A review of all the action from the final round of the 2024 Smithy’s VFL season.
GOLD COAST SUNS vs CASEY DEMONS
GOLD COAST SUNS 6.3 11.6 22.8 27.13 (175)
CASEY DEMONS 6.2 8.4 11.7 13.9 (87)
DEFENCE was a long way from consideration as Gold Coast thrashed Casey Demons by 88 points in an old-fashioned Smithy’s VFL shootout at People First Stadium on Saturday.
The Suns wrapped up a home match in Wildcard Round in swashbuckling style, producing an 11-goal third-quarter blitzkrieg to turn a 20-point lead from an exciting first half to a 67-point advantage turning for home.
They also kicked 16 goals in the other three quarters to finish with the highest score of the season and their biggest score against Casey, while the Demons were still able to boot 13 majors of their own.
The forwards of both sides filled their boots with 31 of the 40 goals kicked from set shots in a game that yielded a tackle count of just 45-29 Casey’s way.
Jack Lukosius was unstoppable early for Gold Coast, booting three goals in the first quarter on his way to 25 disposals, 14 marks, seven inside-50s and 5.1 to just pip Alex Sexton’s 22 possessions, 11 marks and 5.1.
Will Rowlands also cashed in with five goals of his own and Ned Moyle dominated the ruck once again for 23 touches, seven marks, 29 hitouts and three goals.
Ball magnets Rory Atkins (40 disposals) and Brayden Fiorini (35) knocked up winning the footy, while Hewago Oea (a career-best 28 disposals, nine marks, two goals) and Joel Jeffrey (26 disposals, nine marks) were also outstanding.
Ben Brown had a day out at the other end for Casey with Shane McAdam bobbing up to boot four, capping off the work of Andy Moniz-Wakefield, who picked up where he left off before his debut AFL stint with his own career-best of 36 disposals, nine marks and eight rebounds.
Mitch White (27 disposals), Bailey Laurie (20 disposals, seven marks), Kynan Brown (24 disposals) and Josh Schache (10 marks) all played their part and Taj Woewodin shut down Lloyd Johnston on the wing.
SYDNEY SWANS vs FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS
SYDNEY SWANS 1.2 4.4 6.9 10.10 (70)
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS 3.3 10.7 13.7 16.11 (107)
FOOTSCRAY sealed two finals at Mission Whitten Oval after a powerful second quarter delivered it a 37-point victory over Sydney at Tramway Oval to eliminate the Swans from finals contention.
The Swans had to win to be any chance of a Wildcard Round berth but the Bulldogs had their top-two hopes on the line and took control from the start, eking out a 13-point lead at the first break.
Sydney kicked the first two goals of the second quarter to get back within three points but it just sparked Footscray into gear and it piled on seven of the next eight goals to have the result shot to bits by half-time, maintaining the margin between 27 and 43 points for the rest of the game.
The Bulldogs’ depth was again on show as Riley Garcia (29 disposals, 17 contested, nine clearances), Ryley Sanders (35 disposals, seven clearances) and James Harmes (26 disposals, 11 contested, one goal) did as they pleased in the middle.
Nick Coffield (23 disposals, nine marks), Jedd Busslinger (21 disposals, seven marks), Alex Keath (20 disposals, nine marks) and Jarrod Gilbee (20 disposals, six marks) repelled the ball regularly from defence, while former Western Jets captain Diesel Moloney enjoyed a breakout game with four goals.
Corey Warner made a surprise appearance after being the sub on Friday night for Sydney, gathering 27 touches (14 contested),10 clearances and kicking a goal, while Gus Sheldrick (28 disposals, 14 contested, 12 clearances) also starred and 50-gamer Nic Shipley kicked three goals from 17 possessions.
COLLINGWOOD vs BRISBANE LIONS
COLLINGWOOD 3.4 6.7 9.9 11.11 (77)
BRISBANE LIONS 3.2 5.6 9.8 10.9 (69)
COLLINGWOOD finished its year with a contender for the upset of the season, stunning the Brisbane Lions by eight points at AIA Vitality Centre to end the Lions’ hopes of securing a top-two finish.
The Magpies fell two points short of Brisbane in a rollicking comeback in Round 2 and despite their horror season since, they had the confidence they could go with the premiership contender, which only grew when the flew the gates with the first three goals.
The Lions hit back with three of their own, two to Will Martyn including one on the siren, and added two more after the break, but Collingwood wasn’t deterred, steadying with the next four majors of a seesawing battle.
The lead changed four times in the third quarter and when debutant Isaiah Markovsky kicked his second in the shadows of three quarter-time, the Magpies had the lead for good – Joe Richards and Ben Crocker put them a game-high 14 points up eight minutes into the last and although they couldn’t kick another goal they were able to hold the Lions to a single major from Luke Lloyd.
Charlie Dean was the star of the win for Collingwood, clunking 17 marks on his way to 26 disposals and eight rebounds in the last line of defence, with assistance coming from Tew Jiath (18 disposals, 10 marks).
Fin Macrae (37 disposals, eight clearances, seven entries), Joe Richards (25 disposals, 10 entries, two goals), Ed Allan (27 disposals, 10 contested) and Lachie Sullivan (23 disposals, 10 contested, six marks, one goal) were magnificent on the ball.
Liston medallist Jarryd Lyons continues to grow his claims to back-to-back honours, piling up 41 disposals, 10 clearances, nine marks and eight tackles, Darcy Fort owned the ruck with 26 touches, 30 hitouts, 12 clearances and two goals, Jaxon Prior (24 disposals, 10 marks) was outstanding down back and Martyn (19 disposals, seven marks, two goals) found form at the right time.
SOUTHPORT SHARKS vs NORTH MELBOURNE
SOUTHPORT SHARKS 4.1 7.4 11.8 14.16 (100)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.5 5.8 8.11 12.11 (83)
SOUTHPORT secured a home elimination final in two weeks, holding a gallant North Melbourne at arm’s length to celebrate Mike Manteit’s 150th State league game with a 17-point win at Fankhauser Reserve.
The Kangaroos made an early jump with two of the first three goals but missed several chances to build a lead and were made to pay when Boyd Woodcock broke a 10-week goal drought with the 50th major of his VFL career. The Sharks then struck twice more to grab an advantage they wouldn’t relinquish.
North didn’t go away and got within three points when Jaidyn Stephenson kicked truly in the ninth minute of the third quarter and then closed to eight points midway through the last through Tyler Sellers, but the Sharks had the immediate answer each time.
You could have two guesses as to who Southport’s best two players were and you’d get them right, with Jacob Dawson (32 disposals, 10 contested, six tackles) and Woodcock (30 disposals, eight clearances, one goal) once again cashing in on Brayden Crossley taking advantage of a ruck mismatch to have 51 hitouts and 17 disposals.
Keegan Gray would have topped them, however, but for his inaccuracy, putting together a brilliant 20-disposal, 12-mark display that yielded 3.4, while Zac Foot celebrated his 50th game with three goals of his own and Manteit had 10 contested possessions among his 16 disposals.
North Melbourne star Hugh Greenwood was given a guard of honour as he left the field in what is a likely sign to his future, having had a huge say in the game with 26 disposals (17 contested), 14 tackles and a goal.
He found support from Stephenson (27 disposals, two goals), Charlie Lazzaro (30 disposals) and Jack Watkins (20 disposals, two goals), with Blake Drury, Tom Cappellari and Connor Downie having 20-plus possessions and kicking a goal each.
WILLIAMSTOWN vs GWS GIANTS
WILLIAMSTOWN 5.1 8.5 12.9 17.11 (113)
GWS GIANTS 5.3 6.7 7.10 12.15 (87)
WILLIAMSTOWN banked a home match in Wildcard Round after easing away from the GWS Giants in the second half to win by 26 points at DSV Stadium.
The match was shaping as another shootout when the teams banged on five goals each in the first term, but settled down in the second as the Seagulls edged to a 10-point lead when Nick Ebinger kicked his third goal on the half-time siren.
It gave the home team the impetus it needed to take over in the third quarter, kicking four goals in eight minutes to blow the game open and then repeating the dose with three more to start the last, blowing out by as much as 47 points before the Giants put some respectability on the scoreboard.
Riley Collier-Dawkins (23 disposals, 13 contested, one goal) warmed up for the finals with a best afield showing, supported by James Cousins (23 disposals, eight clearances, one goal) and Jack Toner (24 disposals, eight clearances).
Brodie McLaughlin (four), Nathan Colenso (three) and Ebinger (three) snagged 10 majors between them and Luke Parks pulled in 11 grabs and eight rebounds at the other end.
Xavier O’Halloran’s 26 disposals and 13 inside-50s were dripping with class for the Giants, who had Wade Derksen produce his best game of the year with 25 touches (10 contested), 12 marks and two goals, including the 50th of his career.
Nick Madden (20 disposals, 34 hitouts) was the best ruckman on the ground against Tom Downie, Leek Aleer (20, 10 marks) was outstanding down back and Billy McGee-Galimberti pulled in 12 clunks in his best effort at VFL level.
PORT MELBOURNE vs NORTHERN BULLANTS
PORT MELBOURNE 4.1 7.4 10.9 13.9 (87)
NORTHERN BULLANTS 1.2 5.3 8.4 9.6 (60)
BILLY Gowers claimed the Frosty Miller Medal in his 100th VFL match after a brilliant seven-goal haul to help Port Melbourne defeat Northern Bullants by 27 points at ETU Stadium and send coach Adam Skrobalak out on a winning note.
Fans hoped to see something special from their excitement machine and Gowers didn’t disappoint, kicking goals from almost everywhere but also missing a couple of simple shots that could have given him a double-figure day out.
The Borough hasn’t had a lot go right in their 150th year with injuries to key players at the wrong times, but they dominated the Bullants everywhere but on the scoreboard as a plucky Ants defence led by Liam Mackie, Matt King and Felix Dreher refused to wilt in the face of an onslaught.
Port had close to 40 inside-50s by half-time but only led by 13 points after the Bullants kicked two late goals, but in the end the home team was simply able to create far too many opportunities to allow its rivals to get too close.
Gowers finished on 50 goals for the season, making it the third year in a row the Frosty winner has crossed the half-century.
He had challengers for best-afield in ruckman Tom Hofert, who was brilliant in just his second game of the year with 21 disposals, 41 hitouts and a goal and Matt Signorello (25 disposals, 11 marks, seven clearances, six tackles) in his new midfield role and Bullants co-skipper Mackie (24 disposals, five marks, seven clearances), who probably halved the final margin.
Tom Hird (25 disposals, seven clearances), Anthony Anastasio (17 disposals, six entries, one goal) and Cam Wild (19 disposals, eight clearances) were also important for the Borough.
Patrick Fairlie (33 disposals, seven tackles) and Jean-Luc Velissaris (31 disposals, nine clearances) were again prolific for the Bullants, while co-captain King (20 disposals, 11 marks, eight rebounds) and Dreher (20 disposals, eight rebounds) were rocks in defence.
Josh Hamilton (22 disposals, six marks) had fans on their feet with his Nick Blakey-style dash off half-back and re-signed veteran Sam Gilbert bounced around like a 22-year-old.
CARLTON vs RICHMOND
CARLTON 4.3 6.5 10.7 12.13 (85)
RICHMOND 4.2 9.3 12.9 14.10 (94)
RICHMOND saw off a last-quarter scare from Carlton to secure its Smithy’s VFL finals berth with a thrilling nine-point win in an exciting contest at IKON Park on Sunday.
The Blues took just two AFL-listed players – untried pair Alex Mirkov and Rob Monahan – into the game, but it was the Tigers needing a backs-to-the-wall effort after Kane McAuliffe (shoulder) and Nick Guiney (concussion) were forced out of the game before half-time.
Richmond made its move in that second term as its troops fell over, kicking five goals to two to grab a 16-point lead at the main change and maintaining that throughout the third quarter.
A Ned Cahill goal after the siren gave the Blues the momentum and when Kristian Ferronato bounced through his first VFL goal with an off-break Nathan Lyon would be proud of and Jack Lefroy hit the target in the 13th minute the home side was in front.
But the Tigers have been top 10 all year for a reason and they weren’t about to let that slip away, responding through Noah Cumberland – who had earlier given away a crucial 100m penalty – and Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal contender Sam Davidson to re-establish a 10-point break from where they were able to shut the game down.
Maurice Rioli (17 disposals, eight tackles, seven inside-50s) may not have had huge numbers, but he was the difference when Richmond needed a hero. Rioli camee back on after having an ankle injury restrapped in the last quarter to have eight match-winning touches in the final 15 minutes, which included setting up Davidson’s match sealer and another shot the young goalkicker missed and laying a handful of brutal tackles.
Thomson Dow (29 disposals, eight clearances) stepped up after McAuliffe went off, as did Tyler Sonsie (27 disposals) and Lachlan Wilson (18 disposals, two goals).
Chad Harris (27 disposals, nine marks, 10 rebounds) was terrific off half-back, Davidson (20 disposals, six marks, two goals) ever dangerous in attack and Mutaz El Nour (19 disposals, 10 marks) blanketed Liam McMahon after he kicked two early goals.
Late inclusion Will Hayes, however, was clearly best afield for Carlton, piling up 41 disposals, nine marks, 12 tackles, eight inside-50s and two goals in another stunning display that means he finishes his four-game cameo with averages of 35.8 disposals, 6.5 marks and 7.8 tackles.
Draft contender Tobie Travaglia was a standout in defence with 22 possessions, Heath Ramshaw (24 disposals, eight marks) provided some exciting moments, Zavier Maher (25 disposals, one goal) was in fine fettle and Alex Mirkov (17 disposals, 25 hitouts, one goal) was the best big man on the ground.
SANDRINGHAM vs GEELONG CATS
SANDRINGHAM 2.3 4.6 6.8 8.11 (59)
GEELONG CATS 3.2 4.6 9.10 10.12 (72)
GEELONG became the only team to breach Sandringham’s fortress at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval, claiming the double chance with a 13-point victory that would have locked Richmond into the top 10 even if it had lost.
The Cats held sway by a single-figure margin for most of the day in a tight contest, aside from the Zebras sneaking narrow leads on three occasions, including early in the third when Matt Allison and Max Hall kicked majors 90 seconds apart.
But that sparked Geelong and the visitors kicked the next five majors to end the challenge, with two late Sandringham goals bringing the final margin back to about where the contest deserved it to be.
Brandan Parfitt was the standout for the Cats with 30 disposals, 12 clearances, seven tackles and seven entries in a hard-working display, while Mitch Hardie continues to take a sledgehammer to the selectors’ door with his 29 touches, eight marks, eight clearances, 12 tackles and two goals. Jed Bews (23 disposals, 11 rebounds, one goal) and George Stevens (24 disposals, seven clearances) also impressed.
Tom Campbell continued his vintage fine touch as he approaches his 150th game, winning 26 touches and 46 hitouts while pulling in six marks to be the Zebras’ best.
Arie Schoenmaker (29 disposals, eight marks) starred and added a trademark 65m goal on the run, Riley Bonner (29 disposals, six marks) rebounded well and Angus Hastie (21 disposals, seven marks), Hugo Garcia (20 disposals, 10 tackles), Gus McLennan (20 disposals, eight marks) and Hall (18 disposals, two goals) also performed strongly.
COBURG vs ESSENDON
COBURG 2.2 6.4 7.6 11.7 (73)
ESSENDON 6.3 7.8 11.10 16.15 (111)
ESSENDON’s late-season surge has seen it fall just one win and one place short of what would have been a miracle finals berth after Jobe Shanahan continued to rocket up the draft boards with a brilliant performance a 38-point victory over Coburg at Piranha Park.
Shanahan completed a stunning stint with the Bombers at VFL level with another five goals to finish with 11 majors in three games and AFL clubs all over the country standing up and taking notice.
The Bombers grabbed control of the contest with six goals to two in the first quarter and although the Lions fought their way back to within 10 points at half time, they weren’t able to maintain the rage.
Elijah Tsatas will also have recruiters taking notice after stuffing the stats sheet with 41 disposals, seven marks, eight clearances, seven entries and a goal in a dominant display.
Nick Hind (32 disposals, eight marks, nine rebounds) pinged off half-back, Xavier O’Neill (30 disposals), Jackson Hately (27 disposals, seven clearances, seven tackles) and Will Setterfield (27 disposals, 10 entries, one goal) were influential in the middle and Peter Wright had a rare run in the ruck, winning 37 hitouts and 15 disposals while kicking two goals.
Saad El-Hawli (27 disposals, eight marks) was back to his best and Will Hoare (17 disposals, 12 marks) was almost impenetrable, while NGA prospect Jayden Nguyen (16 disposals, five marks) and potential father-son Noah Caracella (11 disposals) had their moments.
Fothergill-Round-Mitchell contender Flynn Gentile (25 disposals, eight tackles, six entries) was Coburg’s best, just ahead of Joel Trudgeon (31 disposals, eight clearances, eight entries) and Josh D’Intinosante (26 disposals, nine clearances, nine tackles), while Donovan Toohey had 30 touches and Liam Serong didn’t give an inch in defence.
BOX HILL HAWKS vs WERRIBEE
BOX HILL HAWKS 1.3 3.4 7.7 9.9 (63)
WERRIBEE 3.4 8.7 9.10 10.14 (74)
WERRIBEE bounced back from a last start defeat to secure its first minor premiership since 2005 and send an ominous warning to the rest of the competition in an 11-point win over the Box Hill Hawks at Box Hill City Oval that was more comfortable than it looked.
The Tigers has three goals on the board – two to Jay Dahlhaus – before the Hawks could even blink and pushed out to a 32-point lead before Jake Arundell broke through for the home team’s second goal 13 minutes into the second quarter.
Box Hill kicked four goals to one in the third quarter, with two majors in time-on giving it hope that would have been exacerbated had Jack O’Sullivan kicked truly after the siren, but Werribee shut the game down professionally in the last quarter.
The first goal of Bodie Ryan’s career on the final siren got the Hawks as close as they had been all day.
Bior Malual caused all sorts of headaches across half-forward for Werribee, taking 10 marks and kicking a goal from 17 disposals, with Jack Henderson (27 disposals, nine clearances) starring in the middle.
Riley Bice (26 disposals, eight marks) was brilliant again at half back alongside Louis Pinnuck (19 disposals, 12 marks) and Sam Paea made a successful return from a long-term shoulder injury to pull in 11 marks and have 15 touches.
The defeat was through no fault of Seamus Mitchell, who had his own footy as he racked up 38 disposals, 12 marks, seven rebounds and two goals in a mammoth display.
He was backed up by Ethan Phillips (20 disposals, 14 marks), Henry Hustwaite (22 disposals, 10 tackles), Josh Ward (20 disposals, 10 tackles), Bodie Ryan (23 disposals, eight marks, six rebounds, one goal) and Finn Maginness (22 disposals, seven clearances) who worked overtime to keep the margin in check.
