The teams for the 2025 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final.
The return of retiring defender Taylor Duryea is the only team change for the Smithy’s VFL Grand Final between the Footscray Bulldogs and Southport Sharks at IKON Park on Sunday.
Duryea missed the Bulldogs’ 31-point preliminary final victory over the Box Hill Hawks last week while serving a one-match suspension.
He has been included for his 59th and final VFL match in the premiership decider after last month announcing he would retire at season’s end – bringing a close to a career that also spanned 219 AFL games and two premierships.
Josh Kellett is the unlucky player to make way for Duryea, with the Bulldogs’ side featuring 18 AFL-listed players.
Southport will take an unchanged line-up into the premiership decider after last week accounting for Frankston by 88 points in the preliminary final.
The Sharks head into their third Smithy’s VFL Grand Final in four seasons without a host of stars who have been sidelined by injury throughout the 2025 season.
Among their unavailable players for the decider are Jacob Heron, Mackenzie Willis and Sam Lowson, who were all struck down by ACL injuries during the season.
Meanwhile emerging young gun Tai Hayes suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the Round 20 win over Werribee.
TICKETS: Admission prices will be adults $20, concession/pensioners $15 and children under 15 free. Tickets can be purchased at www.intix.com.au/org/vfl . Patrons purchasing at the gate are advised the payment method is card only. Entry will be via Gate 5 and 6.
BROADCAST AND STREAMING: The 2025 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network via 7mate in Victoria and 7plus nationally. The match will also be streamed live and free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
RADIO: State of Play’s live coverage of the 2025 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final will be available on the AFL Live Official App. The match will also be broadcast by Casey Radio 97.7FM.
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS vs SOUTHPORT SHARKS
Grand Final
Sunday 21 September, 2:15pm, IKON Park
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS
B: J. Busslinger (5), L. Jones (19), N. Coffield (17)
HB: T. Duryea (15), R. Gardner (43), L. Jaques (11)
C: O. Baker (13), A. Treloar (1), A. Jones (32)
HF: J. Dolan (26), C. Poulter (25), C. Hynes (6)
F: L. Kennedy (35), J. Croft (16), W. Lewis (64)
R: L. Smith (40), A. Scott (28), D. Orgill (50)
INT: M. Sellwood (37), B. Crofts (54), C. Craig-Peters (61), Z. Walker (41), F. Valpied (53)
23rd Player: F. Valpied (53)
EMG: J. Kellett (57), L. Muratore (68), E. Hunt (56), P. Spicer (63), J. Gilbee (69)
IN: T. Duryea
OUT: J. Kellett (omitted)
SOUTHPORT SHARKS
B: J. Sexton (16), M. Spencer (6), M. McGuinness (14)
HB: J. Joyce (25), N. Williams (30), W. Sexton (11)
C: M. Manteit (4), E. Reardon (26), J. Lockhart (12)
HF: J. Edwards (21), M. Pescud (42), J. Gore (19)
F: H. Dixon (29), W. Buzza (15), C. Lake (33)
R: B. Crossley (20), J. Dawson (3), Z. Foot (2)
INT: B. Woodcock (1), K. Gray (17), H. Oea (8), F. Hay (39), B. Aston (32)
EMG: C. Webster (22), H. Sullivan (31), J. Krok (44), R. Bowman (7), C. Rowe (40), T. Dawson (24), O. Collins (27), M. Hollier (34)
No change
Head-to-head: Southport 3-0; At IKON Park: Never met; Streak: Southport 3; Last time: Footscray 7.9 (51) def by Southport 9.7 (61) – Preliminary Final 2024, Mission Whitten Oval
UMPIRES
FIELD: Joseph O'Brien (16), Samuel Ferguson (23), Joel Clamp (34). Emergency: Samuel Whetton (4)
BOUNDARY: Harrison Bell, Mitchell O'Neill, Mitchell Dorling, Samuel Button
GOAL: James Rizio, Georgie Henderson. Emergency: John Varker
