After last year producing one of the greatest finishes in recent history, all eyes will be on this weekend’s Wildcard matches which kick off the Smithy’s VFL Finals Series.
SECOND WILDCARD FINAL: RICHMOND vs GWS GIANTS
Richmond again features in a Wildcard Final and will this time do battle with the GWS Giants at ETU Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers have now appeared in the Wildcard Finals in all three editions since the concept was introduced in 2023, however the weekend hasn’t been fond to the club in previous years.
Richmond went down by 75 points to Collingwood in the inaugural Wildcard Final in 2023, before being beaten to the tune of 66 points by Williamstown last season.
The Tigers finished ninth in both those seasons but have this year registered 11 wins, making it their most successful campaign since their 2019 premiership year.
Among this year’s season highlights are victories over premiership fancies the Box Hill Hawks and Brisbane Lions, as well as another after-the-siren triumph when Joel Garner kicked truly against Sandringham back in Round 2.
With a long injury list at AFL level, Richmond has relied heavily on its VFL-listed players and they have delivered in spades.
Midfielder Harry Scott has been in ripping touch of late, averaging 25 disposals and almost six tackles since Round 15, while reigning club best and fairest winner Lachlan Wilson has again excelled and the two have formed part of a great midfield duo.
Mutaz El Nour continues to be one of the competition’s elite defenders and has enjoyed a great campaign. He’ll be important this week given the Tigers will lose Josh Gibcus to a well-deserved AFL promotion
Despite having only a handful of AFL-listed players in their line-up this week, Jake Batchelor’s side will be confident they can overcome their Wildcard demons and get on top of a GWS outfit struggling for form heading into their inaugural VFL finals series.
After winning their opening six matches, the Giants have found it difficult to get going at the pointy end of the season, winning just one of their previous five matches. Three of those losses have come against sides that didn’t finish in the top 10.
However, their early-season form provided a good enough platform to ensure they banked a finals place for the first time since joining the competition in 2021 and they can make some noise this post-season if they can get back on track.
It’s likely they’ll again be without leading goal kicker Max Gruzewski after he booted three majors for the AFL side last week, but skipper Ryan Hebron is filling the void just fine and has booted three goals in back-to-back matches over the past fortnight.
2024 draftee Harry Oliver has shown his promise in recent week and has been averaging over 27 disposals and four tackles across his previous three matches, while James Leake has only dipped below five clearances once in his past four games, which will be important to maintain if the Giants are to win this weekend.
Richmond holds a 3-0 record over the Giants in meetings at VFL level, which includes a 12-point triumph when the sides met at ENGIE Stadium in Round 10 this season. Big second and third terms helped the Tigers prevail in that contest
2025 SEASON
RICHMOND
8th (11-7, 99.9%)
STREAK: Lost 1 (2025: LWLWLWWLWWWLWLLWWW)
GWS GIANTS
9th (10-8, 113.4%)
STREAK: Lost 3 (2025: LLLWLWWLWLLLWWWWWW)
2025 MEETING
Round 10 – ENGIE Stadium
GWS GIANTS 3.1 4.2 8.8 12.8 (80)
RICHMOND 4.3 8.6 11.10 13.14 (92)
BEST
GWS Giants: Lachie Keeffe, Harry Rowston, Josaia Delana
Richmond: Joel Garner, Maurice Rioli Jnr, Judson Clarke, Harry Scott, James Trezise, Jacob Bauer
GOALS
GWS Giants: Nathan Wardius 3, Harry Rowston 2, Josaia Delana, Max Gruzewski, Lachlan Keeffe, James Leake, Billy McGee Galimberti, Jack Ough, Conor Stone
Richmond: Jacob Bauer 3, Judson Clarke, Massimo Raso, Maurice Rioli Jnr 2, Samson Ryan, Harry Scott, James Trezise, Mohammed Yassine
DISPOSALS
GWS Giants: James Leake 34, Harrison Oliver 29, Harry Rowston 28, Conor Stone 25, Josh Fahey 24
Richmond: Joel Garner 30, Judson Clarke 27, Maurice Rioli Jnr 25, Harry Scott 25, Jacob Blight
FIRST WILDCARD FINAL: COLLINGWOOD vs WILLIAMSTOWN
Collingwood and Williamstown will meet for the second time in four weeks when they play meet in a Wildcard Final at Victoria Park on Sunday.
The Magpies have had an epic rise up the ladder this year after finishing second-bottom in a challenging 2024 campaign.
Under new coach Andy Otten, the Magpies have won 11 matches to secure a seventh-place finish and a second appearance in the Wildcard weekend, having thrashed Richmond in the inaugural Wildcard game in 2023.
Despite falling to a shock loss to Port Melbourne in their final home and away clash last week, the depth of the Magpies was on show at the selection table this week.
They will get Ed Allan and Wil Parker back from the AFL side, along with premiership defender Oleg Markov and exciting forward Ash Johnson in a welcome boost.
They will help offset the promotion Roan Steele to the AFL team following an excellent display against the Borough which included 32 disposals, seven intercept possessions and a goal.
Mason Cox will certainly provide plenty of presence and has been another Pie to impress in recent weeks both in the ruck and on the scoreboard, while Fin Macrae can replace Steele’s ball-winning ability, having averaged 28 disposals since returning from injury in Round 18.
Having won their most recent clash only a few weeks ago, and with Williamstown having won just one of its past five matches, Collingwood will start favourite on its home deck at Victoria Park.
But after their crucial victory over Richmond at home last week in what was an early elimination final, Justin Plapp’s men will be confident of producing a successful finals campaign.
They have form in that area, having reached the semi final in each of the past two years – which included thrashing Collingwood in the 2023 elimination final at DSV Stadium.
And don’t forget, Williamstown did go on an eight-game winning run midway through the season, which included wins over Footscray, Southport and the Brisbane Lions.
Williamstown will always have confidence in its ability to kick a winning score thanks to the brilliant, and now two-time Jim ‘Frosty’ Miller medallist, Brodie McLaughlin. The star forward kicked 5.3 against the Magpies earlier this month on his way to a season tally of 67 majors.
Club stalwart Jake Greiser’s recent form also can’t be overlooked either and was another to star in the club’s loss to the Pies on August 2, racking up an equal season-high 38 disposals as well as seven intercepts.
He was also instrumental in last week’s win over Richmond, along with defensive teammates Luke Parks and Joel Fitzgerald.
While these two sides only faced off in Round 19, they have recently played each other in a final, which Williamstown won by 55 points in 2023.
The Seagulls boast a 6-2 record against the Magpies historically, having not lost to the Pies at the venue since Round 14, 1895!
2025 SEASON
COLLINGWOOD
7th (11-7, 101.4%)
STREAK: Lost 1 (2025: LWLWWLWWLWLWWLWLWW)
WILLIAMSTOWN
10th (10-8, 104.7%)
STREAK: Won 1 (2025: WLLLLWWWWWWWWLLWLL)
2025 MEETING
Round 19 – DSV Stadium
WILLIAMSTOWN 3.3 6.3 13.6 15.7 (97)
COLLINGWOOD 2.4 11.8 14.11 16.12 (108)
BEST
Williamstown: Jake Greiser, Brodie McLaughlin, Joel Fitzgerald, Hugo Hall-Kahan, Toby Triffett, Finn O’Dwyer
Collingwood: Fin Macrae, Harry Demattia, Harry Mahoney, Wil Parker, Mason Cox, Noah Howes
GOALS
Williamstown: Brodie McLaughlin 5, Lachie Gollant, Toby Triffett 2, Jack Brown, Nick Ebinger, Hugo Hall-Kahan, Heath Ollington, Cam Polson, Jack Toner
Collingwood: Noah Howes 4, Chad Mulvogue 2, Christian Algeri, Josh Bennetts, Mason Cox, Harry DeMattia, Will Hayes, Ash Johnson, Fin Macrae, Harry Mahoney, Roan Steele, Oscar Steene
LEADING DISPOSALS
Williamstown: Jake Greiser 38, Joel Fitzgerald 33, Finn O’Dwyer 31, Toby Triffett 31, Hugo Hall-Kahan 26, Jack Toner 26
Collingwood: Fin Macrae 26, Wil Parker 24, Harry DeMattia 22, Harry Mahoney 18, Conor Willis 17
