VFLW Match Report: Round 2 vs Collingwood

25/05/2026

Sandringham showed enormous fight and determination despite falling just short by one point against Collingwood in a fiercely contested battle at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

In a game dominated by pressure, defensive grit and relentless tackling, we pushed the Magpies all the way to the final siren, eventually going down by a single point after a stirring final-quarter comeback.

The opening term was defined by our defensive intensity and willingness to compete at every contest. Although Collingwood controlled territory early, we made the most of our opportunities, with Jordan Membrey converting our first forward 50 entry for the opening goal of the game.

Strong tackling pressure and disciplined defensive structures kept the Magpies wide and under pressure, while Deanna Jolliffe impressed with her vision and courage to take on difficult options by foot. Sophie Locke also looked dangerous in transition, helping drive the ball forward with composure and precision. Despite Collingwood sneaking through a late major, we remained right in the contest at quarter time.

The second quarter continued as a hard-fought defensive grind. Our pressure around the ball remained outstanding, with players repeatedly working hard to outnumber contests and force turnovers. Zoe Barbakos stood tall defensively in the forward half, Sunday Hollingsworth produced an important smother, and Bella Enno’s relentless effort around the contest consistently disrupted Collingwood’s ball movement.

Jolliffe continued reading the play superbly, while the backline held firm with strong intercept marking and disciplined positioning. Although goals were hard to come by for both sides, our commitment and work rate never dropped, taking the lead by one point at half time.

Collingwood gained some momentum in the third quarter as scoreboard pressure slowly built, but we still found moments of quality football. Locke produced a brilliant piece of setup play with a pinpoint kick that found Kristy Stratton directly in front for an important goal.

Ava Bibby’s physicality around the contest stood out with a huge tackle earning a free kick, while her marking strength continued to provide a target around the ground. Despite spending long periods defending, we refused to let the game slip away entirely and continued to compete strongly in every contest, trailing now by eight points.

The final quarter showcased the heart and resilience of the Zebras. We controlled much of the play, locking the ball in our forward half and repeatedly challenging the Magpies’ defence. The momentum continued to build as Grace Hodder sparked a brilliant chain of play through the middle, combining with Enno before Locke finished beautifully around the body to bring the margin back to just the one point.

From there, the defensive unit held strong whenever Collingwood threatened, with Hodder taking an important mark deep in defence, while the midfield worked hard to keep the ball in attacking territory.

Alana Porter worked tirelessly through the midfield, bringing strong pressure and determination around the contest all day. Her willingness to compete, follow up at ground level and help link the play forward was important in keeping us in the contest.

The Magpies were held scoreless for the entire final quarter as we threw everything into one last push, narrowly falling short after a desperate final forward entry in the dying moments. While the result didn’t fall our way, the performance highlighted the group’s resilience, pressure and willingness to fight until the very end.