The Sydney Swans VFL team has suffered a 60-point defeat at the hands of the Sandringham Zebras in windy conditions at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Despite being 44 points down to begin the third quarter, Sydney fought hard to retake the lead early in the fourth but were unable to withstand a final 10-goal surge from the home side, Sandringham running out 9.12.66 to 17.11.119 winners.
It was a fairly even first term, both teams kicking two goals apiece in what was a tough battle between the arcs.
With goals hard to come by, Matt Lloyd opened the scoring for the Swans at the 20-minute mark of the first quarter.
AFL-listed Indhi Kirk kicked an impressive major from the pocket outside 50 to give Sydney their second and a two-point lead at the first change.
Ollie Florent and Patrick Snell featured heavily in the opening term with 11 disposals each.
It was all Sandringham in the second quarter, the home side dominating the inside 50s and applying scoreboard pressure.
With the help of the breeze, the Zebras piled on six unanswered goals to get out to a 38-point lead, leaving plenty of work for the Swans to do in the second half.
Lloyd got Sydney going again in the third term with his second goal, the Swans' first since the 28-minute mark of the first quarter, before a nice passage of play from Corey Warner connected with Lloyd, who found a target in Kirk, who converted for his second.
Back-to-back goals to Peter Ladhams and a major to Jack Kluske made it five in a row for the red and white, trimming the margin to 11 points and giving the Swans a look heading into the final change.
The first goal of the final term came from Lloyd, and after some fancy footwork from Ladhams and clean hands to Caleb Mitchell, who kicked a clever snap, the Swans got out to an early lead.
However, the comeback wasn't to be for Sydney as Sandringham made the most of the breeze, kicking ten goals to two in the fourth quarter, to put a stop to the Swans' momentum and secure a 60-point victory.
Ladhams was influential, with 17 hit outs, 15 disposals and two goals, and Florent led the way with a game-high 36 disposals.
Up next, the Sydney VFL side returns home for a Saturday afternoon clash with 11th-placed North Melbourne at Tramway Oval.
