VFL Mid-Season Review

31/05/2026

With the VFL coming to the halfway mark, we sat down with Head Coach Daniel Ward to reflect on the first half of the Zebras' 2026 season.

Being a standalone side again and being Head Coach, how have you been able to create a good environment around this year?

"I think it's really important to have a good environment within the club, and I lean on my coaching staff a lot for that, and all five of them work incredibly hard and have a great relationship with the players. Blake Watson as well, leading the playing group and taking responsibility for a lot that goes on around the football club. It's really up to us to implement how we want to play, and I've been really impressed, being halfway through the season, by the willingness of our group to learn and basically turn up to work their backsides off every week."

Looking at this half of the season, obviously with some great wins, there have also been a few really close losses. How do you go about building on that in the second half of the season?

"I think it's just a win or learn mindset. We are a very young team and have to take lessons out of those games that we could have, or should have, won, and what I love about the group is they take on board those lessons, and try and put it into practice. In all but one game we've been really competitive and had our chance to win, so we just need to continue that. Obviously nine down and nine to go, but there have been some promising signs with that in that regard." 

What have you observed about the character of the playing group this year?

"They don't give up; no matter how hard it gets they dig in, and keep fighting, and that's a great trait for the group to have and to coach as well. Once you add on how we want to play and move the footy and all that, then we can get better and get better results as we go, but the main part is the ability to crack in and keep going at the opposition."

Mid-season stats leaders

Leading disposals and tackles: Darcy Chirgwin

"Darcy came to us after having a few injuries early on in his career and had a great year at local football last year. He has been wanting an opportunity at VFL, and has really taken it. He's one of the main players in the middle, and he's been doing a lot of the hard work week in and week out."

Leading goal kicker: Jack Ferraro

"Until last weekend, Jack had kicked at least two goals in every game. He's someone who hits the scoreboard, gets in dangerous positions, and when he gets the opportunity, has an accurate kick for goal."

Leading hitouts: Dan Pinter

"It's well publicised that Dan came to us through our trial period and then got onto our preseason list, and then made it through four cuts and made it all the way through to be our number one ruckman. He's been a massive upside, competes really hard and is only 20!"

Check out the full season stats via the VFL app. 

Written by Jess Holland - Sandringham FC Media