VFL Match Report: Round 7 vs Carlton 

12/05/2025

A strong fight under the lights didn't go our way as we fell to the Blues.

Photography by Archie Edelsten

We weren't short on chances as we stayed competitive with Carlton all night, but inaccurate kicking cost us as we succumbed by 18 points.

The defence was kept busy early as Carlton attacked right from the opening siren. The backline stood tall though, allowing just one goal within the opening 15 minutes, as Billy Richardson and Ethan Williams both made goal saving efforts on the goal line. We started to earn control of the football, sending the ball into our forward 50 with regularity, but were only able to add to the scoreboard in the form of behinds. Our daring style of football helped keep the Blues on their toes as we took advantage from free kicks, and rewarded runners with handballs. After five points to our name, we were finally able to kick truly when Ned Maginness crumbed the ball in front of goal to earn us our first major. 

Carlton began to build on their five-point lead in the second quarter, keeping us off the scoreboard until late in the term. The Blues were patient with the footy, taking a lot of the pace out of the game that we had generated in the first quarter. We started to reverse this trend late in the quarter, highlighted by an end-to-end goal that saw us take the ball from a kick-in to our forward 50 in less than 20 seconds, resulting in an out-of-position Carlton defender being forced into holding Harry Boyd. Boyd was awarded the free kick and calmly went back and slotted home our second goal of the contest. 

Trailing by 25 at the main break, we entered the second half with work to do, and we didn't wait long to get the ball rolling as Zak Jones received a handball from Joey Campigli, before dancing past a couple of Carlton defenders to get the ball onto his right foot and kick the goal. Jones kept his foot on the accelerator, this time making the most of an opportunity from a set shot after being left alone inside our forward 50 to almost singlehandedly slice the deficit in half. Despite a totally dominant opening 10 minutes in the third quarter, Carlton were able to respond to keep us at arm's length with two goals against the run of play. We finished the quarter strongly however, ending it much like we started it with Jones again holding his composure to kick his third of the term from a tight angle, leaving us just 17 points back of the Blues with a quarter remaining.

We were unfortunately unable to start the fourth in the same blistering fashion as the third, as Carlton recorded the opening major of the quarter within a couple of minutes. The game turned into a contested, high-pressure affair with neither team able to gain much clean possession and add to the scoreboard. Nearly 20 minutes passed before another goal when Isaac Keeler finally broke the deadlock to give us some hope by finding himself in space and running into a goal. Time would eventually run out though, as the final siren sounded confirming the win for Carlton. 

Top Performers 

Zak Jones led by example to almost singlehandedly bring us to the front in the third quarter, kicking three goals in the term alone. Jones was busy all night, accumulating 30 disposals to go along with his efforts in front of goal.

Tobie Travaglia matched Jones in the disposal count, putting together a composed performance in defence that also included eight marks. Arie Schoenmaker and Ethan Williams also provided support in the backline, notching up 25 and 21 disposals respectively. 

In the midfield Hunter Clark was relentless, earning 16 contested possessions as well as eight clearances, while also laying seven tackles. Ben Stephenson was also unafraid in the contest, winning the ball 17 times himself (nine contested possessions). Meanwhile, Ned Maginness provided a presence at half forward, booting our first goal of the game to go along with 17 touches. 

Carlton:                                2.4        6.7       8.7       9.11       (65)

Sandringham Zebras:       1.5        2.6       5.8       6.11       (47)        

Goal Scorers: Zak Jones (3), Ned Maginness, Isaac Keeler, Harry Boyd (1)

Visit the VFL website for full stats. 

The Zebs return home to Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval for round eight when we take on Werribee on Sunday at 2:05pm! Match info

Written by Jake Beddard - Sandringham FC Media