Tyler Sonsie's consistency stands out as Tigers go down to Sandringham

Talented Richmond midfielder Tyler Sonsie could hold his head high with another solid performance in an otherwise dismal showing in the Tigers' match against Sandringham at the weekend.

Picked up in last year's AFL National Draft, Sonsie was the dominant AFL-listed player on the ground. He had a consistent four-quarter performance that saw him gather 31 possessions, lay five tackles and kick a goal.

After a strong intraclub performance in February and impressive games thus far in the preseason and VFL, Sonsie could be rewarded with an AFL debut in the not-too-distant future.

In what was a scrappy contest, Richmond went down to Sandringham by 54-points at the Trevor Barker Oval, 5.10.40 to 15.4.94. The margin was only 22-points midway through the third quarter but the Zebra's put the foot down, booting seven of the last nine goals of the game.

It was a similar story in the AFL with Richmond demoralising fans, going down to St Kilda by 33 points after leading by 25 points in the third quarter.

Richmond Cricket Club's Second XI went down by 93 runs in pursuit of 236 against a rampant St Kilda outfit in the grand final but, according to Scott Riddle, the club's administration manager, the seeds for the future are already bearing fruit, with its up-and-coming young talent.

Keen followers of the Sheffield Shield will be aware of Richmond's Victorian contracted players in Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mitchell Perry and Will Parker, but there are a couple more players to keep an eye on in Shobit Singh and Yash Pednekar.

"As an opening pair, they're two that come to mind that have really taken a step forward to becoming First XI cricketers," Riddle said.

"They have really had break out years in the First XI ... and they've basically cemented their spot in the side.

"They are both young emerging players, they've both made over 400 runs (511 and 444) for the season which is really solid.'

"They are the ones that are coming through who are going to be good long-term cricketers and hopefully go on to higher honours."

Summing up the season, Riddle said: "Getting to the last four in the First XI and the grand final in the Second XI; we won a Thirds flag last year and the Fourths made the finals this year as well. All in all, you have to say that it was a pretty successful year, without taking home any silverware".

It was a top opening round for the Kew Bears Football Club in the Victorian Amateur Football Association, with both its men and women's sides tasting victory.

In Division One men's seniors, the Bears recorded an impressive 74-point win over the Therry Penola Lions, 20.14.134 to 8.12.60.

Senior men's coach Ian Aitken said their hard preseason had helped his team's ability to run out the game stronger as they extended their lead at every break.

"We knew Therry Penola would be strong, they've got some very good players and we were hoping that our fitness and preparation throughout the preseason was going to help us outlast them," he said.

Aitken, who had coached the club to three consecutive senior premierships from 2013 to 2015, was also pleased with the display from Kew's Division One reserves team.

George Smart and William Llewelyn kicked eight and six goals respectively in the 122-point win, while in the William Buck Premier Women's, Kew also notched up a powerful victory, defeating Old Trinity, 12.22.94 to 0.3.3.

Melbourne Girls Grammar School rowing crews put in a great performance at the Australian Rowing Championships at Lake Nagambie on Sunday, with all of the school's 24 rowers returning with medals.

Three crews competed - the 1st and 2nd VIII Senior crews and Year 10 Division 1 Quad Scull.

The Merton (Division 1 Year 12 crew) won silver in the Schoolgirl Eight A Final, narrowly missing gold for a second regatta.

Sophia Wilson coxed a composite crew in the Under 17 Women's Coxed Quadruple Scull, securing a gold medal.

The Grant (Year 10) won gold in its sprint race and finished fourth in the A Final of the Coxed Quadruple Scull. The Eaton (Year 12 crew) won silver in its sprint race and finished second in the D Final of the Schoolgirl's Coxed Eight.