The early-season contenders stamped their authority across the Easter weekend.

NORTH MELBOURNE            4.2   9.4   14.6   17.8 (110)
CARLTON                               3.3   6.5   9.8     14.15 (99)

North Melbourne claimed its first win of the 2026 Smithy’s VFL season with an 11-point victory in the annual Good Friday clash with Carlton at Arden Street Oval. Consecutive five-goal terms in the second and third quarters helped the Roos create a breakaway to lead by 28 points at the last change, before holding off a fast-finishing Blues outfit in the fourth term. Robert Hansen Jr had a terrific outing for the hosts, finishing with 29 disposals and five tackles. Up forward, James Tarrant was with four goals, 20 disposals and eight marks, whilst Brayden George got the Roos going with four goals in a scintillating first quarter. Flynn Young was a standout for Carlton, producing 21 disposals, three goals and 11 marks, Liam Reidy was a presence in the ruck while 19-year-old Jack Ison finished with three majors.

BEST
North Melbourne: James Tarrant, Thomson Dow, Zac Fisher, Darcy Macpherson, Brayden George
Carlton: Liam Reidy, Flynn Young, Billy Wilson, Adam Saad, Harry Charleson
Click here for match stats and videos

BRISBANE LIONS      4.2   5.3      10.9   13.13 (91)
SANDRINGHAM         4.2   11.5   13.5   15.8 (98)

Sandringham produced back-to-back triumphs for the first time since 2024 courtesy of a seven-point upset of the Brisbane at Brighton Homes Arena on Good Friday. With scores level at quarter time, the Zebras made the decisive break in the second quarter when they piled on seven majors to take a 38-point lead into the main break. The Lions dominated the third quarter and reduced the deficit to 14 points by three quarter time but did kick five consecutive behinds to end the term, missing a vital opportunity to take the lead. The margin reached single digits for much of the final quarter, but the visitors always held the buffer. The Zebras celebrated the triumph in perfect fashion when Brodie Atkins saluted with a set shot conversion after the final siren to signal a terrific win for the club. Kyle Cooper starred for the victors with 25 disposals, seven inside 50s and a goal while Nathan Philactides had nine inside 50s from his 19 touches and Willis Reidy finished with three goals, including an amazing dribbler from the boundary in the second term. Harry Arnold was excellent for the Lions and ended the game with 23 disposals, 13 marks and 10 intercepts.

BEST
Brisbane Lions: Reece Torrent, Will McLachlan, Harry Arnold, Fergus McFadyen, Curtis McCarthy, Sam Marshall
Sandringham: Kyle Cooper, Mitch Kirkwood-Scott, Liam Purcell, Daniel Pinter, Andreas Stefanakis, Willis Reidy
Click here for match stats and videos

COBURG                       4.4   6.6         9.10     10.14 (74)
COLLINGWOOD        2.6   10.10   10.13   17.17 (119)

Collingwood got on the board in season 2026 with a thumping 45-point victory over Coburg at Barry Plant Park. In a wind-affected contest, it was the Magpies who made the most of their opportunities. The victors booted eight goals to two with the wind in the second quarter and then when the margin got to within nine points at three quarter time, they delivered another seven goals in the final term to ensure they took home all four points on Good Friday. 2025 draftees Angus Anderson and Sam Swadling were ultra impressive in the win. Anderson had 25 disposals, 12 clearances and eight tackles, while Swadling picked up 28 disposals and four rebound 50s. Jack Buller led from the front inside 50 with four majors, while youngsters Charlie West and Jai Saxena impressed with three each. Ryan Valentine was Coburg’s best with four goals, while Jack Bytel and Donovan Toohey maintained their impressive ball-winning ability for the Lions with 33 and 35 touches respectively. Bytel also had eight tackles and seven clearances.

BEST
Coburg: Ryan Valentine, Ryan Sturgess, Braedyn Gillard, Kyle Weightman, Seb Murphy, Ingo Dammersmith
Collingwood: Angus Anderson, Brady Grey, Oskar Faulkhead, Jack Buller, Wil Parker, Brynn Teakle
Click here for match stats and videos

FRANKSTON  4.6   5.9         8.11     9.13 (67)
TASMANIA      4.5   10.11   16.14   21.19 (145)

The final Good Friday clash of the day saw Tasmania maintain its unbeaten start to life in the VFL with a dominant 78-point triumph over Frankston at Kinetic Stadium. The Devils booted the opening four goals, before Frankston responded with the next five to open an eight-point advantage early in the second term. But that’s when the Devils put their foot down in their first VFL battle outside their home state. The visitors slammed on the next six goals to lead by 32 points at the main break, before pilling on 11 goals to four in the second half to finish with the equal-second highest score of any side to date in 2026. Tasmania had 12 individual goal kickers, led by four apiece from Lachlan Hay and Sam Siggins, with the latter now having eight majors to his name from three games. Jye Menzie had his best match in Tassie colours in a performance that included 29 disposals, 12 marks, six inside 50s and a goal, while for the home side, Tyson Milne was excellent with a team-high 26 disposals, nine rebound 50s and eight intercept possessions.

BEST
Frankston: Harrison Coe, George Grey, Jackson Voss, Tomoya Owens, Harrison Jones, Trent Mynott
Tasmania: Jye Menzie, Robbie Fox, Lachlan Hay, Hugh Dixon, Sam Siggins, Brad Cox-Goodyer
Click here for match stats and videos

WERRIBEE                                                 0.0        3.6        5.8        6.10 (46)
GEELONG                                                  6.7        9.8        10.14   12.18 (90)

Geelong joined Tasmania as the only other side to record three wins from three games by comfortably defeating Werribee by 44 points at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval. The Cats once again set the tone in the opening term, booting six majors from 13 scoring shots while keeping the Tigers scoreless. Despite the home side’s inaccuracy, they kept Werribee at bay throughout the remainder of the afternoon, with the margin never dipping below five goals to. Marcus Herbert was brilliant for the Cats and led the charge with 34 disposals, seven tackles, seven inside 50s and two goals in what was a complete display. George Stevens also played well for the victors, having 23 touches and eight tackles, while Jamieson Ballantyne was the only goal kicker with more than two majors, finishing with four goals. The home side’s best included defender Ryan Eyers, Charlie Lazzaro (30 disposals, eight clearances) and Jesse Clark (27 disposals, nine marks and seven intercepts).

BEST
Werribee: Ryan Eyers, Massimo Raso, Charlie Lazzaro, Ajang Kuol Mun, Jesse Clark, Jake Smith
Geelong: Marcus Herbert, Cillian Burke, Jamieson Ballantyne, George Stevens, James Worpel, Will White
Click here for match stats and videos

PORT MELBOURNE  2.4   6.12   7.13   7.15 (57)
SYDNEY SWANS       3.2   5.2     11.3   12.6 (78)

The Sydney Swans twice came from behind to claim their first win of the season, defeating Port Melbourne by 21 points at ETU Stadium on a day the two clubs honoured the legendary Peter Bedford. The Swans actually ended the match with four less scoring shots and 100 fewer disposals than their hosts. And despite facing a 17-point deficit early in the third quarter, they would prove to be the more clinical side, kicking seven of the final eight goals to march to victory. Sydney had plenty of contributors to the win, headlined by Nic Shipley (28 disposals, six intercepts) and Patrick Snell (26 disposals, 15 intercepts, seven marks). Meanwhile, Hayden McLean and Joel Hamling each kicked three majors. Tom Hird had a superb performance for the Borough that included 34 disposals, six tackles and five inside 50s, whilst Sam Grant had his way in the ruck, amassing 41 hitouts and five clearances.

BEST
Port Melbourne:  Tom Hird, Josh Tovey, Josh Sparkman, Lachlan Rankin, Josh Green, Max Rider
Sydney Swans: Patrick Snell, Will Edwards, Hayden Mclean, Joel Hamling, Nic Shipley
Click here for match stats and videos

SOUTHPORT SHARKS           3.5   11.10   16.11   22.13 (145)
GOLD COAST SUNS               3.4   4.6         8.7       10.9 (69)

Southport Sharks produced a statement-making result at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday, retaining the Doc Mackenzie Cup with a 76-point triumph over the Gold Coast Suns. It was a competitive contest early, with the Sharks holding a one-point advantage at quarter time before blitzing the Suns with an eight-goal to one second term. The hosts never looked back thereafter, increasing their lead throughout the match with another 11 goals in the second half to produce their largest score since Round 10 last year. Jacob Dawson was ruthless against his former side with 38 disposals, 23 contested possessions, 14 clearances, 10 score involvements and two goals. Boyd Woodcock’s efforts were also impressive, amassing 31 touches and eight tackles, whilst Max Pescud and Noah Gadsby led the scoring with four goals apiece. On a difficult day for the Suns, Zak Evans (29 disposals, seven inside 50s) and former Shark Ben Jepson (29 disposals, seven intercepts, two goals) were standouts.

BEST
Southport Sharks: Noah Gadsby, Hewago Oea, Brayden Crossley, Jacob Dawson, Max Pescud, Boyd Woodcock
Gold Coast Suns: Zak Evans, Oscar Adams, Ned Moyle, Nick Holman, Ben Jepson, Koby Coulson
Click here for match stats and videos

CASEY DEMONS       2.4        9.6        14.6     17.8 (110)
BOX HILL HAWKS     5.3        10.4     14.5     16.10 (106)

Easter Sunday football began with a thriller, with the Casey Demons holding on for a four-point win over the Box Hill Hawks at Casey Fields. Off the back of a five-goal first half from draftee Aidan Schubert, the Hawks led for much of the first half before the Demons fought back to hit the front and then settle for a four-point deficit at the main break. Box Hill made the early running during the third term with four of the first five goals of to lead by a game-high 22 points. However, Casey again responded with a flurry of majors to take a one-point advantage to the final break. This time Casey held the lead for much of the last quarter until Box Hill tied proceedings at the 22-minute mark, making for a dramatic finish. A goal from Tom Matthews edged the Demons in front before consecutive behinds from Box Hill made it a four-point ball game. With seconds remaining, the Hawks pumped the ball inside 50, but Max Heath stood tall and hauled in a big contested mark just as the siren sounded to seal a famous victory for Casey. Heath finished with 42 hitouts, six marks and 21 disposals in a dominant aerial display. Riley Bonner was the leading disposal getter on the ground with 33, while Aidan Johnson and Luker Kentfield each finished with four goals. Aidan Schubert announced himself for the Hawks, taking seven marks to go with his five goals, while teammate Brodie McLaughlan contributed with four goals of his own. Finn Maginness also impressed once again, producing 14 tackles to go along with his 31 touches.

BEST
Casey Demons: Max Heath, Aidan Johnson, Riley Bonner, Luker Kentfield, Luis D’Angelo, Jed Adams
Box Hill Hawks: Stu Horner, Finn Maginness, Kye Declase, Bodie Ryan, Aidan Schubert, Brodie McLaughlin
Click here for match stats and videos

ST KILDA         4.2   7.3   10.6      11.9 (75)
RICHMOND   2.4   4.9   13.10   16.12 (108)

One quarter was all it took for Richmond to turn its game against St Kilda on its head on Sunday, with the Tigers running away with a 33-point triumph at RSEA Park. It was the Saints who had threatened to break open a tight game when they kicked the first two goals of the third term to open a 25-point advantage. But the Tigers then went on a tear, kicking six consecutive goals in a 14-minute span and finishing with nine goals for the term to almost push the game beyond doubt. Sam Toner, who would finish the match with six majors, kicked five of his goals in that powerful third quarter, including four straight majors in 10 minutes to end the quarter. Three majors in time-on of the fourth term sealed Richmond’s second victory of the season in style. Kaleb Smith contributed strongly to the win for the away side, picking up 30 disposals as well as 10 intercepts and 10 rebound 50s. Meanwhile, Oliver Hayes-Brown dominated in the middle, finishing with 23 disposals and a game-high 10 clearances. Hunter Clark was one of St Kilda’s best on return, with 31 touches and 11 marks, while Billy McGee Galimberti (24 disposals, 10 intercept possessions, one goal) also impressed.

BEST
St Kilda: Not submitted
Richmond: Sam Toner, Mutaz El Nour, Reuben Hanson, Thomas Burton, Oliver Hayes-Brown, Kaleb Smith
Click here for match stats and videos

FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS     5.1   8.3   11.6   18.10 (118)
ESSENDON                                 5.3   8.7   9.8     10.11 (71)

Footscray continued its winning run at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, breaking away from Essendon after half time to prevail by 47 points. A high-scoring opening half saw both sides register eight goals apiece as the Bombers held a slender four-point lead at the main break. That was thanks largely to a 22-disposal haul from midfielder Elijah Tsatas. Scoring dried up in the third, but the Bulldogs managed to win the quarter to take a 10-point lead into the final term before booting the final six goals of the game. Five of those came in time-on to ensure the reigning premiers maintained an unbeaten start to their premiership defence. Jack Billings had a massive impact up forward, booting five goals in the second half to go with 20 disposals and four inside 50s. Cooper Craig-Peters was another of the Bulldogs’ most influential with 28 disposals, 12 inside 50s, eight tackles and a goal. For Essendon, Tsatas finished with 35 touches and nine clearances.

BEST
Footscray: Jack Billings, Cooper Craig-Peters, Nick Coffield, Louis Emmett, Harvey Gallagher, Will Lewis
Essendon: Not submitted
Click here for match stats and videos