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Sandringham Zebras

Seasons

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Formed, and admitted to the VFA in 1929, as a merger between Sandringham Amateurs (Gold), Black Rock (Black) and Hampton Park (Blue) the Zebras wore a distinctive uniform comprised of the colors representing the three sides.

Their first years were lean, with the first flag coming in 1946 a year after avoiding the wooden spoon on percentage. Their first premiership nearly didn't happen after they had to overhaul a 40 point three-quarter-time deficit against Williamstown to win by a point. The Grand Final was no less tense with heavy favourites Camberwell beaten by just 7 points.

Further success was elusive and the Zebras had to wait until 1962 to win another flag, and once again a blockbusting comeback was required. 44 points behind Moorabbin at 3/4 time, they kicked 8 goals to 1 in the last quarter to win by a point. Another long wait for success followed, including a 100pt humilation at the hands of Port Melbourne in the 1977 decider, before a 6pt win over Williamstown in 1985 delivered their third flag.

From 1986 to 1991 the Zebras missed the finals by they returned in '92 to beat Williamstown by 44 points - finally a comfortable Grand Final win - to claim the title. Ex-Melbourne player Joe Rugolo was a star in the final and won the league's Liston Medal. They also saluted in 1994 and 1997.

Rugolo was later named in the Zebras team of the century along with fellow ex-Demons Terry Wilkins and Fred Webster.

With the coming of VFL/AFL alignments in 2000 Sandringham became the Demons VFL affiliate and won a premiership in their first season together. Steven Pitt and Matthew Febey were amongst the best Melbourne listed players in Sandy's 41 point win over North Ballarat.

Four years later the Zebra/Demon connection delivered its second title when they beat Port Melbourne by four points with Guy Rigoni awarded the Norm Goss Medal for best afield. The next year they again racked up a big three-quarter-time lead before surviving a late charge, this time by Werribee. Chris Lamb took a crucial mark in the backline deep in the last quarter, and Daniel Ward was named best afield.

A premiership hat-trick was achieved in 2006 when Phil Read won the Norm Goss in the Zebs 18 point win over the Geelong reserve side. Having become the first side to win three flags in a row since the mighty Port Melbourne of the early 1980's Sandringham found themselves with the chance to rack up four in a row in 2007 but, with the side decimated by injuries to Melbourne listed players, were knocked out of the finals race by North Ballarat.

Former MFC player Andy Lovell was appointed senior coach for 2007 but failed to deliver a flag in his first season.

At the end of 2008, Melbourne and St. Kilda swapped affiliates and the Demons joined with the Casey Scorpions in an attempt to break into the growth area around Cranbourne and the South-East.

VFL premierships

2000, 2004, 2005, 2006

Coaches

CoachYears
Graeme Yeats 2000-2003
Mark Williams 2011 2004-2007
Andy Lovell 2008

Records

Biggest win

MarginMatchOpposition
1 152 Round 7, 2008 Tasmania
2 131 Round 3, 2000 Northern Bullants
3 104 Round 7, 2002 Bendigo
4 95 Round 3, 2004 Springvale
5 88 Round 4, 2008 Box Hill
6 87 Preliminary Final, 2005 Northern Blues
6 87 Round 15, 2008 Tasmania
8 84 Round 1, 2001 Tasmania
8 84 Round 4, 2005 Geelong
10 80 Preliminary Final, 2006 Northern Blues

Highest score

ScoreMatchOpposition
1 31.17.203 Round 7, 2008 Tasmania
2 27.25.187 Round 3, 2000 Northern Bullants
3 25.14.164 Round 4, 2008 Box Hill
4 24.19.163 Round 15, 2008 Tasmania
5 24.15.159 Round 5, 2008 Bendigo
6 22.23.155 Preliminary Final, 2000 Carlton
7 23.11.149 Round 8, 2000 Frankston
7 23.11.149 Round 1, 2007 Geelong
9 21.19.145 Round 4, 2005 Geelong
9 22.13.145 Round 9, 2006 Williamstown

Biggest loss

MarginMatchOpposition
1 96 Round 17, 2002 Coburg
2 90 Semi Final, 2002 Geelong
3 67 Round 11, 2008 Port Melbourne
4 64 Round 6, 2008 Williamstown
5 60 Round 17, 2001 Geelong
6 57 Round 6, 2003 Box Hill
7 52 Round 19, 2006 Frankston
8 48 Round 16, 2002 Frankston
9 45 Round 9, 2002 Geelong
10 43 Round 1, 2005 Northern Blues

Lowest score

ScoreMatchOpposition
1 4.9.33 Semi Final, 2002 Geelong
2 4.10.34 Round 1, 2005 Northern Blues
3 5.9.39 Round 20, 2003 Frankston
4 6.7.43 Round 17, 2002 Coburg
5 7.7.49 Round 12, 2006 Northern Blues
6 7.9.51 Round 14, 2006 vs North Ballarat
7 7.11.53 Round 15 2007 Williamstown
8 8.7.55 Round 14, 2002 Carlton
9 8.8.56 Round 15, 2004 Box Hill
10 9.3.57 Round 11 2004 North Ballarat

6+ goals in a game (MFC listed players only 2000-2002)

PlayerMatchOpposition
8 Steven Pitt Round 8, 2000 Frankston
7 Steven Pitt Round 13, 2000 Williamstown
6 Ben Beams Round 3, 2000 Northern