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Sandringham Football Club

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This article is about the Victorian Football League club. For the NAB League club, see Sandringham Dragons.

Sandringham Football Club
Names
Full nameSandringham Football Club
Nickname(s)Zebras, Sandy
2024 season
Home-and-away season12th
Leading goalkickerMatthew Allison
Best and fairestTom Campbell
Club details
Founded1929; 95 years ago (1929)[1][2][3]
Colours  Black   Gold   Blue
CompetitionVictorian Football League
PresidentNick Johnstone
CoachBrendon Goddard [4]
Captain(s)Anthony Seaton[5]
Premierships10 (1946, 1962, 1985, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006)
Ground(s)Trevor Barker Beach Oval (capacity: 10,000)
Uniforms
Home
Clash
Other information
Official websitesandringhamfc.com.au

The Sandringham Football Club, nicknamed the Zebras, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Sandringham. It currently competes in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and the VFL Women's (VFLW).

Sandringham has competed in the VFL − originally known as the Victorian Football Association (VFA) − since 1929, and was one of only two clubs to not be relegated to Division 2 when the VFA was split into two divisions.[6]

Since the 2009 VFL season, Sandringham has had a reserves affiliation with Australian Football League (AFL) club St Kilda.[7]

History

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Origins and formation

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The first steps towards establishing a semi-professional football team from the Sandringham area were made in 1927, with the Black Rock Football Club (Black Rock Amateurs), the Hampton Football Club, the Sandringham Amateur Football Club and the Sandringham District Football Club discussing the viability of amalgamating to form a team in the VFA.[8] The proposal failed after a meeting of club representatives on 17 February 1927 despite Sandringham Amateurs "unreservedly" favouring the concept, wih Black Rock unable to field a team, Hampton opposing the merger on the grounds of losing local identity and Sandringham District wanting at least three clubs involved.[9] All four clubs competed in the Metropolitan Amateur Football Association (MAFA) for the 1927 season.[10] On 15 August 1927, four other clubs merged to form the Sandringham Football Club.[11]

On 17 February 1928, Sandringham, Sandringham District and the Sandringham United Football Club amalgamated to form a new Sandringham Football Club.[12][13] The club entered two teams in the MAFA and one team in the Federal Football Association (FFA) junior competition.[14][15] The second Sandringham team in the MAFA (known as Sandringham B) withdrew from C Section in August 1928 after having a record score kicked against them.[16][17]

Sandringham was told by the VFA in November 1928 that it would be admitted into the competition if it obtained permission to build a fence around Beach Road Oval; the lack of a fence had prevented the club from entering for the 1928 VFA season.[18][19] In January 1929, the Sandringham Council supported a bid from an (apparently new) senior Sandringham Football Club to enter the VFA.[20][21][22] The bid was successful, and Sandringham was accepted into the Association on 4 February 1929.[23][24][25]

Despite the admission, the club still faced a challenge prior to its first game.[26] Sandringham applied for the use of Beach Road Oval for its reserves team (Second Eighteen) on Saturdays, but the Sandringham Amateurs also applied for its use, having played at the ground for 20 years.[27][28] Sandringham Amateurs requested for use on alternate Saturdays and during the week for training purposes, while Sandringham said its VFA bid would have to be abandoned if it did not have access to the ground.[29][30] Ultimately, Sandringham Council choose to allow the Amateurs to continue using the ground.[31][32] Sandringham's VFA reserves team instead played its home games at Tulip Street Reserve.[33][34] The club wore the colours of gold, black and blue, taken from Sandringham Amateurs, Black Rock and Hampton.[35]

VFA/VFL

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In the club's first 10 years of existence, they achieved a season finish of no better than 5th place, which came in the 1933 season.[35]

Sandringham recorded its inaugural premiership in the 1946 season, coming from behind late in the final quarter to record a 7-point win over Camberwell in front of 30,000 spectators.[36] Though the club struggled throughout the 1950s, it has since gone on to record 10 premierships in total, being one of the most consistent teams in the VFL, their most successful period coming in the 2000s, with 4 premierships in 10 years cementing the club as one of the premier teams in the league.[37]

The Zebras' home ground is and almost always has been the Beach Oval, which was renamed the Trevor Barker Beach Oval in the 1990s after the death of Trevor Barker, who had coached Sandringham to the 1992 and 1994 premierships. Only in 1966 did the club change home grounds, spending a year at the Junction Oval in St Kilda before moving back to Beach Oval ahead of the 1967 season.[38] From the 2018 season, the club will play three of its home games each year at Moorabbin Oval, and will wear St Kilda's black, red and white guernsey in these games.[39]

The oval has a single grandstand (the Neil Bencraft Grandstand), a south end named after Nick Sautner (the Sautner Goal), and an administration centre (the John Mennie Administration Centre)[40] – a social club and a capacity of 10,000. A record crowd of 18,000 attended the venue's first Sunday VFA premiership game, held between Sandringham and Port Melbourne Football Club in April 1964.[41] A Rec Footy competition is also played at the ground.

Affiliations

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The Zebras have an alignment agreement with Australian Football League (AFL) club St Kilda which has been in place since 2009. Previously, Sandringham had an alignment with Melbourne.[42] Sandringham and Melbourne were the first two clubs to form an alignment. This was announced in 1999 and began in the 2000 season. The alignment had an immediate effect with Sandringham winning the premiership in 2000, and a further three premierships (2004, 2005 and 2006) were won during the affiliation.[43]

St Kilda announced in December 2013 that the alignment would be continued until the end of the 2015 VFL season, with a plan for both clubs would go their separate ways in 2016.[44][45] This led to Sandringham establishing a partnership with Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) club Hampton Rovers.[46] The affiliation with St Kilda was temporarily extended for the 2016 VFL season.[47][48] However, after renegotiations throughout 2016, a new rolling affiliation deal with no fixed term was signed, to begin in 2017.[39] The new deal changed the nature of the affiliation, expanding St Kilda's involvement in Sandringham's operation − including removing a stipulation from the previous agreement that no more than 14 St Kilda-listed players could play in Sandringham's senior team in any given match and Sandringham playing three games per year in St Kilda colours (beginning in 2018) at Moorabbin Oval, St Kilda's former home ground.[49][50]

In October 2023, St Kilda announced that, beginning at the 2025 AFL rookie draft, it would use one of its rookie list places to draft a Sandringham player.[51] However, at the 2025 rookie draft, which was held in November 2024, this did not occur.[52]

Honours

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Club

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Premierships
Competition Level Wins Years Won
Victorian Football League Seniors 10 1946, 1962, 1985, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006
VFA/VFL Reserves Division 1 9 1960, 1961, 1969, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1993, 1994, 2000
VFA/VFL Thirds Division 1 10 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1994
Other titles and honours
Lightning Premiership Seniors 1 1979
Finishing positions
Victorian Football League Minor premiership 6 1960, 1985, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2007
Grand Finalists 5 1947, 1960, 1963, 1977, 1995
Wooden spoons 5 1929, 1930, 1940, 1941, 1954

Individual

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JJ Liston Trophy Winners (8)
1929 – Edward Bourke
1947 – Stan Tomlins
1962 – Keith Burns
1985 – Neil McLeod
1992 – Joe Rugolo
1997 – Justin Crough
2003 – David Robbins
2005 – Paul Johnson

Seasons

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Season Win–loss Finishing position Finals
2009 7-11 10th DNQ
2010 7-11 9th DNQ
2011 6-12 10th DNQ
2012 10-8 6th Elimination Final
2013 6-11-1 11th DNQ
2014 9-8-1 8th Semi Final
2015 14-4 2nd Preliminary Final
2016 10-8 7th Semi Final
2017 8-10 11th DNQ
2018 5-12-1 13th DNQ
2019 6-12 12th DNQ
2022 8-9-1 12th DNQ
2023 5-12-1 16th DNQ
2024 8-9-1 12th DNQ

VFA/VFL Grand Finals

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Year Opponent Score Venue
1946 Camberwell 14.15 (99) - 13.14 (92) Junction Oval
1947 Port Melbourne 11.8 (74) - 15.13 (103) Junction Oval
1960 Oakleigh 8.14 (62) - 18.14 (122) Junction Oval
1962 Moorabbin 14.10 (94) - 13.15 (93) Junction Oval
1963 Moorabbin 9.12 (66) - 19.16 (130) North Port Oval
1977 Port Melbourne 7.15 (57) - 23.19 (157) Junction Oval
1985 Williamstown 14.16 (100) - 13.16 (94) Junction Oval
1992 Williamstown 19.16 (130) - 13.8 (86) Princes Park
1994 Box Hill 11.12 (78) - 10.9 (69) Victoria Park
1995 Springvale 6.15 (51) - 14.10 (94) Victoria Park
1997 Frankston 10.13 (73) - 5.14 (44) North Port Oval
2000 North Ballarat 15.18 (108) - 11.11 (77) Waverley Park
2004 Port Melbourne 9.13 (67) - 9.9 (63) Princes Park
2005 Werribee 11.17 (83) - 11.8 (74) Princes Park
2006 Geelong 13.13 (91) - 11.7 (73) Princes Park

VFA/VFL Club Records

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Highest Score 44.20 (284) v Dandenong, Round 5, 1984, Beach Road Oval
Lowest Score 0.9 (9) v Williamstown, Round 11, 2018, Williamstown Cricket Ground
Greatest Winning Margin 206 points v Camberwell, Round 18, 1990, Beach Road Oval
Greatest Losing Margin 236 points v Port Melbourne, Round 19, 1941, North Port Oval
Lowest Winning Score 5.9 (39) v Frankston 5.8 (38), Round 20, 2003, Frankston Park
Highest Losing Score 26.12 (168) v Preston 28.7 (175), Preliminary Final, 1981, Junction Oval

Notable former players

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References

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  1. ^ "FEDERAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION 1909 - 1981" (PDF). Southern Football Netball League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 November 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Sandringham Zebras". Demonwiki. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Strategic plan 2018-2022" (PDF). Sandringham Football Club. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Brendon Goddard appointed VFL Head Coach". Sandringham Football Club. 11 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Sandringham Captain 2022". AFL. 14 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Sandringham Football Club (Vic)". Footypedia. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  7. ^ "St Kilda's Lance Collard facing AFL investigation over alleged homophobic slurs towards VFL opponents". ABC News. 15 July 2024. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Wants to Join Senior Ranks". The Sun News-Pictorial. 12 February 1927. p. 20. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  9. ^ "SANDRINGHAM CLUB". The Age. 21 February 1927. p. 7. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Old Scotch Minor Premiers". The Age. 29 August 1927. p. 5. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  11. ^ "Would Join Association". The Sun News-Pictorial. 16 August 1927. p. 19. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  12. ^ "Sandringham Amalgamates To Play In 2 Associations". The Sun News-Pictorial. 18 February 1928. p. 16. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  13. ^ "Sandringham Football". The Sun News-Pictorial. 17 December 1927. p. 21. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  14. ^ "FOSTERING THE GAME". The Age. 27 January 1928. p. 5. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  15. ^ "FEDERAL ASSOCIATION". The Age. 17 March 1928. p. 23. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  16. ^ "METROPOLITAN AMATEURS". The Age. 4 August 1924. p. 17. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  17. ^ "Old Melburnians Penalised". The Age. 7 August 1928. p. 14. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  18. ^ "FENCE MUST BE OBTAINED". The Sun News-Pictorial. 20 November 1928. p. 9. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  19. ^ "Sandringham May Be In Association". The Sun News-Pictorial. 2 January 1929. p. 3. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  20. ^ "Council Supports Movement". The Argus. 26 January 1929. p. 21. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  21. ^ "Sandringham Anticipations". The Age. 26 January 1929. p. 18. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  22. ^ "Sandringham Applies To Be Association Club". The Sun News-Pictorial. 30 January 1929. p. 31. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  23. ^ "Sandringham Club Admitted". The Age. 5 February 1929. p. 15. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  24. ^ "SANDRINGHAM CLUB FORMED". The Age. 25 February 1929. p. 6. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  25. ^ "Request by Football Clubs". The Argus. 16 March 1929. p. 21. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Sandringham Football Club Officials". The Sun News-Pictorial. 1 March 1929. p. 32. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  27. ^ "RIVAL FOOTBALL CLUBS WANT OVAL". The Herald. 15 March 1929. p. 2. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  28. ^ "Rival Deputations Plead With Council". The Sun News-Pictorial. 16 March 1929. p. 10. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  29. ^ "AN UNEXPECTED HITCH". The Age. 16 March 1929. p. 27. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  30. ^ "SANDRINGHAM'S ASSOCIATION CLUB". The Age. 18 March 1929. p. 5. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  31. ^ "Amateurs Versus Professionals". The Herald. 21 March 1929. p. 19. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  32. ^ "SANDRINGHAM FOOTBALL OVAL". The Herald. 22 March 1929. p. 2. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  33. ^ "No Ground for Second 18". The Age. 30 March 1929. p. 17. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  34. ^ "Sandringham's Position to be Reviewed". The Age. 9 April 1929. p. 6. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  35. ^ a b "Zebras History 1920-1940". GameDay. Sandringham Football Club. 29 April 2005. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  36. ^ "Sandringham's first VFA premiership (archived at Trove.nla.gov.au)". Argus Newspaper. 7 October 1946. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  37. ^ "Club Bio - Sandringham". Australianfootball.com.au. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  38. ^ Jim Blake (27 April 1966). "Coburg show hot form". The Sporting Globe. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
  39. ^ a b Wilson, Caroline (24 August 2016). "St Kilda and Sandringham to join forces in VFL". The Age. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  40. ^ "Round 13 Preview and Teams – Sandringham V Casey". Sandringham Football Club. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  41. ^ Scot Palmer (20 April 1964). "VFA got off to a great start". The Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne, VIC. p. 44.
  42. ^ Saints, Demons in VFL affiliate swap (AFL.com.au)
  43. ^ 2000 VFL Grand Final - details
  44. ^ Gallagher, Breanna (5 December 2013). "Saints and Sandy re-align". St Kilda Football Club. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  45. ^ Phelan, Jennifer (5 December 2013). "Saints to field standalone VFL team from 2016". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  46. ^ "Rovers form alignment with Sandringham Zebras". Hampton Rovers Football Club. 22 July 2014. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  47. ^ Diamond, Brent (2 April 2016). "VFL 2016: Your guide to the year ahead". The Age. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  48. ^ Diamond, Brent (23 July 2016). "Sandringham keen to keep VFL development league team". The Age. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  49. ^ "Saints and Sandy forge long-term future together". St Kilda Football Club. 26 August 2016. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  50. ^ McGowan, Marc (25 July 2017). "Zebras ponder end to VFL alignment with St Kilda". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  51. ^ "St Kilda and Sandringham strengthen affiliation, commit to rookie selection". St Kilda Football Club. 26 October 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  52. ^ Keating, Mitch (23 November 2024). "St Kilda backflip on Zebras draft commitment". ZeroHanger. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
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