A recap and highlights of all the Smithy’s VFL 18 action.

GWS GIANTS          3.1   5.1      8.4        11.5 (71)
SYDNEY SWANS     6.3   10.6   10.13   14.15 (99)

The Sydney Swans picked up consecutive wins for the first time in 2025, and they did it in style, upsetting crosstown rivals the GWS Giants by 28 points at ENGIE Stadium on Friday evening.

A week after overcoming a 37-point deficit to stun North Melbourne, the Swans put a major dent in the Giants’ top-four hopes with a convincing win in enemy territory.

Six opening quarter goals helped set up a 35-point half time lead for the Swans, before a 0.7 third term allowed the Giants to move within 21 points at the final change.

The home side did get as close as 16 points halfway through the last quarter on the back of three consecutive goals, however, the visitors held their nerve to kick away late.

Emerging young forward Jesse Dattoli sealed the victory with his third goal of the night. It was the second game in a row last year’s No. 22 Draft pick has booted three majors.

Caiden Cleary and Corey Warner each had plenty of the footy for Sydney, racking up 28 disposals apiece. Veteran midfielder Taylor Adams made a successful return from a hamstring injury in his first VFL game since Round 8, finishing with 21 touches and five clearances.

Giants forward Max Gruzewski didn’t have any issues finding the big sticks despite his team’s loss, booting an equal season-high of five majors. The young gun now has 42 goals in 14 appearances to sit in fifth place on the goal kicking table.

BEST
GWS Giants: Max Gruzewski, Jacob Wehr, Harry Rowston, Josaia Delana, Harry Oliver, Harvey Thomas
Sydney Swans: Corey Warner, Caiden Cleary, Taylor Adams, Jesse Dattoli, Riley Bice

GOALS
GWS Giants: Max Gruzewski 5, Josaia Delana 2, Mitchell Blow, Louie Montgomery, Logan Smith, Jacob Wehr
Sydney Swans: Jesse Dattoli 3, Max King, Peter Ladhams, Kaiden McNamara 2, Will Green, Tom Hanily, Jack Kluske, Blake Leidler, Corey Warner

LEADING DISPOSALS
GWS Giants: Josh Fahey 29, Jacob Wehr 27, James Leake 25, Harry Oliver 25, Harvey Thomas 21
Sydney Swans: Caiden Cleary 28, Corey Warner 28, Ben Paton 26, Riley Bice 25, Taylor Adams 21, Oli Florent 21

GOLD COAST SUNS     4.0   10.2   11.5   11.7 (73)
BRISBANE LIONS       2.5    4.6     8.9     12.10 (82)

The Brisbane Lions produced an excellent comeback to keep their top-four hopes alive, defeating Gold Coast by nine points at People First Stadium on Saturday.

The Lions looked in huge trouble when trailing by 32 points at half time having conceded 10 goals in the opening half.

However, Ben Hudson’s side rallied with four goals to one in the third term and then held the Suns goalless in the last quarter before kicking the final four majors of the game in a 10-minute span to pick up win number 10 for the season.

Two second half goals each from Curtis McCarthy and James Tunstill proved to be pivotal in their side’s narrow win, with highly-touted Academy prospect Daniel Annable making an immediate impact on his return to the side, finishing with a season-high 28 disposals, four tackles and a goal.

James Tsitas was a standout for Gold Coast with 34 disposals, alongside David Swallow, while Category B rookie Zak Evans booted three goals in arguably his most promising showing at VFL level.

BEST
Gold Coast Suns: James Tsitas, David Swallow, Ne Moyle, Lloyd Johnston, Ben Jepson, Malcolm Rosas
Brisbane Lions: Henry Smith, Reece Torrent, James Tunstill, Daniel Annable, Shadeau Brain, Curtis McCarthy

GOALS
Gold Coast Suns: Zak Evans 3, Lachlan Gulbin, Jed Walter 2, Koby Coulson, Ben Jepson, Caleb Lewis, Malcolm Rosas
Brisbane Lions: Curtis McCarthy, Fergus McFadyen, James Tunstill 2, Daniel Annable, Darcy Craven, Sam Day, Jack Manly, Bruce Reville, Brandon Ryan

LEADING DISPOSALS
Gold Coast Suns: James Tsitas 34, David Swallow 28, Lloyd Johnston 27, Ben Jepson 26, Thomas Berry 24
Brisbane Lions: Daniel Annable 28, Reece Torrent 27, Keidean Coleman 23, Shadeau Brain 21, Henry Smith 21

ESSENDON                           3.1   3.1     4.1      5.2 (32)
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS     2.5   7.10   7.13   13.17 (95)

Essendon had no answers for an in-form Footscray, who won their eighth-straight match in a 63-point result at the NEC Hangar.

The Bombers held a two-point quarter time advantage but only managed two more majors for the remainder of the game, as the Bulldogs asserted their dominance with a five-goal second term and six-goal final quarter to remain in second spot on the ladder.

A best on ground performance from Buku Khamis (17 disposals, five goals) will do his confidence a world of good as he looks to return to the AFL side.

Liam Jones led the way in defence with 12 marks and Anthony Scott finished with 32 disposals, while Artie Jones kicked two goals from 14 touches in his return from a hamstring injury.

Essendon skipper Xavier O’Neill was excellent on a tough day for the Bombers, producing his club’s best figures in disposals (29), marks (eight) and tackles (seven), while also being one of Essendon’s five goal kickers for the afternoon.

BEST
Essendon: Xavier O’Neill, Jackson Hately, Alwyn Davey, Solomon McKay, Lachlan Hogan, Jye Menzie
Footscray: Buku Khamis, Liam Jones, Sam Davidson, Lachie Jaques, James Harmes, Ryan Gardner

GOALS
Essendon: Will Hoare, Jye Menzie, Cam Nyko, Xavier O’Neill, Noah Scott
Footscray: Buku Khamis 5, Arthur Jones 2, Cooper Craig-Peters, Josh Dolan, Lachie Jaques, Luke Kennedy, Will Lewis, Laird Ramshaw

LEADING DISPOSALS
Essendon: Xavier O’Neill 29, Alwyn Davey 19, Jayden Nguyen 19, Solomon McKay 17, Kayle Gerreyn 16
Footscray: Anthony Scott 32, James Harmes 28, Cooper Craig-Peters 26, Sam Davidson 26, Michael Sellwood 24

SOUTHPORT SHARKS     1.3   7.7   13.9   17.10 (112)
WILLIAMSTOWN                3.4   4.5   8.5      14.6 (90)

Southport moved one step closer to securing a top-four finish with a 22-point victory over Williamstown at Fankhauser Reserve.

It was a slow start for the Sharks, who conceded the first three goals of the game to trail by 19 points late in the opening term

The visitors held until the 14-minute mark of the second term, however Southport gradually got on top and opened a 21-point lead at the main break after kicking seven of the final eight majors of the first half.

A six-goal third term put the Sharks in a commanding position at three-quarter time and while Williamstown never went away, it was the home side who took the spoils in a result which consigned the Seagulls to 10th position following three-straight losses.

Boyd Woodcock reached 30 disposals for the 10th time this season and also picked up seven marks, eight clearances and a goal. Zac Foot was just as impactful, producing 25 disposals and three majors, which including an incredible running effort in the first term to spark his team into action.

Despite the defeat, Brodie McLaughlin booted another five goals for Williamstown to increase his advantage on the Jim ‘Frosty’ Miller leaderboard to 11 majors, while Hugo Hall-Kahan was another standout for the visitors with 29 disposals and two goals.

BEST
Southport: Zac Foot, Finn Hay, Brayden Crossley, Jesse Joyce, Michael Manteit, Hewago Oea
Williamstown: Hugo Hall-Kahan, Jake Greiser, Toby Triffett, Brodie McLaughlin, Joel Fitzgerald, Riley Collier-Dawkins

GOALS
Southport: Hewago Oea 4, Zac Foot 3, Wylie Buzza 2, Brayden Crossley, Taine Dawson, Josh Gore, Finn Hay, Tai Hayes, Justin Krok, Max Pescud, Boyd Woodcock
Williamstown: Brodie McLaughlin 5, Nathan Colenso, Riley Collier-Dawkins, Hugo Hall-Kahan 2, Lachie Gollant, Damon Hollow, Toby Triffett

LEADING DISPOSALS
Southport: Boyd Woodcock 30, Jacob Dawson 25, Zac Foot 25, Brock Aston 22, Jesse Joyce 20
Williamstown: Hugo Hall-Kahan 29, Jake Greiser 27, Toby Triffett 25, Joel Fitzgerald 23, Jack Toner 21

WERRIBEE      1.1   3.4   6.7      7.11 (53)
RICHMOND     6.5   9.6   10.8   15.9 (99)

Richmond ended Werribee’s premiership defence while giving a significant boost to its own finals chances with an impressive 46-point triumph at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval.

The visiting Tigers set the tone with a six-goal to one opening term and never looked back as they claimed a 10th win for the 2025 campaign and also picked up some handy percentage as they push for a top-six spot.

It was a mighty effort by Jake Batchelor’s side who fielded just three AFL-listed players in Josh Gibcus, Harry Armstrong and Jacob Blight, with Gibcus producing the game’s highlight with a set-shot goal that saw him embraced by every teammate following a difficult injury run.

Five Richmond players kicked multiple goals, while Harry Scott’s impressive form continued, with the 20-year-old finishing the match with 25 disposals and six tackles.

For the third time in his last five matches, Werribee’s Jack Riding broke the 30-disposal barrier, finishing with 35, seven tackles and a goal. Hudson Gironi led all goal kickers with four majors to take his tally to 38 goals for the season.

BEST
Werribee: Mace Cousins, Sam Conway, Hudson Garoni, Foster Gardiner, Jack Riding, Louis Pinnuck
Richmond: Jacob Blight, Harry Scott, Joel Garner, Josh Gibcus, Mutaz El Nour, Lachlan Street

GOALS
Werribee: Hudson Garoni 4, Sam Conway, Harrison Miller, Jack Riding
Richmond: Harry Armstrong, Tom Ferguson, Nicholas Girolami, Josh Pollocks, Mohammed Yassine 2, Josh Gibcus, Reuben Hanson, Massimo Raso, Sam Toner, Lachlan Wilson

LEADING DISPOSALS
Werribee: Jack Riding 35, Louis Pinnuck 30, Dom Brew 26, Emerson Jeka 26, Mace Cousins 20
Richmond: Harry Scott 25, Jacob Blight 21, Lachlan Street 20, Joel Garner 18, Lachlan Wilson 16

FRANKSTON             1.1   7.4   12.9   16.10 (106)
COLLINGWOOD     3.5   4.7   5.7     10.10 (70)

Frankston confirmed its finals credentials on an unforgettable Saturday night at Kinetic Stadium.

In front of a full house of 5,561 spectators, the Dolphins made it five straight by defeating a star-studded Collingwood team featuring AFL premiership heroes Jordan De Goey, Bobby Hill, Mason Cox and Billy Frampton.

The result moved Frankston to within percentage of the top-four with three rounds to play, having played one game less than the fourth-placed GWS Giants.

After trailing 16 points at quarter time, the Dolphins kicked into gear with a six-goal to one second term, before piling on five and four goals in the third and fourth quarters to leapfrog Collingwood on the ladder.

Leading the charge for the hosts was young gun Tom Blamires, who was incredible. The ball magnet ended the match with a season-high 44 disposals to go along with six tackles.

Blamires setting the tone for his team’s win along with forward duo Corey Ellison and Harrison Jones. who kicked four goals apiece.

One of four AFL-listed players returning for the star-studded Magpies, Bobby Hill fired the crowd up with three majors while Fin Macrae had 29 touches in his first game since Round 4 following a shoulder injury.

BEST
Frankston: Tom Blamires, Blake O'Leary, Alec McComb, Josh Smith, Ollie Moran, Tom Murphy
Collingwood: Finlay Macrae, Oscar Steene, Christian Algeri, Brady Grey, Sam Glover, Bobby Hill

GOALS
Frankston: Corey Ellison, Harrison Jones 4, Matt Johnson, Alec McComb 2, Nick Burke, George Grey, Bailey Lambert, Tom Murphy
Collingwood: Bobby Hill 3, Josh Bennetts 2, Sam Glover, Ash Johnson, Finlay Macrae, Oscar Steene, Tom McGuane

LEADING DISPOSALS
Frankston: Tom Blamires 43, Tom Murphy 28, Jackson Voss 25, Ollie Moran 23, Blake O’Leary 23,
Collingwood: Finlay Macrae 25, Brady Grey 24, Christian Algeri 21, Wil Parker 20, Jordan De Goey 19

CASEY DEMONS     8.1   11.7   14.9   18.15 (123)
SANDRINGHAM      3.2   3.3      5.5      9.6 (60)

Another week, another big win from the Casey Demons.

This time the Demons proved too strong for Sandringham to the tune of 63 points at Casey Fields to keep them in top six conversations.

Their sixth win by a margin of 60 points or greater this season looked safe after just one quarter, when they piled on eight goals to three despite giving up the first two majors of the match.

Jack Billings dominated from start to finish for the hosts, producing an astonishing stat line of 36 disposals, two goals, eight marks and seven tackles.

Harry Sharp also got in on the act, booting five goals to lead the way inside 50 for the Demons, while fellow AFL-listed forward Mitch Jefferson had a mixed day, finishing with 2.5 and hauling in some towering grabs.

Tobie Travaglia was the Zebras’ best with a season-high 31 disposals, while Paddy Dow also impressed.

BEST
Casey Demons: Jack Billings, Jed Adams, Harry Sharp, Mitch Hardie, Tom Campbell, Bailey Laurie
Sandringham: Tobie Travaglia, Paddy Dow, Max Heath, Bailey McKenzie, Jez Rigoni, Zaine Cordy

GOALS
Casey Demons: Harry Sharp 5, Mitch Hardie 3, Jack Billings, Matthew Jefferson, Luker Kentfield 2, Aidan Johnson, Bailey Laurie, Koltyn Tholstrup, Will Verrall
Sandringham: Ned Maginness, Lachlan Voss 2, Jonah Campigli, Alex Dodson, Liam Henry, Charlie Orchard, Billy Richardson

LEADING DISPOSALS
Casey Demons: Jack Billings 36, Riley Bonner 31, Tom Campbell 26, Mitch Hardie 26, Bailey Laurie 25
Sandringham: Toby Travaglia 31, Paddy Dow 27, Bailey McKenzie 25, Max Heath 24, Liam Henry 19

NORTH MELBOURNE     3.1   6.4     11.8   15.12 (102)
GEELONG CATS                7.1   11.2   14.5   16.8 (104)

Geelong overcame a spirited North Melbourne comeback, with a goal to Tobyn Murray after the final siren clinching a two-point win and keep the Cats’ finals chances alive.

The Cats were in control of proceedings throughout the first half at Arden Street Oval, leading by 28 points at the main break. That margin increased to 41 points at the eight-minute mark of the third term before the Roos fought back.

They kicked five of the next six majors to cut the deficit to 14 points early in the last quarter. Robert Hansen Jnr and Matt Whitlock then kicked two goals each in just nine minutes to put the hosts in front with only minutes remaining in the game.

However, a free kick was awarded to Murray for a push in the back deep in the Cats’ forward pocket, before a 50m penalty for dissent took him to the goal line to convert the simple set shot as the final siren blared.

It was a costly loss for the Roos, who have now slipped six points out of the top-10 but having played one fewer game than 10th-placed Williamstown.

Jhye Clark and George Stevens were terrific in the critical moments for the visitors as they pushed their case for recalls to the AFL team, while Whitlock and Geordie Payne each kicked four majors to help spur the Roos’ charge in the second half.

BEST
North Melbourne: Geordie Payne, Ben Huggard, Cooper Trembath, Matt Whitlock, Matthew Keast, Oscar Van Dam
Geelong Cats: Jhye Clark, George Stevens, Toby Conway, Xavier Ivisic, Jay Polkinghorne, Kye Annand

GOALS
North Melbourne: Geordie Payne, Matt Whitlock 4, Cooper Trembath 3, Taylor Goad, Robert Hansen, Olli Hotton, Bailey Scott
Geelong Cats: Jay Polkinghorne 3, Jhye Clark, Oliver Henry, Xavier Ivisic, Oli Wiltshire 2, Ted Clohesy, Mitchell Edwards, Tobyn Murray, Patrick Retschko

LEADING DISPOSALS
North Melbourne: Adam Tomlinson 31, Eddie Ford 24, Darcy Macpherson 21, Brayden George 20, Will Phillips 20
Geelong Cats: George Stevens 30, Ted Clohesy 28, Jhye Clark 25, Jed Bews 23, Toby Conway 18, Patrick Retschko 18

NORTHERN BULLANTS     3.4   5.7   6.12   9.16 (70)
COBURG                             6.1   8.3   9.7      13.7 (85)

A fourth-straight win in The Battle of Bell Steet kept Coburg well and truly in the finals hunt, with the Lions holding off a spirited Northern Bullants outfit by 15 points at Genis Steel Oval.

Coburg took the lead at the two-minute mark of the game and kept a distance throughout, but the Bullants weren’t without chances to win the game, getting the margin to single figures on four occasions across the game.

In the end, despite having five less scoring shots, Coburg picked up their eighth win of the season, the first time they’ve achieved this feat in 11 years.

Jack Bytel was brilliant for the victors with 30 touches and a classy running goal from distance, while Donovan Toohey and Ryan Sturgess also impressed.

Patrick Fairlie once again had the ball on a string for the Bullants, finishing with 39 disposals. It was the third-straight match Fairlie has finished with disposal figures of 37 or greater.

BEST
Northern Bullants: Patrick Fairlie, Ethan Mantas, Sam Donegan, Deng Andrew, Liam Mackie, Caleb Franks
Coburg: Ryan Sturgess, Thomas Barnett, Jesse Corigliano, Jack Bytel, Kyle Weightman, Jack Lefroy

GOALS
Northern Bullants: Sam Donegan 2, Will Elliott, Caleb Franks, John Jorgensen, Martin Kelly, Chris Scerri, Kaden Schreiber, Jean-Luc Velissaris
Coburg: Kyle Weightman 3, Jesse Corigliano, Mitch Podhajski 2, Hugo Bromell, Jack Bytel, Josh D’Intinosante, Joel Trudgeon, Ryan Valentine, Josh Walker

LEADING DISPOSALS
Northern Bullants: Patrick Fairlie 39, Sam Donegan 31, Jean-Luc Velissaris 29, Caleb Franks 24, Liam Mackie 21
Coburg: Jack Bytel 30, Donovan Toohey 30, Joel Trudgeon 29, Flynn Gentile 28, Lachlan Walker 22