The Sandringham Zebras have edged out Carlton in a VFL thriller that went down to the final seconds.
The Saints' affiliate side was buoyed by the return of small forward Dan Butler who started well with a strong mark and goal and finished the day with 14 disposals and five tackles.
What a grab 🙌
— #VFL / #VFLW (@VFL) May 22, 2022
The @sandyzebs get one on the board.
Watch the #VFL live: https://t.co/dBCbjKhgzz pic.twitter.com/M73Pkw6Nu2
The Blues then took control thanks to some early dominance in ground-ball gets, exemplified by Jordan Boyd and Paddy Dow who were everywhere in the first term.
Jordan Boyd played a ripping first half.
— Carlton Reserves (@CarltonReserves) May 22, 2022
A goal and 15 touches to go with it. pic.twitter.com/NjMVrK3fpl
A great finish from Dowy.
— Carlton Reserves (@CarltonReserves) May 22, 2022
Two goals and 11 disposals for Paddy in the opening term. pic.twitter.com/kzVOZYcqJL
It was a stand-out game for Saints youngster Mitch Owens, who debuted in Round 1 for the senior side and is yet to be seen at senior level since.
The 18-year-old slotted two crucial goals in the third term to give the Zebras the momentum and finished the day with 23 touches.
Here's some Mitch Owens magic for your timeline 🪄
— #VFL / #VFLW (@VFL) May 22, 2022
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The defence of Sandringham was yet again telling in their eventual victory, with Tom Highmore (16 marks, 24 disposals) dominating aerially alongside Jarrod Leinert (24 disposals, six marks) who continues to press his case for an AFL recall.
Through the midfield, Ryan Byrnes collected 30 disposals while Jack Bytel continued his impressive run in the reserves with 26 disposals and eight tackles.
Brett Ratten was in attendance and would be pleased with Hunter Clark’s second VFL game since an AC joint injury as he compiled 28 classy and composed disposals.
For the Blues, Paddy Dow (two goals, 30 disposals) and Tom Williamson (one goal, 26 disposals) were the clear stand-outs in their side’s narrow loss and ensured their names will be on the whiteboard for selection in Carlton’s senior side clash with Collingwood.
Jordan Boyd (one goal, 24 disposals), Will Setterfield (21 disposals, five marks) and Lachie Fogarty (23 disposals, seven inside 50s) were also impressive and showed class throughout the day.
On the injury front, Caleb Marchbank’s return from an ACL was stunted by an apparent injury to his other knee.
Marchbank was taken off with the complaint after collecting 15 disposals in the first half and being one of the best on the ground.
In a further blow to Carlton’s ruck-depth, Alex Mirkov went down clutching his ankle area and did not re-emerge late.
It takes the Zebras to fifth on the VFL ladder while Carlton missed the chance to go to second and has dropped to seventh.
In other games, the UWS Giants went down to Werribee by 53 points earlier in the day and had very few notable performers while Geelong overcame the Northern Bullants by 13 points.
Luke Dahlhaus (one goal, 28 disposals) and Ollie Dempsey (two goals, 24 disposals) starred for the Cats while pick 33 in the 2020 AFL draft Shannon Neale slotted five goals in a break-out game for the 203-centimetre 19-year-old.
Just one game separates second from eighth in a hotly contested first nine rounds of this year's VFL.