All the teams for Week Two of the Smithy’s VFL Finals Series.
Retiring Brisbane Lions great Daniel Rich will get the opportunity to press his case for a fairytale end to his AFL career when he returns from a hamstring injury in Saturday’s Smithy’s VFL first semi final against Williamstown at Brighton Homes Arena.
Rich, 33, announced his retirement this week after 275 AFL matches, the 2009 Rising Star award and a 2021 All-Australian blazer, but is hoping for a strong finish before he hangs up the boots.
He hasn’t played since hurting his hamstring early in the Lions’ Round 21 loss to the Seagulls at the same venue on August 12 but averaged 19 disposals in his previous three VFL games as he tried to fight his way back into form.
His inclusion is the Lions’ only change for the semi-final, with Wilson Barry the unlucky man to drop out for what is captain Wylie Buzza’s 100th VFL game.
Williamstown will go in unchanged, meaning VFA/VFL games record holder Ben Jolley (calf) and midfielder James Cousins (ankle) have failed to overcome their injuries in time.
Box Hill Hawks have been boosted by the returns of Stu Horner and impressive young half-forward Josh Bennetts for their second semi final against Footscray at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday.
Horner has only managed four matches this season and none since Round 11 due to a hamstring injury, with his team doing a great job to secure a top four spot without his experience and leadership.
Bennetts played every home and away game but was a late withdrawal against Werribee last week after failing a pre-match fitness test on his quad.
They return alongside first-year player Tristen Waack, who comes in for his fifth game, with last week’s late inclusions Max Hall, Liam Coghlan and Mitchell Sruk all losing their places.
Jack O’Sullivan (calf), Clay Tucker (omit) and Lachie Bryce (omit), who were all late outs last week, have not regained their spots, with the fourth late inclusion against the Tigers, Jake Arundell, doing enough to hold his spot.
Footscray regains father-son prodigy Sam Darcy in its only change from the team that flogged Casey Demons last week, with Josh Chatfield being the unlucky Bulldog.
Darcy has missed seven weeks after being subbed out of the AFL loss to Sydney in Round 18 with a corked quad and his return will add to Footscray’s aerial presence after he was in great VFL form leading up to the injury.
All matches in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season are live streamed free via the AFL website and AFL Live Official App.
BROADCAST: All matches in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season are live streamed free via the AFL website and AFL Live Official App. Smithy’s VFL broadcast partner, the Seven Network, will broadcast the first semi final between the Box Hill Hawks and Footscray Bulldogs finals live and free on the Seven Network in Victoria and on 7Plus nationally. The coverage begins at 11:30am.
TICKETING: For all matches during Week One to Week Three of the Smithy’s VFL Finals, admission prices will be adults $15, concession/pensioners $10 and children under 15 free. Tickets for this weekend’s matches can be pre-purchased at www.intix.com.au/org/vfl. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate, subject to capacity. Spectators purchasing at the gate are advised the payment method is EFTPOS only.
BOX HILL HAWKS vs FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS
Second Semi Final
Saturday 9 September, 11:30am, Box Hill City Oval
Head-to-head: Head-to-head: Box Hill Hawks 5-4-1. At Box Hill City Oval: Level 1-1. Streak: Footscray 2
BOX HILL HAWKS
B: B. Macdonald (42), E. Jeka (39), D. Grainger-Barras (24)
HB: L. Bramble (16), J. Serong (29), C. Porter (55)
C: D. Mascitti (50), N. Long (27), C. Stephens (21)
HF: S. Butler (30), C. Brown (66), J. Arundell (70)
F: B. Ryan (46), J. Koschitzke (23), F. Greene (26)
R: M. Ramsden (38), H. Hustwaite (44), J. Bennetts (41)
INT: S. Horner (62), J. Morris (35), T. Waack (64)*, E. Phillips (60), J. Thorpe (57)
EMG: L. Wynd (63), L. Coghlan (74), M. Sruk (80), M. Hall (61), J. Trudgeon (54)
IN: J. Bennetts, S. Horner, T. Waack
OUT: L. Coghlan, M. Hall, M. Sruk
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS
B: H. Crozier (9), J. Busslinger (5), N. Drummond (51)
HB: L. Cleary (36), T. O'Brien (22), R. Gardner (43)
C: R. Garcia (38), L. Sullivan (53), C. Poulter (25)
HF: H. Gallagher (12), C. Clarke (8), R. West (14)
F: C. Raak (40), S. Darcy (10), B. Khamis (24)
R: J. Sweet (41), R. McComb (27), T. McLean (16)
INT: L. Goater (58), E. MacPherson (67), E. Hunt (72), C. Craig-Peters (61), C. Smith (74)*
EMG: D. Orgill (50), C. MacIsaac (56), J. Gilbee (69), C. Lewis (70), S. Willoughby (73)
IN: S. Darcy
OUT: J. Chatfield
BRISBANE LIONS vs WILLIAMSTOWN
First Semi Final
Saturday 9 September, 1:15pm, Brighton Homes Arena
Head-to-head: Level 1-1. At Brighton Homes Arena: Williamstown 1-0. Streak: Williamstown 1
BRISBANE LIONS
B: J. Prior (20), D. Gardiner (27), B. Reville (49)
HB: D. Joyce (41), T. Fullarton (21), D. Rich (10)
C: S. Brain (34), J. Lyons (17), H. Sharp (22)
HF: B. Coleman (13), N. Cockatoo (12), K. Lohmann (1)
F: D. McDowell-White (50), D. Fort (32), W. Buzza (59)
R: H. Smith (25), R. Mathieson (36), J. Tunstill (29)
INT: K. Lane (45), T. Abberley (48), K. Dunkley (52), R. Greene (53), J. Manly (62)*
EMG: J. Budarick (51), W. Barry (54), J. Hille (55), L. Rayner (57), O. Collins (61), E. Glass (63)
IN: D. Rich
OUT: W. Barry
WILLIAMSTOWN
B: J. Greiser (18), F. O'Dwyer (17), M. Hore (3)
HB: M. Philpot (19), O. McDonald (8), D. Andrews (7)
C: N. Gadsby (13), J. Toner (14), J. Pickess (22)
HF: M. Cox (21), J. Ottavi (20), T. Triffett (23)
F: N. Ebinger (26), C. Ellison (24), C. Polson (5)
R: T. Downie (11), H. Jones (12), C. Preston (15)
INT: M. Ktona (33), J. McHale (32), J. Noonan (31), N. Colenso (35), L. Conway (34)
EMG: J. Pongracic (1), W. Jury (2), Z. Pritchard (46)
No change
UMPIRES
Box Hill Hawks vs Footscray Bulldogs
FIELD: 7.Sam Nippress, 8.Nick Scott, 48.Cam Manthey. Emergency: 33.Kyle Van Raay. BOUNDARY: James Brayshaw, Sam Button, John Cooper, Harry Hansford. GOAL: Matt Edwards, James Rizio. Emergency: Brendan Moloney.
Brisbane Lions vs Williamstown
FIELD: 1.Andrew Talbot, 27.Nick Jankovskis, 34.Joel Clamp. Emergency: 4.Sam Whetton. BOUNDARY: Anthony Laughton, Lachlan Menara, Adrian Pretorius, Lewis Spiker. GOAL: Brad Kellett, Luke Monea. Emergency: Zac Mabb.
