A review of all the action from Round 12 of the 2024 Smithy’s VFL season.
BRISBANE LIONS vs SANDRINGHAM
BRISBANE LIONS 3.3 7.6 13.12 19.16 (130)
SANDRINGHAM 2.4 4.10 7.12 10.13 (73)
BRISBANE Lions made another statement as they moved within a win of the Smithy’s VFL top two in a stacked race with a 57-point thrashing of in-form Sandringham at Brighton Homes Arena on Saturday.
It was a tight first half as the Zebras took it right up to their powerful opponents, hitting the lead early in the second quarter and only being 14 points down at the main change when 50th gamer Kalin Lane goalled on the siren for the Lions.
But Lane’s major lifted the home team and when the competition’s best player Jarryd Lyons kicked his first goal it sparked four strikes in four minutes to put the game to bed as home side slammed on 12 goals to six in the second half.
Lyons was held to 18 disposals but stood up when it counted with three goals in the second half including a remarkable snap out of a pack, with first-year forward Luke Lloyd (22 disposals, 14 marks, three goals) turning in his best VFL performance and Henry Smith and Harry Sharp also snared three goals from eight and five marks respectively.
Defenders Darragh Joyce (31 disposals, 15 marks, nine rebounds), Jaxon Prior (28 disposals, eight marks, seven rebounds) and Luke Beecken (24 disposals, six marks) made life tough for Sandringham’s forwards, with Deven Robertson (25 disposals, six clearances, seven tackles), James Tunstill (24 disposals, seven marks, five tackles, six entries) and Reece Torrent (22 disposals, 11 marks) starring through the middle.
Mattaes Phillipou (28 disposals, eight clearances, eight entries, one goal) rediscovered his best for the Zebras alongside Ryan Byrnes (25 disposals, six marks). Ben Paton (25 disposals, 12 rebounds) did his best to hold back the tide in defence, Max Hall stepped up his push for an AFL debut with 19 possessions and three goals and Max Heath (19 disposals, 24 hitouts, eight clearances, five tackles) impressed again.
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS vs SYDNEY SWANS
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS 1.0 2.4 6.6 8.8 (56)
SYDNEY SWANS 6.3 6.6 9.7 12.11 (83)
SYDNEY climbed back into the top 10 after a blistering first quarter with the wind helped it stun ladder-leader Footscray by 27 points at Mission Whitten Oval.
The Swans won the toss and took full advantage in stalwart Jake Bartholomaeus’ 50th VFL game, banging on 5.2 before the Bulldogs even had a disposal inside their attacking 50.
But with a 33-point lead in the back pocket at quarter-time, it was the second term where Sydney made the decisive play, holding the home team to just 1.4 in their own turn with the breeze.
Even though Footscray won the third quarter against it, the Swans responded in kind for their best win of the season to see the flag favourites drop two home games in a row to non-Victorian visitors.
Aaron Francis (25 disposals, 10 marks, five rebounds) was best afield with a brilliant intercepting display in defence that was well supporters by Will Edwards and Patrick Snell with 13 marks between them.
Midfielders Caleb Mitchell (24 disposals, six entries, one goal), Ben Edwards (22 disposals, two goals), the returning Corey Warner (21 disposals, five entries, one goal) and Caiden Cleary (19, one goal) had too much pace and all hit the scoreboard, while Bartholomaeus (20 disposals, seven marks, five entries), Jaiden Magor (21 disposals, five entries), mid-season pick Tom Hanily (20 disposals) were lively on the outside
In attack, Joel Hamling broke clear early and late to take six marks and kick four goals for 19 majors in five matches while Pete Ladhams (19 disposals, four marks, seven hitouts) caused plenty of headaches in a fierce battle with the hard-working Will Lewis but blotted his copybook with 0.4.
Oskar Baker was Footscray’s best for the second week in a row, working tirelessly up and down the Doug Hawkins wing for 32 touches, seven marks, five inside-50s and 10 rebounds.
Caleb Poulter (26 disposals, six marks, five entries) starred again and Trent Bianco’s education switched to the forward line and he responded with 23 touches, six marks, five entries and two goals.
Jedd Busslinger did a good job on Hamling through the middle two quarters to finish with 22 touches, nine marks and six rebounds, Riley Garcia (31 disposals, nine clearances, eight tackles) and Cooper Craig-Peters (25 disposals, 10 clearances, 10 tackles, six entries, one goal) did all they could around the packs to stem the tide and Josh Kellett, Tom McRae and Ethan Hunt all tried hard.
Former Swan Cam Owen finally made his Bulldogs’ debut after a first half of the season ruined by a back injury and provided a strong target to kick two third-quarter goals.
RICHMOND vs BOX HILL HAWKS
RICHMOND 0.4 2.6 4.11 6.14 (50)
BOX HILL HAWKS 4.2 6.5 9.6 13.9 (87)
MITCH Lewis made a successful return from injury as Box Hill Hawks set up Saturday’s convincing 37-point win over Richmond at the Swinburne Centre from the bounce.
Lewis had eight touches, pulled in four marks and kicked an early goal in a half of footy as the Hawks banged on four without reply in the opening term and held the Tigers at arm’s length for the rest of the day, with 10 points in the second quarter being the closest the home team got.
Mid-season draftee Jasper Scaife kicked the first two goals and had three by half-time for Box Hill to help set up the win.
Josh Ward (33 disposals, 10 marks, one goal), Seamus Mitchell (34 disposals, 14 marks, nine rebounds), Harry Morrison (34 disposals, nine marks, seven rebounds), Henry Hustwaite (32 disposals, nine clearances, six tackles, five entries) and Finn Maginness (31 disposals, five marks, six tackles) did as they pleased.
Josh Bennetts and captain Cal Porter also starred with 21 and 20 touches respectively, plus eight marks and two goals each, while Jai Serong took 11 marks and Tyler Brown had 18 possessions in his 50th game.
Sam Banks (20 disposals, nine marks, five entries, seven rebounds) and Kaleb Smith (20 disposals, six marks, seven rebounds) put their hands up for AFL recalls for Richmond.
Meanwhile, VFL-listers Tom McCarthy (21 disposals, five marks), Joel Garner (19 disposals, seven clearances, six entries) and Lachlan Wilson (19 disposals, nine clearances), mid-season draftee Jacob Blight (18 disposals, nine marks) and rookie ruckman Oliver Hayes-Brown (14 disposals, 27 hitouts, seven clearances) also did well.
COLLINGWOOD vs NORTH MELBOURNE
COLLINGWOOD 1.0 6.1 10.2 12.7 (79)
NORTH MELBOURNE 6.2 10.2 15.8 18.12 (120)
THE joy of North Melbourne’s convincing 41-point victory over Collingwood at the AIA Vitality Centre in the Magpies’ 400th VFA/VFL match on Sunday has been doused with icy water after the devastating news that young defender Brayden George will require another knee reconstruction.
George didn’t play a game in his debut 2023 season due to a left ACL tear late in his draft year and the repaired ligament gave way again late in the first quarter of an eight-match run that also included a dislocated shoulder last month.
The Kangaroos already had the game well in their keeping before George’s devastation, banging on six goals to one in the first quarter to grab a 32-point lead and never letting the Magpies any closer than the 19-point deficit they got to when Tom Wilson kicked the first goal of the second half.
Dylan Stephens was brilliant for the Kangaroos after missing last week, winning 32 disposals, taking seven marks and kicking two goals, while Zane Duursma was electric early in setting up the game on his way to 25 touches and three goals and captain Jack Watkins (38 disposals, six marks, eight clearances, 17 inside-50s) continued his outstanding form.
Cooper Harvey was a key part of halting Collingwood’s comeback in the second quarter on his way to 21 touches, nine marks and three goals in a classy display, while Jarrod Lienert (24 disposals, nine marks, five rebounds), Charlie Lazzaro (31 disposals, eight marks, five entries), Connor Downie (30 disposals, five marks), Hugh Greenwood (21 disposals, 14 clearances, six tackles), Miller Bergman (21 disposals, seven marks), Finnbar Maley (17 disposals, seven marks, two goals) and Tyler Sellers (five marks, three goals) all had too much for the Magpies to handle.
Collingwood’s defence worked overtime, headed again by Sam Glover (22 disposals, 10 marks, nine rebounds), Ryan Sparkes (23 disposals, five marks) and Campbell Lane (23 disposals).
Jack Bytel starred in the middle with 36 disposals, seven marks, six clearances, seven entries and five rebounds, while Ben Crocker bounced back to form in attack and Ash Johnson had strong moments with eight marks and three goals each.
GWS GIANTS vs PORT MELBOURNE
GWS GIANTS 1.3 3.8 4.13 9.17 (71)
PORT MELBOURNE 4.3 5.4 7.7 8.9 (57)
GWS Giants overcame horrible kicking for goal and a plucky Port Melbourne to win by 14 points and break a five-match losing streak at Blacktown International Sports Park.
The Borough made their move early, kicking three goals in quick succession to take an 18-point lead at quarter-time and still held that advantage 15 minutes into the second term before the Giants started to slowly chip away at the deficit.
The home team hit the front late in the third term despite having a woeful 4.13 on the board before Billy Gowers, who was having his own issues finding the middle, found his radar with two late strikes to put Port 12 points up turning for home.
But perhaps inspired by Gowers working out where the goals were, GWS did the same, piling on 5.2 in 15 minutes during the final term, sparked by James Peatling, to turn the game on its head and keep their finals hopes flickering.
Peatling’s double blow capped a best-afield showing of 31 possessions, 10 clearances, nine tackles and seven inside-50s that was backed up Harry Rowston (27 disposals, eight clearances, seven tackles, eight entries).
Wade Derksen (28 disposals, nine marks, six rebounds) and Jacob Wehr (22 disposals, eight marks, five rebounds) were strong in defence and draftees Joe Fonti (22 disposals, 10 marks, eight tackles, five rebounds) and Phoenix Gothard (22 disposals) showed good signs, while Lachie Keeffe (20 disposals, six marks, one goal) used all his experience.
Gowers (18 disposals, seven marks, five entries) finished with 4.5 to take the lead in the Frosty Miller Medal, while Tom Hird (23 disposals, eight rebounds), Harvey Hooper (21 disposals, five clearances, seven tackles, six entries), Lachlan Rankin (23 disposals) and Cam Wild (21 disposals, five entries) worked hard around the ground, with Fraser Rosman having 17 touches, five entries and eight rebounds in his 50th game.
COBURG vs SOUTHPORT SHARKS
COBURG 1.2 1.5 3.7 6.11 (47)
SOUTHPORT SHARKS 2.2 3.5 6.9 8.10 (58)
SOUTHPORT outlasted Coburg by 11 points in a tough battle at Piranha Park on Sunday to protect its spot in the top four.
Scoring was hard to come by as the backlines of both teams got on top in breezy conditions, with only four goals coming in the first half, headed by an amazing strike from behind the centre circle from Rhys Clark.
The Sharks then threatened to kick away with the first two goals of the third term and the Lions losing key midfielder Donovan Toohey to what looked like concussion after another heavy contest.
But Coburg refused to go away and when Josh D’Intinosante kicked a clutch goal after the three quarter-time siren the margin was 20 points, with the home team kicking with the wind in the last quarter.
Goals to the returning Mitch Podhajski and Ingo Dammersmith cut the deficit to seven points with 20 minutes still to play, but Jacob Heron and Jack Sexton were able to steady for the Sharks and see off the challenge.
Boyd Woodcock (33 disposals, eight clearances, six entries, five rebounds) and Jacob Dawson (31 disposals, eight clearances, five tackles, one goal) were everywhere as usual for Southport, with former Lion Ben Jepson (25 disposals, five marks, six rebounds) standing up in his 50th VFL game.
Zac Foot (25 disposals, five marks), Jacob Heron (20 disposals, six marks, six entries, two goals) and Matt Shannon (22 disposals, five clearances, five tackles, five entries) played well through the middle and Brayden Crossley (14 disposals, six clearances, 37 hitouts) won a great battle with Cooper Keogh (37 hitouts).
Joel Trudgeon had his own football for Coburg, racking up a remarkable 45 touches, nine clearances, 10 tackles and seven inside-50s, with D’Intinosante (26 disposals, one goal), Max Thompson (28 disposals, eight marks, five entries), Josh May, Lachlan Walker and Deacon Kalpakis also putting their best feet forward.
WILLIAMSTOWN vs NORTHERN BULLANTS
WILLIAMSTOWN 5.5 7.6 12.10 12.13 (85)
NORTHERN BULLANTS 0.3 3.6 5.7 8.12 (60)
WILLIAMSTOWN controlled the contest from start to finish without ever really putting a plucky Northern Bullants to the sword, winning by 25 points in wintery conditions at DSV Stadium.
The Seagulls had the game all-but won with a 32-point lead at quarter-time but the Bullants stuck around and kicked the only three goals of the last term to cut a game-high 45-point deficit to 25 by the end.
It was a figure more deserving of the terrific efforts from Liam Mackie (28 disposals, eight rebounds, one goal), Patrick Fairlie (35 disposals, six clearances, seven entries, one goal), Caleb Franks (27 disposals, five clearances, five tackles) and Jean-Luc Velissaris (27 disposals, five tackles, five rebounds, one goal), while Sam Gilbert snagged a couple in another solid outing for the veteran.
But Williamstown was cleaner for longer, headed by strong midfield displays from Will Fordham (26 disposals, eight marks, eight clearances, five entries, one goal), Cam Polson (25 disposals, six clearances, eight entries, one goal), Mitch Cox (24 disposals, seven marks, six entries), Darby Henderson (22 disposals, six marks, one goal) and Toby Triffett (20 disposals, seven clearances, six entries).
Aiden Bonar (21 disposals, 10 marks, six rebounds), Joel Fitzgerald (18 disposals, 11 marks), Jake Greiser (18 disposals, 10 marks, six rebounds) and Luke Parks (18 disposals, nine marks, five rebounds) did their usual thing in defence and Brodie McLaughlin (six marks, 3.3) contributed in attack.
