A review of all the action from Round 18 of the 2024 Smithy’s VFL season.
CASEY DEMONS vs GWS GIANTS
CASEY DEMONS 2.2 4.5 6.11 6.15 (51)
GWS GIANTS 2.2 3.3 4.3 9.4 (58)
GWS kicked the last six goals to run down a woefully inaccurate Casey Demons by seven points and stay within touching distance of the Smithy’s VFL top 10 at Casey Fields on Saturday.
The Giants’ season was hanging by a thread when the Demons kicked the first two goals of the third term to build a 24-point lead entering time-on, but the home team’s already wayward 6.7 only got worse as they missed their last eight shots at goal to keep the door open.
And GWS kicked it down, led by Max Gruzewski who had all five of the Giants’ goals until midway through the last term.
He finally found some support in the final term with Jacob Wehr (13th minute), Nathan Wardius (17th) and Ryan Hebron (18th) levelling the scores, before Callum Brown gave the visitors the lead with a behind and Academy prospect Josaia Delana nailed the sealer with seconds remaining.
Gruzewski only had nine kicks but he terrorised the Casey defence with six marks and 5.1 to single-handedly keep his team in the game before the late fightback, while Nick Haynes (28 disposals, seven marks, seven rebounds), James Leake (28 disposals) and Connor Stone (22 disposals, six rebounds) held things together at the other end.
Tom Sparrow responded to being asked to play VFL for the first time in three years with a starring role that yielded a game-high 31 possessions, nine clearances and nine tackles for Casey.
Marty Hore (23 disposals, 11 marks, seven rebounds) and Adam Tomlinson (22 disposals, eight marks, seven rebounds) were again dominant down back and Tom Fullarton (25 disposals, 10 clearances, one goal) also performing well.
But it was their accuracy that made all the difference, with the otherwise good Matt Jefferson, Roy George and Harvey Neocleous the main offenders with 1.8 between them.
SOUTHPORT SHARKS vs SYDNEY SWANS
SOUTHPORT SHARKS 4.3 6.6 7.6 10.8 (68)
SYDNEY SWANS 3.3 6.4 12.8 14.9 (93)
THE Jekyll and Hyde Swans brought out the Jekyll again as Sydney blew away Southport with a six-goal-to-one third quarter at Fankhauser Reserve to keep its dangling finals hopes alive.
Needing to win to retain any chance of playing finals, the Swans trailed the more fancied Sharks by two points at the main change before doubling their score with 6.4 to 1.0 in a third term that again left coaches and fans wondering why they can’t produce that every week.
Trailing by 32 points at the last change with their hopes of returning to the top four looking shot, Southport rallied as good teams do, kicking the first three goals to pull within 13 points entering time-on with all the momentum.
However, Sydney was able to steady through Matty Lloyd and Tom Hanily to seal its first victory at the Shark Tank in its history and break a five-year losing run against Southport.
The win came despite the Swans having seven of the bottom nine ball-winners, as Pete Ladhams (20 disposals, 23 hitouts, three goals) used his mobility to great effect and Caiden Cleary (34 disposals, nine marks) dominated at ground level.
Gus Sheldrick (22 disposals) worked hard to get back and support the backline and Nic Shipley (18 disposals, two goals) and Caleb Mitchell (19 disposals) made also made their presence felt in the 50th NEAFL/VFL game for key defender Harry Arnold (13 disposals, five marks).
Southport was marking Mike Manteit’s 100th game as a Shark and also had Mackenzie Willis in his 50th VFL appearance, and its regular stars in Boyd Woodcock (33 disposals, 11 marks, 10 clearances), Jacob Dawson (34 disposals, 17 clearances, seven tackles) and Ben Jepson (30 disposals) were again in sparkling form, with Nick Williams (17 disposals, six marks) impressing in defence and Jay Lockhart kicking his 50th goal in black and white.
GOLD COAST SUNS vs BRISBANE LIONS
GOLD COAST SUNS 7.5 11.5 17.7 20.11 (131)
BRISBANE LIONS 2.2 6.4 10.5 14.12 (96)
GOLD COAST bookended the Brisbane Lions’ eight-match winning streak and remained within striking distance of the top-six with a convincing 35-point triumph at People First Stadium.
The results saw the Suns claim their fifth-straight QClash and 50th VFL win in the process.
The Suns smacked the Lions by 86 points in Round 6 before the latter launched an eight-match winning streak to charge into premiership calculations, but the streak was ended by another dominant head-to-head showing by the reigning premier.
Gold Coast kicked seven goals to two in the opening quarter and continued scoring at a regular clip in an old-fashioned shootout, with the Suns ending up with 44 goals across the two QClashes this year.
The Lions rescued some vital percentage by having the last seven scoring shots of the game, booting 3.4, to retain fourth spot by just 0.32 per cent.
Alex Sexton had been playing in defence in both AFL and VFL this year but returned to familiar surroundings and proved unstoppable with 21 possessions, 10 marks, eight inside-50s and five goals – including his 100th NEAFL/VFL major.
Brayden Fiorini (32 disposals, seven marks, nine tackles, one goal) was again a class above, Rory Atkins (32 disposals) racked them up, Oskar Faulkhead (32 disposals) had an equal career-best day, rookie Ben Moyle took it up to Darcy Fort in the ruck and Darcy Macpherson (23 disposals, one goal) was also good.
The Lions’ unveiled 201cm Academy prospect Tom Gillett and he starred on VFL debut with three goals from 10 disposals and 18 hitouts, while Bruce Reville staked a claim for an immediate AFL return with 26 touches and two goals.
Deven Robertson (30 disposals, 14 clearances, 11 tackles), Jarryd Lyons (29 disposals) and James Tunstill (27 disposals) found plenty of the ball, while Brandon Ryan’s second goal was his 50th at this level.
NORTH MELBOURNE vs GEELONG CATS
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.1 4.2 6.5 7.9 (51)
GEELONG CATS 4.4 5.6 8.7 10.12 (72)
GEELONG climbed back into second spot on the ladder and eliminated North Melbourne from the Smithy’s VFL finals race with a comfortable 21-point win in the rain at Arden Street Oval.
While they were never able to fully shake off the Kangaroos, the Cats also never looked like losing after they kicked four goals to one in the opening quarter, with the only minor threat coming when the home team kicked the first three goals of the second term to draw back within three points at the 16-minute mark.
Geelong re-established its advantage by kicking the next three goals and then threatened to turn it into one-way traffic with three more either side of three-quarter time, only for North to fight the game out to the end.
Mitch Hardie (31 disposals, eight clearances, one goal) was once again brilliant for the Cats in another best afield showing, just ahead of Kangaroo powerhouse Hugh Greenwood (30 disposals, 11 clearances, nine tackles, one goal) by virtue of being on the winning team as they both put in a classic showing of wet weather footy.
Hardie had more mates, with Mitch Knevitt (27 disposals, nine tackles, two goals), Jhye Clark (24 disposals, eight clearances, 10 tackles) and Brandan Parfitt (24 disposals, eight clearances, one goal) also in fine fettle, while basketball convert Joe Furphy’s ruck craft was impressive in his 56 hitouts.
Greenwood was clearly North Melbourne’s best as Finnbar Maley (24 disposals, 22 hitouts) gave his all in general play despite being well beaten in the hitouts and Jarrod Lienert (21 disposals, five marks, nine rebounds) was terrific as the backline general and Sam Lowson (two goals) was lively in attack.
The Kangaroos weren’t helped by two dislocated shoulders, with Bigoa Nyuon hurt before half-time and clearly hampered when he came back on in the second half, and Nick Hodgson going down with the same issue late in the third term.
PORT MELBOURNE vs WERRIBEE
PORT MELBOURNE 2.2 5.4 6.6 7.7 (49)
WERRIBEE 1.3 4.5 10.7 11.10 (76)
WERRIBEE survived an early scare as a Hudson Garoni blitz helped it to overcome Port Melbourne by 27 points at ETU Stadium, recording its 11th victory in a row to move 10 points clear atop the ladder.
Teams playing their first game after announcing the pending departure of a coach are notoriously hard to beat and so it proved as the Borough held the Tigers early and then took the lead with two late goals in the first quarter.
The home team also added the first two of the second to go 17 points clear before Jack Henderson and Jack Riding worked Werribee back into the contest.
Kyle Vickers steadied for Port but Garoni kicked his first in the shadows of half-time and then exploded out of the break with three more inside six minutes to turn the game on its head.
The spearhead had his fifth before three-quarter time and with Billy Gowers being held goalless at the other end it gave him a three-goal lead in the Frosty Miller Medal ahead of Frankston’s Matt Johnson with just three rounds to play.
Garoni was the matchwinner, with his 5.1 coming from 19 disposals and seven marks while fellow Ovens and Murray products Riley Bice (31 disposals, 11 marks, eight tackles, seven entries, six rebounds) and Dom Brew (29 disposals, 15 clearances, 11 tackles, eight entries) proved unstoppable.
Henderson (24 disposals, 11 clearances, one goal), Jake Smith (23 disposals, eight clearances) and Riding (16 disposals, three goals) also impressed and Harry Grintell (16 disposals) and Angus Hicks (seven tackles) had their moments in their 50th games.
Fraser Rosman (23 disposals, nine rebounds) and Tom Highmore (17 disposals, 10 marks) were tireless in defence for the Borough as they tried to pinch a big upset in the week coach Adam Skrobalak announced he would depart at season's end, while Tom Hird (21 disposals, nine clearances, 10 tackles, one goal) also performed strongly and Matt Gahan had seven rebounds in his 50th game.
COLLINGWOOD vs RICHMOND
COLLINGWOOD 3.3 5.7 6.7 9.10 (64)
RICHMOND 3.1 3.3 4.8 7.11 (53)
COLLINGWOOD ended its 12-match losing streak and extended its unbelievable unbeaten run against Richmond at the Swinburne Centre to at least 131 years with a stunning 11-point upset on Sunday.
One drought was guaranteed to break with the Magpies having not won a game since Round 3 (and coming off a 14-goal loss to Carlton) while having not been defeated by the Tigers on their home ground since 1894.
And it was the former that cracked as the Magpies kicked the first three goals, saw off a rally and then took control with 4.4 to 0.2 in the second term to lead by 16 at half time.
With their shot at returning to the top six slipping away, the Tigers hit back with three goals in a row to level the scores through a clever Mo Yassine snap 12 minutes into the last.
However, the usually reliable Jacob Bauer (1.4) and Sam Davidson (1.1) missed three set shots between them and Magpie Ed Allan landed a remarkable bomb from the centre circle before Ryan Sparkes calmly sealed the game with a pressure shot in the dying moments.
Allan turned in easily the best performance of his 31-match career, breaking 30 possessions for the first time on his way to 32 disposals, eight clearances and two goals. Fin Macrae (28 disposals, 10 clearances) and Harry Demattia (23 disposals, six entries) starred through the middle, with the latter recording his first VFL win in his 12th match.
Charlie Dean (27 disposals, 15 marks, eight rebounds) was a tower of strength in the last line of defence, mid-season draftee Iliro Smit racked up 55 hitouts and kicked a goal, and Ben Crocker marked his 50th VFL appearance for Collingwood with his 150th VFL goal.
Vic Metro captain Jagga Smith again lifted his stocks as a potential No.1 pick by adding 27 disposals after picking up 31 on debut last week for Richmond.
He fitted in nicely alongside Tyler Sonsie (29 disposals, nine clearances), Kane McAuliffe (23 disposals, nine tackles, one goal) and Lachlan Wilson (18 disposals, 13 tackles), with Jacob Blight (23 disposals) and Tom Brindley (18 disposals, 37 hitouts) also performing well.
BOX HILL HAWKS vs WILLIAMSTOWN
BOX HILL HAWKS 3.4 7.5 9.7 13.12 (90)
WILLIAMSTOWN 1.1 3.2 8.7 10.8 (68)
BOX HILL Hawks overcame a six-goal masterclass from Corey Ellison to overrun Williamstown by 22 points at Box Hill City Oval to retain their spot in the top six.
Fifth spot was on offer for the winner while the loser would be in the Wildcard Round positions with two games to play and it was the Hawks who found a way as they so often do.
Leading by 15 points at quarter time, Box Hill responded to Ellison kicking the first two goals of the second term by banging on the next six to open a 39-point lead early in the third.
The Seagulls are another of the hardest teams in the competition to put away and they flew back into the contest with five unanswered goals, including three to Ellison, to get back within a kick on the three quarter time siren.
However, the Hawks were able to respond early in the last through Kye Agosta and best afield Harry Morrison and run away with the game.
Morrison stuffed the stats sheet with 33 disposals, seven marks, nine clearances, six tackles and three goals.
He had support from Cam Mackenzie (29 disposals, 10 clearances), Jake Arundell (22 disposals, 10 marks, two goals), Henry Hustwaite (24 disposals, eight clearances) and Bodie Ryan (19 disposals, 10 marks) through the middle and Jai Serong (28 disposals, 13 marks) and Ethan Phillips (20 disposals, 15 marks) intercepted repeatedly down back.
Ellison booted 6.0 from 16 disposals, his sixth major bringing up 50 for Williamstown, while 50th gamer Jack Toner (21 disposals, one goal) led his team’s disposal count alongside Joel Fitzgerald (21 disposals, six rebounds), Luke Parks (18 disposals, eight rebounds) and Noah Gadsby (17 disposals, one goal).
COBURG vs FRANKSTON
COBURG 1.2 1.4 4.9 5.11 (41)
FRANKSTON 1.1 5.8 7.11 9.15 (69)
FRANKSTON banked its fourth victory in a row and moved a game clear inside the top 10 after outslugging Coburg by 28 points at Piranha Park.
The teams only had one goal each on the board before Noah Gown hit the target in the 18th minute of the second quarter, with that sparking the Dolphins to find another gear and bang on three more goals before the half time siren for a match-winning lead.
The Lions won the third quarter to raise hopes of a comeback to match last week’s charge down of Port Melbourne, but Frankston was able to steady and claim a vital four points despite again struggling with the inaccuracy bug that also afflicted the home team.
George Gray has rediscovered his form from prior to his mid-season injury to have 23 disposals and two goals, while fellow rebounders Tyson Milne (28 disposals) and Jackson Voss (21 disposals) also performed strongly.
The engine room of Seb Quirk (23 disposals, eight tackles), Trent Mynott (22 disposals) and Taj Campbell-Farrell (21 disposals, nine tackles) continued their strong form, while Blake O’Leary (20 disposals, two goals) again stood up and Matt Johnson booted three goals to go to outright second in the Frosty Miller Medal race.
The draft stocks of Flynn Gentile (35 disposals, six clearances, 10 inside-50s) continue to rise as he laid claims to best afield honours in a losing team, while Cooper Keogh put in a mammoth display with 25 touches, 52 hitouts and 11 clearances and Braedyn Gillard (36 disposals) also racked up a big number.
ESSENDON vs SANDRINGHAM
ESSENDON 0.5 2.6 4.11 9.13 (67)
SANDRINGHAM 3.0 3.2 5.6 9.8 (62)
ESSENDON dealt a major blow to Sandringham’s hopes of a first finals appearance in eight years, coming from behind in the last quarter to win a low-scoring battle by five points at Windy Hill.
In a see-sawing battle, the Zebras looked the good early simply by kicking straight, leading 3.0 to 0.5 at quarter-time, but they went goalless in the second term as the Bombers ground their way back to level early in the third.
Goals to Hugo Hall-Kahan and Ollie Lowe restored the visitors’ advantage, but Essendon wouldn’t be denied and Jayden Davey and Jackson Hately grabbed the lead before the Zebras finished with three misses to lead by a point at the last change.
The game opened up in the final term as Sandringham’s Blake Watson finally hit the target following three behinds, only for the Bombers to respond through Hately and Bailey Scott.
Essendon looked safe when Jack Jedwab nailed a wonderful set shot from deep in the pocket and Tom Toma goalled immediately from the restart after a clever tap from Alwyn Davey for a 13-point lead after 26 minutes.
But the visitors came again, with behinds to Tom Campbell and Hall-Kahan followed by Angus Hastie getting on the end of an Essendon error to kick truly at the 33-minute mark to set up a heart-stopping finish, but the Bombers held on desperately for the last minute.
