VFL Match Report: Round 8 vs GWS
18/05/2026
The final match of the VFL Round 8 saw the GWS GIANTS claim a three-point win against the Sandringham Zebras at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval.
Our four quarter efforts highlighted our immense pressure and resilience but were not enough to win the highly contested match-up.
The game kicked off with Darcy Chirgwin’s first of 13 tackles and back-and-forth play in the mid. Chirgwin helped to cleanly get the ball out of congestion all day, racking up an impressive 29 disposals. Tom O’Rourke’s intercept mark in the backline set the tone for the staggering defensive performance by the Zebs. Owen Bater and Adrian Cole were dominant in the air, spoiling, intercepting and bringing the ball to ground. Daniel Pinter was not only seen as our sole ruck with 29 hit-outs, but also assisted Jack Ferraro for our first major of the day.
Second gamer, Jhett Haeata used his speed to run and carry down the line, along with Andreas Stefanakis who burst out of packs to hit up our forward 50. Bater’s defensive spoils to the boundary and Ethan Williams’ goal saving mark helped minimise the damage, along with Brodie Atkins and Lachie Riley working together to set up Bode Stevens for our second. We ended the first term trailing by four points – GWS GIANTS 3.1 (19) to Sandringham 2.3 (15).
The second quarter began highly defensive as the GIANTS kicked the first. Pinter won many hitouts, landing in Chirgwin and O’Rourke’s laps as they gained territory in the wet. Cole and Mitch Ryan flew for aerial contests whilst Stefanakis, Atkins and Chirgwin upped their tackling pressure. Williams on the half back excelled in intercept marks, along with Bater’s reliable punches to kill the ball.
Kyle Cooper returned to the side this week and was a handy outlet around the contest. Jet Peckett’s pressure helped Haeata hand it off to Nathan Philactides who found Stefanakis. A clean chain of kick-marks resulted in Lachie Voss and Noah Yze hitting the scoreboard, keeping the GIANTS at bay with the half-time margin just 7 seven points - 6.2 (38) to the GIANTS and 4.7 (31) to the Zebras.
The GIANTS kicked a quick one to start the third, with Yze responding as he confidently took it out of the mid, assisting Voss for another successful set shot. Our defence continued to hold strong with Cole’s spoils and Bater’s tackling. Blake Watson’s tackle was rewarded as he slotted a massive goal from 50, leveling the scores. The GIANTS gained some momentum, however we continued to remain composed with Stefanakis switching it out of the backline with help from Bater, Cole and Williams. Stefanakis scored, joined by Voss after the siren, thanks to the hard work of O’Rourke, Williams, Mitch Kirkwood-Scott and Ferraro.
Taking a one-point lead into the final term, it was a tense quarter. A Chirgwin goal began with Peckett’s contested work to help Stefanakis crumb. Peckett’s tackling and second efforts set off a chain reaction through Haeata, Hutchings, Watson and finally Stefanakis as he kicked his second. The GIANTS shifted the game as they kicked three in a row, despite the backline’s hard work all day. Williams’ intercept mark allowed Yze to sell and score, shortening the margin to two at the 19-minute mark. At the 26-minute mark, Riley cleared it out of congestion to Callum Smith who set up Ferraro for his second to cut the margin back to two. However, GWS’ score at the 28th minute mark sealed the game, ending the match with a three-point difference.
Development Coach Stuart Dempster gave credit to Haeata for his run on the wing and Cooper for his impressive work on the ball, finishing the game with 25 disposals and six tackles. Whilst the game was winnable and there is work to be done to iron out little mistakes, there were promising signs with our backline holding up and giving their all, Pinter continuing to impress in the ruck and Voss, Yze and Ferraro providing options in the forward line. Dempster also acknowledged the continued efforts through the middle from Stefanakis, Chirgwin and Riley.
We’ll turn to next week for a massive night match against Frankston at the new time of 7:05pm on Saturday 23 May at Kinetic Stadium.
SANDRINGHAM 2.3 (15), 4.7 (31), 8.11 (59), 12.12 (84)
GWS 3.1 (19), 6.2 (38), 9.4 (58), 13.9 (87)
Goals
Voss (3), Ferraro (2), Stefanakis, Yze, Chirgwin (1), Stevens, Watson
Visit the VFL website for full stats
Photos: Maddie Green - Sandringham FC Media
Written by Amelia Tran - Sandringham FC Media