variety of roles, but we are keeping it simple for him at the moment. He needs to beat his man, and then attack the game from there.

Trent Zomer
Trent Zomer has been consistently good for us over the last four weeks, and kicked seven goals for us in Round Two. He is playing a combination of full forward and ruck, and he is a good kick for goal and a strong mark. We are working on his work ethic at the moment, as he just needs to get his repeat leads and his physicality up a couple of notches so that he can play senior football down the track.