A preview of this weekend’s Smithy’s VFL semi finals.

SECOND SEMI FINAL

Box Hill Hawks (2nd) vs Brisbane Lions (6th)
Box Hill City Oval
Saturday 6 September at 11:40m
Broadcaster: 7mate and 7plus

The Box Hill Haws will have to arrest their recent form slump if they’re to stay in premiership contention as they prepare to host the Brisbane Lions in a do-or-die semi final at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday.

The Hawks have now lost three consecutive games after falling away late against Southport in last week’s second qualifying final.

It’s the first time the club has gone down in three straight matches since a four-game losing streak between Rounds 14-17 in 2022, with the Hawks now needing to win three consecutive finals to lift the premiership cup for the first time since 2018.

Despite losing their past three following a 14-2 start, Box Hill hasn’t been playing all that poorly – highlighted by their ability to register more scoring shots than the Sharks in last week’s 13.16 (94) to 18.7 (115) defeat.

In fact, they have kicked more behinds than goals in each of their three recent defeats.

The Hawks have in the forward line capable of finding the big sticks and kicking a winning score.

Max Ramsden kicked four majors in last week’s qualifying final and has 27 majors for the season, while club leading goalkicker Jasper Scaife has booted majors in five of his previous six matches and has kicked three goals or more six times this year.

Box Hill won the clearance count comfortably last Saturday thanks to the work of Henry Hustwaite (10), Sam Butler (10) and Cam Mackenzie (nine).

If the trio can produce similar numbers this weekend, it will go a long way towards their side advancing to a preliminary final against Footscray.

A preliminary finalist in each of the past three seasons, Brisbane produced a spirited comeback in the final term of last week’s elimination final against Richmond at Brighton Homes Arena.

Conor McKenna booted four goals, while Deven Robertson registered 31 disposals and six inside 50s to lead their side to victory and into a fourth-consecutive semi final appearance.

If Oscar McInerney isn’t selected in the Lions’ AFL side, his ruck battle with Ned Reeves will be pivotal to determining the outcome of the semi final.

McInerney is averaging 21.4 touches and 27.8 hitouts in his five VFL outings in 2025 and had 22 contested possessions, 11 clearances and a goal in his side’s win last week over Richmond.

These sides have only ever met at Box Hill City Oval, with the Hawks boasting a 2-1 record. That includes a 19-point triumph in Round 9 this year, when they overcame a 28-point deficit in the opening quarter.

BOX HILL HAWKS
2nd (14-4, 136.3%)
STREAK: Lost 3 (2025: LLLWWWWWWWLWWWLWWWW)

BRISBANE LIONS
6th (11-6-1, 108.9%)
STREAK: Won 1 (2025: WDLWWLWLWWLWLWWWWLW)

LAST MEETING
Round 9 – Box Hill City Oval
BOX HILL HAWKS     1.1   6.5   9.5    14.7 (91)
BRISBANE LIONS     5.5   7.6   8.11   10.12 (72)

BEST
Box Hill Hawks: Sam Butler, Seamus Mitchell, Henry Hustwaite, Trent Bianco, Jake Arundell, Sam Frost
Brisbane Lions: Tom Doedee, Harrison Arnold, James Tunstill, Jack Manly, Ty Gallop, Shadeau Brain

GOALS
Box Hill Hawks: Jake Arundell 3, Calsher Dear 2, Cody Anderson, Sam Butler, Kye Declase, Sam Durdin, Seamus Mitchell, Jye Peacock, Max Ramsden, Jasper Scaife, Lane Ward
Brisbane Lions: Ty Gallop 4, Jack Manly, Fergus McFadyen, Conor McKenna, Will McLachlan, Bruce Reville, James Tunstill

DISPOSALS
Box Hill Hawks: Sam Butler 42, Seamus Mitchell 36, Henry Hustwaite 35, Trent Bianco 29, Jai Serong 26
Brisbane Lions: Zane Zakostelsky 23, Luke Beecken 22, Shadeau Brain 19, Reece Torrent 19, Harry Arnold 18

FIRST SEMI FINAL

Frankston (4th) vs Casey Demons (5th)
Kinetic Stadium
Saturday 6 September at 7:35pm
Broadcaster: AFL.com.au + AFL Live Official App

A huge contest awaits at Kinetic Stadium on Saturday night as Frankston host Casey Demons for the chance to meet Southport in a preliminary final.

The Dolphins were no match for a dominant Footscray last Saturday in their first Melbourne final in 17 years, scoring just three goals as their eight-game unbeaten run came to an end.

The heavy defeat was soured further by a suspension to star playmaker George Grey which will see him miss the remainder of the season.

After an injury-interrupted start to the season, Grey had begun hitting his straps across the final three home and away games, where he kicked six goals and averaged more than 20 disposals.

Despite last week’s forgettable performance, it would come as no surprise to see this proud Dolphins outfit bounce back in front of a big home crowd on Saturday night.

Frankston holds an 8-1-1 record at home this year, with all wins coming under lights. Their opponents Casey boast an impressive 3-0 record in night games this year, but haven’t played under lights since beating Werribee at Mission Whitten Oval in Round 16.

Taine Barlow and Tyson Milne were two shining lights in defence for Frankston during the heavy loss to the Bulldogs and will play key roles in limiting Casey’s high scoring ability.

Corey Ellison, Noah Gown and Matt Johnson have combined for 112 majors this year and will be looking to atoned for a quite day last week, where the trio was contained to a combined tally of 18 disposals and one major.

Meanwhile captain Trent Mynott made a successful return from injury last week in his first game since Round 14 and was one of his side’s three goalkickers. He has kicked majors in eight of his 13 games in 2025 and his leadership will be crucial in such an important game.

It will be no easy feat to get past the most in-form side of the competition outside of Footscray, with Casey making a statement in its 76-point thrashing of Williamstown in last week’s elimination final.

The victory came off a scintillating seven-goal effort from youngster Noah Yze, who will be one to watch again come Saturday night following a breakout performance against the Seagulls. He’d previously only kicked eight VFL games before the elimination final.

The midfield battle will be pivotal if the Demons are to prevail over the Dolphins for the first time since Round 3, 2023.

Bailey Laurie, Blake Howes and Mitch Hardie all had north of 25 disposals last week, while Tom Campbell continues to dominate in the ruck and has recorded 22 clearances in his past two matches.

Last week’s win was Casey’s first finals victory since the 2022 Grand Final triumph and there is no question the past two months have been the club’s most impressive since their premiership victory.

While it will be a tough task to silence Frankston and its passionate home faithful, Casey has every reason to feel confident it can bank consecutive finals victories to set up a clash next week against the team it beat in the 2022 premiership decider.

FRANKSTON
4th (12-5-1, 111.2%)
STREAK: Lost 1 (2025: LDWWWWWWWLLWLWLWWLW)

CASEY DEMONS
5th (11-6-1, 135.5%)
STREAK: Won 6 (2025: WWWWWWLLWWWWLLWLLWD)

LAST MEETING
Round 17, 2024 – Kinetic Stadium
FRANKSTON              1.0   8.2   9.4   10.8 (68)
CASEY DEMONS     2.1   3.3   4.9    5.11 (41)

BEST
Frankston: Tom Murphy, Sebastian Quirk, Matt Johnson, Jackson Voss, Angus Grant, Taine Barlow
Casey Demons: Kynan Brown, Mitch White, Marty Hore, Roan Steele, Will Verrall, Mitch Szybkowski

GOALS
Frankston: Matt Johnson 4, Tom Murphy 2, Nick Burke, Noah Gown, Jack Newnes, Seb Quirk
Casey Demons: Jack Bell 2, Kynan Brown, Luker Kentfield, Charlie Peters

LEADING DISPOSALS
Frankston: Seb Quirk 29, Tom Murphy 27, Jackson Voss 26, Lachie Riley 23, Trent Mynott 22
Casey Demons: Kynan Brown 27, Mitch White 24, Tyler Edwards 23, Roan Steel 23, Marty Hore 21, Blake Howes 21