The Smithy’s VFL teams for the Wildcard Finals.                 

Richmond’s key position stocks have been bolstered for its clash with the GWS Giants at ETU Stadium.

The Tigers, who have been beaten in Wildcard Finals in each of the past two years, have included Jacob Blight, Campbell Gray and Samson Ryan for Saturday’s match, while Steely Green also returns.

Josh Gibcus is the only AFL-listed player to go out of Richmond’s team following last week’s defeat to Williamstown, with the injury-plagued young defender earning a richly-deserved promotion to the senior team for his first AFL game since Round 1, 2024.

GWS star Brent Daniels will make his return from injury via the Wildcard Final in his first game since the Giants’ Round 15 AFL win over the Brisbane Lions.

It will be just the second time Daniels has played in the VFL, with his previous appearance coming for Geelong back in 2017 prior to being drafted.

Phoenix Gothard and Oli Hannaford have also been named among six inclusions for the Giants, however Jacob Wehr goes out of the team.

Collingwood has received a significant boost for its clash with Williamstown at Victoria Park on Sunday, with 15 AFL-listed Magpies named to take on the Seagulls.

Wil Parker and Ed Allan return from the AFL team, while premiership defender Oleg Markov and exciting forward Ash Johnson also return.

Roan Steele has been rewarded for his strong form with a recall to the AFL team.

Williamstown co-captain Cam Polson returns to lead his side as it looks to win a final for the third-successive season.

TICKETS: For matches played in Victoria during Wildcard Finals through to the Preliminary Finals, admission prices will be adults $15, concession/pensioners $10 and children under 15 free. Tickets can be purchased via www.intix.com.au/org/vfl.

BROADCAST AND STREAMING: All matches in the 2025 Smithy’s VFL season will be live streamed free via the AFL website, AFL Live Official App and VFL App. The Seven Network will broadcast a match live and free on 7mate in Victoria and 7plus Sport nationally each week of the finals. This week’s broadcast match will be Richmond vs GWS Giants.

RICHMOND vs GWS GIANTS

Second Wildcard Final
Saturday 23 August, 12:10pm, ETU Stadium

RICHMOND
B: C. Gray (50), M. El Nour (57), J. Blight (46)
HB: K. Smith (49), N. Collier (63), L. Street (55)
C: L. George (67), H. Scott (74), A. Johnson (51)
HF: S. Green (48), M. Yassine (52), J. Alger (29)
F: J. Koschitzke (20), L. Fawcett (37), M. Raso (77)
R: O. Hayes-Brown (47), L. Wilson (56), J. Garner (53)
INT: S. Toner (68), N. Guiney (62), N. Girolami (59), S. Ryan (32), T. McKenzie (60)
23rd Player: M. Raso (77)
EMG: S. Phillips (81), S. Lai (76), T. Ferguson (73), J. Pollocks (79)

IN: J. Blight, C. Gray, S. Green, S. Ryan
OUT: J. Gibcus (AFL), T. Ferguson, S. Phillips, J. Pollocks (omitted)

GWS GIANTS
B: L. McCarthy (65), L. Keeffe (25), B. McGee-Galimberti (49)
HB: H. Montgomery (50), H. Oliver (19), J. Fahey (34)
C: E. Matthews (69), J. Leake (30), R. Hamilton (60)
HF: P. Gothard (11), B. Daniels (16), T. Moraschi (67)
F: R. Hebron (47), O. Hannaford (13), L. Smith (36)
R: N. Madden (41), J. Lugsdin (53), J. Delana (38)
INT: W. Shaw (57), S. McMeeken (62), J. Butson (58), P. Lewis-Smith (61), H. Birks (55)
23rd Player: E. Matthews (69)
EMG: M. Blow (70), M. Harms (56), M. Allen (59), I. Hughes (54)

IN: H. Birks, J. Butson, B. Daniels, P. Gothard, O. Hannaford, W. Shaw
OUT: J. Wehr (AFL), M. Allen, N. Bradshaw, J. Hart, I. Hughes, A. Swinnerton (omitted)

Head-to-head: Richmond 3-0; At ETU Stadium: Richmond 3-0; Streak: Richmond 3; Last time: GWS Giants 12.8 (80) def by Richmond 13.14 (92) – Round 10, 2025, ENGIE Stadium

COLLINGWOOD vs WILLIAMSTOWN

First Wildcard Final
Sunday 24 August, 2:05pm, Victoria Park

COLLINGWOOD
B: B. De Bolfo (51), S. Glover (50), C. Dean (43)
HB: O. Markov (37), W. Parker (15), J. Cochran (27)
C: H. Mahoney (72), E. Allan (16), W. Hoskin-Elliott (32)
HF: B. Grey (55), W. Hayes (39), F. Macrae (18)
F: N. Howes (47), A. Johnson (40), O. Steene (21)
R: M. Cox (46), H. DeMattia (13), T. Mitchell (6)
INT: T. Wilson (56), C. Algeri (70), C. Mulvogue (66), J. Bennetts (71), M. Mahoney (77)
23rd Player: M. Mahoney (77)
EMG: H. Kennedy (53), N. Byrne (68), R. Mason (67), A. Seivers (51), L. Hude (60), C. Willis (64), R. Eyre (58), M. O'Brien (63)

IN: E. Allan, A. Johnson, M. Mahoney, O. Markov, W. Parker
OUT: R. Steele (AFL), N. Byrne, L. Hude, T. McGuane, C. Willis (omitted)

WILLIAMSTOWN
B: L. Parks (22), N. Pendergast (32), H. Minton-Connell (16)
HB: F. O'Dwyer (17), J. Fitzgerald (8), Z. Pritchard (44)
C: N. Gadsby (13), J. Greiser (18), J. Petric (24)
HF: C. Polson (5), J. Brown (2), J. McHale (1)
F: H. Ollington (38), L. Gollant (15), B. McLaughlin (6)
R: T. Downie (11), H. Hall-Kahan (20), T. Triffett (7)
INT: M. Cox (4), R. Collier-Dawkins (9), N. Colenso (35), D. Hollow (12), J. Toner (14)
EMG: M. Philpot (19), B. Kennedy (42), J. Noonan (31), L. Impey (45), L. Sciccitano (36), H. Murphy (30)

IN: C. Polson
OUT: N. Ebinger (omitted)

Head-to-head: Williamstown 19-12; At Victoria Park: Williamstown 6-2; Streak: Collingwood 1; Last time: Williamstown 15.7 (97) def by Collingwood 16.12 (108) – Round 19, 2025, DSV Stadium

UMPIRES

RICHMOND vs GWS GIANTS
FIELD: Scott Simpson (15), Samuel Ferguson (23), Jordyn Pearson (26) [emergency: Samuel Hurford (44)]; BOUNDARY: Riley Guerin, Daniel Urbans, Ryan Hickey, Cody Tuder; GOAL: Callum Thornton, Adam Steger [emergency: Tayla Manning]

COLLINGWOOD vs WILLIAMSTOWN
FIELD: Cameron Williams (19), Thomas Lyon (41), Jake Edgar (54) [emergency: Connor Hawes (12)]; BOUNDARY: Nicholas Bahr, Joshua Blain, Lewis Spiker, Daniel Mortlock; GOAL: Jack Stammers, Joshua Hickman [emergency: Josh Dudman Doyle]