VFL Match Report: Round 13 v Collingwood

23/06/2025

Photography by Emily Spong

An amazing fight back with after the siren heartbreak 

We went up against a strong Collingwood side on Saturday afternoon and, after being down by 32 points at quarter time, we fought back until an after-the-siren goal decided the game.

First Quarter

We didn’t get the start we were after; Collingwood came out hot, slotting early goals from a downfield free kick and a burst through the corridor. Jonah Campigli linked up beautifully with Billy Richardson inside 50, and Richardson converted with a classy snap around the corner.

The Pies continued to hit us on turnover and from the contest. Their fifth, sixth and seventh goals hurt, with only a strong contested mark and composed set shot from Billy Johnson helping us steady. Zak Jones, Hugh Boxshall and Jack Carroll worked hard in the middle to gain momentum, but we went into the first break trailing by 32 points.

Sandringham 2.0 (12) | Collingwood 7.2 (44)

Second Quarter

We came out with a point to prove and lit up the quarter.

Collingwood kicked the first, but our response was electric. Richardson, ever-reliable up forward, nailed his second set shot to get us going. Moments later, a snap from Harry Boyd found returning midfielder Paddy Dow, who took the grab inside 50 and slotted it — arms wide in celebration as we roared back into the game

From there, we exploded.

Lance Collard’s snap floated through, and Liam Henry provided spark in the contest with some magical work in traffic to dribble one home. Hugo Garcia was everywhere, cracking in hard and racking up the footy — he had 12 disposals by the half, matching Jones who also had 12 and was a key driver through the midfield.

A clever handball from Ethan Williams gave Boxshall the space to launch from 45 and bang! Angus Hastie added a cherry on top, running onto a loose ball and snapping truly.

After six straight goals we turned the game into a genuine contest.

Sandringham 8.4 (52) | Collingwood 9.6 (60)

Third Quarter

We looked to carry that energy into the third, but Collingwood got the early ascendancy again, converting from a set shot and adding two more majors. Despite the scoreboard, we kept the intensity up.

Hastie’s run and carry continued to shine, and Garcia was laying tackles like his life depended on it. Arie Schoenmaker was cool under pressure with his left foot, but we couldn’t quite convert our entries into scores. Liam O'Connell and Carroll made sure to bring the pressure and went hard into every contest. 

Sandringham 8.6 (54) | Collingwood 12.7 (79)

Forth Quarter

We weren’t done yet.

Henry slotted a composed set shot after a slick Garcia pass to cut the margin. Johnson, again showing composure under pressure, found Richardson on a tight angle and he did the rest, slotting his third for the day.

It was then Schoenmaker’s turn to deliver with class - his pinpoint kick hit Williams in stride, who coolly went back and converted from 40 out.

Enter Campigli: a goal on the run brought us level and just moments later, he backed it up with a composed set shot to put us in front!

The AIA Vitality Centre was rocking and we weren’t done yet.

With just 41 seconds on the clock, skipper Misi Faimalo stood tall. After earning a holding-the-ball free kick on the boundary 45 metres out, he didn’t hesitate. The acting-skipper went back, launched a drop punt… and nailed it.

With seconds left, Collingwood’s Charlie West marked just inside 50 and, with the final kick of the day, slotted it after the siren. A devastating way to end an incredible fightback.

Sandringham Zebras: 2.0  8.4  8.6  14.6   (90)

Collingwood:   7.3  9.6  12.7  14.9  (93)

Most disposals: Garcia (27), Jones (27), Schoenmaker (23)

Goals: Richardson (3), Campigli (2) , Henry (2), Dow, Collard, Boxshall, Hastie, Williams, Johnson, Faimalo

Visit the VFL website for full stats. 

The Zebs will take on Williamstown next Saturday 28th June at 2:35pm at DSV Stadium.

Written by Josh Speechley - Sandringham FC Media