A review of all the action from Round 5 of the 2025 Smithy’s VFL season.
RICHMOND 1.2 1.3 2.6 3.7 (25)
CASEY DEMONS 1.2 5.8 12.11 21.17 (143)
CASEY Demons showed nothing is certain in Smithy’s VFL footy when they embarrassed Richmond in a 118-point hammering at Casey Fields on Anzac Eve.
The Tigers went into the match as favourites after a healthy start to the season and the Demons coming off a spanking from the GWS Giants, but they looked like they gave up after quarter-time as the Demons broke several records.
The result was Casey’s highest score and biggest win against Richmond by some distance – beating the previous best score of 130 and a margin of 89 at Swinburne Centre in 2000 and an even bigger 103 and 44 at Casey Fields in 2015.
It was also Richmond’s lowest score against the Demons after 37 at Swinburne Centre in 2021 and 52 at Casey Fields in 2019 as the Tigers slumped to their biggest defeat in VFA/VFL history, surpassing a 117-point loss to Footscray in 2014.
But if Richmond fans want something to hang their hat on, remember the Tigers lost to Sandringham by 110 points in Round 7 last year and bounced back to beat Essendon by 66 the following week.
This game was a tight battle early as the Demons hung tough against the wind to square the scores at quarter time, but only one team came out after the break, with Jacob van Rooyen booting three consecutive goals to break the game open.
Casey added 4.6 to 0.1 in the second term and gathered steam from there with 7.3 to 1.3 in the third and a whopping 9.6 to 1.1 in the last as van Rooyen bounced back to form with 16 disposals, nine marks and five goals.
Riley Bonner had a force-field around him as he racked up 43 disposals, but Mitch Hardie was best afield with 37 touches, eight marks and three goals, just ahead of Bailey Laurie’s 35 disposals, eight clearances and two goals and Riley Baldi’s 33 disposals and 11 clearances.
The Demons went a ridiculous +202 in disposals, plus +58 marks, +28 clearances, +39 inside-50s and even won the tackle count 54-49 in the biggest slight on the Tigers’ effort.
Richmond’s top ball-winners were Josh Smillie and late inclusion Tom McCarthy with 24, but eight Demons enjoyed more prolific games than that.
BEST
Richmond: Mutaz El Nour, Kaleb Smith, Tom McCarthy, Josh Smillie, Kane McAuliffe, Lachlan Wilson
Casey Demons: Riley Bonner, Jacob van Rooyen, Mitchell Hardie, Riley Baldi, Bailey Laurie, Kynan Brown
GOALS
Richmond: Mate Colina, Oliver Hayes-Brown, Massimo Raso
Casey Demons: Jacob van Rooyen 5, Mitch Hardie, Aidan Johnson 3, Paddy Cross, Jack Henderson, Bailey Laurie 2, Kynan Brown, Tom Campbell, Matthew Jefferson, Will Verrall
DISPOSALS
Richmond: Tom McCarthy 24, Josh Smillie 24, Kaleb Smith 23, Mutaz El Nour 20
Casey Demons: Riley Bonner 43, Mitch Hardie 37, Bailey Laurie 35, Riley Baldi 33, Ollie Sestan 28, Taj Woewodin 28
FRANKSTON 2.2 7.8 11.14 14.15 (99)
NORTHERN BULLANTS 3.0 4.2 4.4 8.7 (55)
FRANKSTON overcame a tardy start and a committed Northern Bullants to bank a 44-point at Kinetic Stadium on Thursday night.
The Dolphins were put on notice early as the Bullants laid 18 tackles in a pressure-packed opening quarter that rewarded them with an early lead and saw the home team’s coach Jackson Kornberg deliver a spray at the first break.
The brave Bullants kept fighting but Frankston’s class gradually came to the fore as it kicked nine goals to one across the middle two quarters to make the points safe before the visitors fought the game out and won the last quarter with four goals to three.
Jackson Voss was the catalyst to the victory for the Dolphins as he roamed across half back with aplomb, using his scything left boot to perfection for 30 kicks among 33 disposals, 12 marks, six inside-50s and nine rebounds, while he also got forward to kick two goals.
Lochie Reidy (30 dispoals, eight marks, seven entries) had his best game of the season and Tyson Milne, Darby Hipwell and Ollie Moran showed plenty of class, while the height and strength of Noah Gown and Corey Ellison (three goals) was too much for the Bullants to handle.
Paddy Fairlie, Liam Mackie and Kaden Schreiber impressed for the Bullants, with Schreiber taking eight marks in holding Matt Johnson to one goal.
BEST
Frankston: Jackson Voss, Darby Hipwell, Lachlan Reidy, Noah Gown, Corey Ellison, Tyson Milne
Northern Bullants: Kaden Schreiber, Josh Hamilton, John Jorgensen, Rohan McKenzie, Patrick Fairlie, Liam Mackie
GOALS
Frankston: Corey Ellison, Noah Gown 3, Jackson Voss 2, Tom Blamires, Harrison Coe, Matthew Johnson, Alec McComb, Trent Mynott, Tarkyn O’Leary
Northern Bullants: John Jorgenson 2, Maison Goodman, Harrison Grace, Josh Hamilton, Liam Mackie, Rohan McKenzie, Chris Scerri
DISPOSALS
Frankston: Jackson Voss 33, Lachie Reidy 30, Tyson Milne 28, Darby Hipwell 25
Northern Bullants: Paddy Fairlie 27, Liam Mackie 24, Kaden Schreiber 20, Josh Hamilton 19
WERRIBEE 4.0 5.1 6.3 12.7 (79)
WILLIAMSTOWN 1.2 4.5 6.10 8.11 (59)
WERRIBEE kept itself in touch with the top 10 and left Williamstown’s season teetering on the brink with a six-goal last quarter sealing a 20-point win in an at-times spiteful Anzac Day clash at Avalon Airport Oval.
The stakes were high as both teams entered the clash at 1-3 and the Tigers looked good early with four goals to one in the opening quarter, with Dom Brew running rampant and Zac Banch proving elusive two early goals.
But the Seagulls grabbed the upper hand across the next 45 minutes, with only wasteful finishing stopping them building a significant lead as they kicked 3.3 to 1.1 to get within two points at half-time before 2.3 early in the third gave them a 13-point lead.
Jay Dahlhaus kicked an important goal in time-on of the third and when Banch slammed through his third at the start of the last term the home team was level and never looked back.
Brew’s 35 disposals included 27 contested touches and 16 clearances to be 10 possessions more prolific than any other player on the ground, while he also contributed eight tackles.
With Hudson Garoni held to one goal, Werribee needed other avenues and found them with Banch and Harry Maguire kicking three each and Flynn Young two in a dangerous display, while Sam Conway had 48 hitouts against Tom Downie but lowered his colours around the ground.
The big Seagull bounced back from a disappointing day last week to have 20 disposals and 39 hitouts, while recruit Lachie Gollant had a strong VFL debut with four goals. Toby Triffett was in everything with 25 possessions, 11 clearances and 11 tackles and Riley Collier-Dawkins (25 disposals, seven tackles) also fired.
But in a further blow to Williamstown’s hopes of getting its season back on track, important midfielder Jack Toner is facing a two-week suspension with an early plea for striking Jack Riding.
BEST
Werribee: Dom Brew, Louis Pinnuck, Cooper Whyte, Jack Riding, Spencer Johnson, Sam Conway
Williamstown: Lachlan Gollant, Jake Greiser, Luke Parks, Nathan Colenso, Finn O’Dwyer, Riley Collier-Dawkins
GOALS
Werribee: Zac Banch, Harry Maguire 3, Flynn Young 2, Jay Dahlhaus, Hudson Garoni, Myles McCluggage, Cooper Whyte
Williamstown: Lachlan Gollant 4, Damon Hollow, Brodie McLaughlin 2
DISPOSALS
Werribee: Dom Brew 35, Jack Riding 24, Cooper Whyte 21, Jake Smith 20
Williamstown: Riley Collier-Dawkins 25, Toby Triffett 25, Tom Downie 20
SANDRINGHAM 0.6 1.9 3.12 5.14 (44)
BRISBANE LIONS 3.3 8.9 10.13 13.15 (93)
THE Brisbane Lions brought Sandringham back to earth with a thud and moved into the top six for the first time since Round 1 with a comfortably 49-point win at RSEA Park on Saturday.
The Zebras attacked hard early but couldn’t find a goal before Will McLachlan landed a double blow for the Lions to set up a 15-point quarter-time lead despite the same number of scoring shots.
The visitors took total control in the second term, adding 5.6 to 1.3 to leave Sandringham languishing on a paltry 1.9 and 42 points in arrears at half-time, and although the Zebras managed to stick with the flag fancies in the second half, they never looked like closing the gap.
McLachlan was the one who set the wheels in motion for the Lions and he didn’t ease up as he staked a claim for a quick AFL recall with five goals from 15 touches and nine marks.
Darragh Joyce was impassable in defence as he again tormented his former club with a career-best 32 disposals and 18 marks – his previous bests of 31 and 15 came against the Zebras in 2023, and he added nine rebounds.
Deven Robertson (32 disposals, 15 contested, seven clearances, seven tackles) was a powerhouse in the middle and Tom Doedee took another step towards his comeback with a strong defensive effort in his third game back from a knee reconstruction.
Youngster Hugh Boxshall (25 disposals, 10 tackles), Arie Schoenmaker (29 disposals, seven marks, 10 rebounds) and Angus Hastie (24 disposals, six marks) led the way for Sandringham while ruckman Harry Boyd thrived in the absence of Darcy Fort for 18 touches and 33 hitouts.
Young Saint Alix Tauru had a strong game in defence but will need to head to the tribunal to avoid a four-week suspension for a rough conduct charge that floored Lions debutant Curtis McCarthy.
BEST
Sandringham: Hugh Boxshall, Arie Schoenmaker, Harry Boyd, Angus Hastie, Alix Tauru, Blake Watson
Brisbane Lions: Will McLachlan, Tom Doedee, Brandon Ryan, Shadeau Brain, Deven Robertson, Conor McKenna
GOALS
Sandringham: Joey Campigli, Josh Hutchings 2, Blake Watson
Brisbane Lions: Will McLachlan 5, Conor McKenna 2, Darcy Craven, Ty Gallop, Curtis McCarthy, Fergus McFadyen, Brandon Ryan, Reece Torrent
DISPOSALS
Sandringham: Arie Schoenmaker 29, Angus Hastie 24, Hugh Boxshall 24, Jack Carroll 22
Brisbane Lions: Deven Robertson 32, Darragh Joyce 32, Reece Torrent 23, Luke Beecken 23
ESSENDON 4.1 7.4 10.11 12.16 (88)
COLLINGWOOD 6.4 8.6 13.8 18.11 (119)
COLLINGWOOD overpowered Essendon in the second half to win by 31 points at ETU Stadium on Saturday night and continue its resurrection from a disastrous 2024 campaign.
The match started as a free-flowing shootout that yielded 10 goals in the first term and the margin was just eight points at half-time after a goal-for-goal second quarter finished with Kayle Gerreyn hitting the target after the siren.
Alwyn Davey cut the margin to two points with the first goal of the third term but the Bombers couldn’t find the lead as they sprayed 3.7 for the quarter and paid the price when Collingwood kicked five of six goals either side of the three-quarter time siren to break the game open and cruise to victory.
Sam Glover played a classic captain’s game for the Magpies, leading his team with 25 disposals at 88 per cent efficiency, 11 rebounds, six marks and six tackles to be best afield.
Recruit Josh Browne (23 disposals, seven entries, two goals), league great Tom Wilson (19 disposals, seven marks, two goals) and defenders Charlie Dean, Wil Parker and Harry Demattia were also strong.
Young tall Vigo Visentini stepped up for Essendon to show the Bombers’ ruck stocks might not quite be at crisis point to lead his team with 21 disposals and 28 hitouts, draftee Zak Johnson impressed with 33 possessions, eight marks and a goal, key defender Lewis Hayes plucked another 10 marks and skipper Xavier O’Neill and vice-captain Jackson Hately also turned in excellent performances. Essendon vs Collingwood
BEST
Essendon: Vigo Visentini, Zak Johnson, Xavier O’Neill, Lewis Hayes, Jackson Hately, Jayden Nguyen
Collingwood: Sam Glover, Josh Browne, Oscar Steene, Charlie Dean, Wil Parker, Harry Demattia
GOALS
Essendon: Tyler Sellers 3, Alwyn Davey, Kayle Gerreyn 2, Jared Eckersley, Saad El-Hawli, Jackson Hately, Zak Johnson, Oskar Smartt
Collingwood: Charlie West 3, Josh Browne, Mason Cox, Liam Hude, Harry Mahoney 2, Tom Wilson 2, Oleg Markov, Isaiah Markovsky, Riley Mason, Wil Parker, Oscar Steene
DISPOSALS
Essendon: Zak Johnson 33, Xavier O’Neill 29, Jackson Hately 27, Matt Foley 25
Collingwood: Sam Glover 25, Josh Browne 23, Ed Allan 22, Christian Algeri 21
GOLD COAST SUNS 4.2 6.5 11.9 14.9 (93)
SYDNEY SWANS 0.2 3.6 5.7 6.10 (46)
LAST week Brayden Fiorini piled up 47 disposals but Gold Coast still lost by 54 points to Southport.
This week, he made that performance look second rate with a powerhouse masterclass in the middle of People First Stadium as he put an inexperienced Sydney to the sword in securing a 47-point win for the Suns.
Fiorini only had 13 touches by half-time but had already kicked three goals to separate the contest, and he only got better after the break to finish with 34 possessions, five marks, eight tackles, six inside-50s and five goals.
David Swallow made an assured return from a knee injury, playing a full game and gathering 29 touches (13 contested) and six clearances and Sam Clohesy dominated his wing with 28 disposals, seven marks and a goal.
But despite a four-goal-to-none first quarter and threatening to blow the game apart, the vastly more experienced Suns could never fully shrug off the dogged Swans, who regularly shut off their bursts from defence and showed they too could move the ball quickly.
Fielding only four players with AFL experience, Sydney won the second quarter and twice stopped the home team’s momentum through a terrific display at the coalface from Angus Sheldrick that was well supported by Ben Edwards and Nick Shipley (11 tackles).
Will Edwards and Patrick Snell starred down back to tame Elliott Himmelberg and Ned Moyle, Caleb Mitchell looked good in a new role off half-back, Ned Bowman and Indhi Kirk impressed with their workrate and Jack Buller provided a strong target but let himself down by kicking 1.3.
BEST
Gold Coast Suns: Brayden Fiorini, Sam Clohesy, David Swallow, Jy Farrar, Lloyd Johnston, Aidan Fyfe
Sydney Swans: Ned Bowman, Caleb Mitchell, Indhi Kirk
GOALS
Gold Coast Suns: Brayden Fiorini 5, Ned Moyle, Alex Secton 2, Sam Clohesy, Max Knobel, Zac O'Brien, Malcolm Rosas, Oscar Wood
Sydney Swans: Indhi Kirk 2, Ned Bowman, Jack Buller, Max Geddes, Matty Lloyd
DISPOSALS
Gold Coast Suns: Brayden Fiorini 34, David Swallow 29, Sam Clohesy 28, Aidan Fyfe 25, Lloyd Johnston 23
Sydney Swans: Angus Sheldrick 34, Nick Shipley 29, Ben Edwards 24, Caleb Mitchell 22, Jack Buller 22
BOX HILL HAWKS 4.4 8.6 13.6 19.9 (123)
PORT MELBOURNE 1.2 3.8 10.11 12.13 (85)
JASPER Scaife and Finn Maginness put on a show for the Wonthaggi crowd as Box Hill Hawks maintained their perfect 2025 record with a convincing 38-point win over Port Melbourne on Sunday.
The Hawks needed a last-kick stunner to beat Sandringham last year but had no such problems on this occasion, racing to a 28-point lead at half-time, with Scaife booting three goals and Calsher Dear snagging one in limited game time in his return from a back injury.
Two goals to open the third term pushed the margin out to 40 points and put the result to bed as Maginness proved untouchable on his way to 38 disposals (14 contested), 10 clearances, six tackles and eight inside-50s.
Port Melbourne then came to life, kicking seven goals to three for the rest of the quarter and cutting the deficit to just 13 when Riley Polkinghorne hit the target in the shadows of the siren.
But Scaife got on the end of a bad turnover from Tom Highmore to boot his fifth in the opening minute of the last quarter and that put paid to the Borough challenge as Box Hill kicked six goals to two to re-establish its comfortable margin by the final siren.
Kye Declase played his best game in a Hawks guernsey to kicked 2.3 from 26 touches and seven marks, Ethan Stanley (12 contested disposals, eight clearances six tackles) was in strong touch, Changkuoth Jiath put his hand up for a recall and Seamus Mitchell (eight marks, seven rebounds) was strong off half-back.
Dyson Heppell had his strongest outing for Port, playing a huge role in the third quarter comeback in his Gippsland backyard and finishing with an impressive 30 possessions at 80 per cent efficiency and seven clearances.
Tom Hird (28 disposals, six marks, five rebounds, one goal) Charlie Lazzaro and Dom Bedendo continued their good form and Owen Mulady (21 disposals and two goals) stood up as well.
BEST
Box Hill Hawks: Finn Maginness, Ethan Stanley, Kye Declase, Changkuoth Jiath, Seamus Mitchell, Jasper Scaife
Port Melbourne: Dyson Heppell, Charlie Lazzaro, Tom Hird, Dom Bedendo, Jimmy Miller, Joshua Green
GOALS
Box Hill Hawks: Jasper Scaife 6, Kye Declase, Sam Frost 2, Cody Anderson, Calsher Dear, Matthew Hill, Will McCabe, Noah Mraz, Callum Porter, Max Ramsden, Ned Reeves, Bodie Ryan
Port Melbourne: Jayden Davey, Owen Mulady 2, Josh Green, Tom Highmore, Tom Hird, Archi Manton, Jimmy Miller, Sam Philp, Riley Polkinghorne, Malachi White
DISPOSALS
Box Hill Hawks: Finn Maginness 38, Ethan Stanley 27, Changkuoth Jiath 26, Kye Declase 26, Seamus Mitchell 22
Port Melbourne: Dyson Heppell 30, Tom Hird 28, Josh Green 27, Dom Bedendo 26, Charlie Lazzaro 25, Harvey Hooper 25
CARLTON 3.3 6.5 9.7 13.10 (88)
GEELONG 3.3 5.6 9.7 12.12 (84)
FIRST-year player Harry O’Farrell showed himself to be a player of great temperament as he kicked a goal in the dying stages to hand Carlton a thrilling four-point upset of Geelong at IKON Park to kickstart their season.
The Blues were trailing by two points entering the 27th minute after Cats debutant Keighton Matofai-Forbes answered Liam McMahon’s go-ahead goal with a great snap earlier in time-on.
Darcy Hogg missed a shot for the Blues to make it two points the difference before Sam Docherty won a crucial clearance on the wing and handballed to Francis Evans, whose brilliant kick inside 50 saw O’Farrell win a one on three contested mark against no less than Jake Kolodjashnij, Nathan Kreuger and Mitchell Lloyd.
And despite never having kicked a goal at VFL level, he went back and calmly slotted it from 45m to give Carlton the lead.
Geelong had one last chance, but a quick kick inside 50 was well read and thumped away by Ethan Phillips before Jordan Boyd won a free kick and the Blues held on to the siren.
Docherty’s class was clear to all as he produced a best-afield display with 28 disposals at 85.7 per cent efficiency, while Boyd and Phillips gave little away in defence, Ben Camporeale worked overtime and McMahon kicked three important goals.
Ted Clohesy starred for Geelong with 17 contested possessions from his 25 disposals, plus 14 tackles and seven clearances. Jay Rantall and Marcus Herbert continued their fine seasons and Taj Wyburd had his best game for the club, while Kreuger could have been the matchwinner but booted 2.4 from 13 touches and seven marks.
BEST
Carlton: Sam Docherty, Jordan Boyd, Heath Ramshaw, Ben Camporeale, Francis Evans, Ethan Phillips
Geelong Cats: Ted Clohesy, Taj Wyburd, Patrick Kelly, Nathan Kreuger, Tanner Lewis, Jay Rantall
GOALS
Carlton: Liam McMahon 3, Ashton Moir, Hudson O'Keeffe 2, Darcy Hogg, Harry Lemmey, Luke Nelson, Harry O’Farrell, Marc Pittonet, Heath Ramshaw
Geelong Cats: Nathan Kreuger, Jay Polkinghorne 2, Jamieson Ballantyne, Tanner Lewis, Keighton Matofai-Forbes, Tobyn Murray, Joe Pike, Jay Rantall, Jack Sarcevic, Taj Wyburd
DISPOSALS
Carlton: Sam Docherty 28, Ben Camporeale 23, Jordan Boyd 22, Jaxon Binns 22
Geelong Cats: Ted Clohesy 25, Jay Rantall 23, Marcus Herbert 23
GWS GIANTS 4.7 11.8 14.10 17.18 (120)
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS 2.7 4.8 5.11 6.11 (47)
GWS had already announced itself as a top four contender but the Giants are now a red-hot premiership fancy after thumping Footscray by 73 points at Blacktown International Sports Park to move to the top of the ladder.
Both teams wasted opportunities in the first term, but after leading by just 13 points at the 13-minute mark of the second quarter, the Giants went ballistic in booting five unanswered goals to half-time to seal the win before cruising to the line with a 6.10 to 2.3 second half.
The Bulldogs were simply outworked, laying just 39 tackles to 64 and wasting the ball regularly to be well beaten despite having the same disposal count.
Phoenix Gothard was best afield for the Giants after booting 3.2 from 20 disposals, while Marc Sheather (14 contested disposals, eight clearances, eight tackles, eight inside-50s) was in sparkling touch and Joe Fonti, Jack Ough and Louie Montgomery linked up well.
Wade Derksen gave little away in defence, while Frosty Miller Medal leader Nathan Wardius (three goals) and Harry Rowston (two) were dangerous in attack for the Giants.
Footscray had few winners, but veteran Taylor Duryea and Oskar Baker won plenty of the footy, Harvey Gallager drove the ball forward regularly and Anthony Scott had 15 contested possessions in a gutsy effort.
BEST
GWS Giants: Phoenix Gothard, Joe Fonti, Marc Sheather, Harry Rowston, Wade Derksen, Louie Montgomery
Footscray Bulldogs: Harvey Gallagher, Taylor Duryea, Lachie Jaques, Daniel Orgill, Caleb Poulter
GOALS
GWS Giants: Phoenix Gothard, Nathan Wardius 3, Callum Brown, Josaia Delana, Harry Rowston 2, Max Gruzewski, Lachlan Keeffe, James Lugsdin, Harper Montgomery, Louie Montgomery
Footscray Bulldogs: Jordan Croft, David Cuningham, Chan Hargraves, Will Lewis, Caleb Poulter, Lachlan Smith
DISPOSALS
GWS Giants: Marc Sheather 26, Joe Fonti 25, Jack Ough 23, Louie Montgomery 23, Cody Angove 23
Footscray Bulldogs: Taylor Duryea 30, Oskar Baker 30, Anthony Scott 28, Harvey Gallagher 26, Ethan Hunt 26
