Two thrilling games under lights headlined Round 9, while Geelong overcame a slow start to maintain its buffer at the top of the ladder.

WILLIAMSTOWN       1.5   5.11   8.15   11.23 (89)
BOX HILL HAWKS      3.3   8.4     12.9    14.10 (94)

Seven goals from Brodie McLaughlin against his old side and a Will McCabe game winner in the final minute helped Box Hill produce a thrilling five-point win over Williamstown at DSV Stadium on Friday night. The Hawks would lead for much of the contest and kept the Seagulls at arms length for large patches of the game, in part due to the home side’s poor accuracy in front of goal, which allowed the Hawks to get to a game-high lead of 25 points when McLaughlin kicked his seventh goal at the three minute mark of the final term. From that point, Williamstown would have 10 unanswered scoring shots but only three of them would result in goals. It was enough to tie the scores at the 28-minute mark before a clutch set shot conversion from McCabe proved to be enough to hand the visitors their sixth win of the season. Along with the heroics of McCabe and McLaughlin in front of the big sticks, Flynn Perez was another to stand up for Box Hill having 34 disposals, 13 rebound 50’s, seven inside 50’s and kicking a goal. Joel Fitzgerald was absolutely everywhere for the Seagulls amassing 39 touches, 11 score involvements, nine tackles and eight clearances but did kick four behinds and zero goals in the defeat.

BEST
Williamstown: Joel Fitzgerald, Hugo Hall-Kahan, Jack Mchale, Alex Mirkov, Luke Parks, Jake Greiser
Box Hill Hawks: Brodie McLaughlin, Flynn Perez, Will Day, Sam Butler, Harry Morrison, Henry Hustwaite
Click here for match stats and videos

RICHMOND   6.3   9.5      10.5      14.5 (89)
ESSENDON    4.5   10.8   12.11    15.17 (107)

Essendon had all the answers in the second half to defeat Richmond by 18 points at Windy Hill on Saturday to close in on a top 10 spot. The Tigers played their best football at the latter stages of the opening term and initial parts of the second quarter in which they were able to reach 18 and 16-point leads respectively, however that period was soured by an ACL injury to Tom Sims. The Bombers would rally to take a nine-point lead into half time before getting their advantage to double digits for the remainder of the game never looking threatened in the process. Kristian Ferronato (29 disposals, nine inside 50’s, eight clearances) and Jackson Hately (26 disposals, 10 clearances, two goals) controlled things in the middle for the hosts while Jared Eckersley kicked a season-high four majors and now has multiple goal in his last five matches. Sam Toner had a brilliant performance for Richmond, kicking three goals to go with a team-high 25 disposals and 10 marks.

BEST
Richmond: Sam Toner, Olli Hotton, Josh Pollocks, Aaron Sharkie, Harry Scott, Samson Ryan
Essendon: Kristian Ferronato, Jared Eckersley, Nik Cox, Jaxon Binns, Jackson Hately, Tyler Sellers
Click here for match stats and videos

SOUTHPORT SHARKS           6.4   7.6   12.10   16.14 (110)
PORT MELBOURNE                1.0   7.4   7.6         11.12 (78)

The Southport Sharks rode the waves of their match with Port Melbourne at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday, eventually going on to win by 32 points on Saturday. The opening two quarters were a game of two halves, with the Sharks powering to a six-goal to one first term before the Borough produced an identical term in the second two make it a two-point ball game at the main break. Much of the same looked to be the case in the third term, with the hosts again making a move in the third quarter to stretch out their advantage to 34 points, thanks in part to three straight majors in five minutes to round out the quarter. The visitors were on track to repeat their second quarter efforts and create a dramatic finish but whilst they got to within 13 points, Southport would break the momentum at the 20th minute mark with a major, and then three of the last four goals of the match. The victory would come at a cost for the Sharks with Boyd Woodcock, who booted four majors for the match, suffering a season ending ACL injury. His teammates would be just as influential in proceedings including Jacob Dawson who had 28 disposals, 12 clearances and kicked two goals as well as Brayden Crossley who was brilliant with 55 hitouts and 21 touches. Ben Hobbs stood tall again for Port Melbourne and had 33 disposals and 10 clearances whilst Kaine Baldwin kicked four goals.

BEST
Southport Sharks: Jacob Dawson, Brayden Crossley, Hewago Oea, Zac Foot, Christian Webster, Elijah Reardon
Port Melbourne: Ben Hobbs, Kaine Baldwin, James Van Es, Fraser Rosman, Tom Hird, Flynn Penry
Click here for match stats and videos

WERRIBEE                    6.2   11.5   16.10   19.12 (126)
COLLINGWOOD        2.2   3.6      8.7        14.11 (95)

Werribee were in control from start to finish in their battle with Collingwood to move back into the top 10, winning by 31 points at Avalon Airport Oval. The Tigers had their opponent’s measure for much of the contest, kicking at least five majors in each of the first three terms to increase their lead at each interval and reach a game-high lead of 69 points at the 29-minute mark of the third term. The Pies gained some respectability in the final quarter but it was too little too late as Matthew Lokan’s men slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat and sixth total loss for the season. Charlie Lazzaro was outstanding, registering a game-high 33 disposals and a game-high 12 clearances as well as nine score involvements and seven tackles. Jaelen Pavlidis was also excellent amassing 29 touches and 13 marks while up forward, Harry Maguire booted five majors. The Pies were led by Harvey Harrison who was his side’s top possession getter with 24 while also kicking two goals. Jack Buller kicked three majors for the away side to take his VFL tally to 15 from five matches.

BEST
Werribee: Ajang Kuol Mun, Charlie Lazzaro, Jaelen Pavlidis, Brady Wright, Sam Azzi, Harry Maguire
Collingwood: Jack Buller, Ben De Bolfo, Harvey Harrison, Wil Parker, Lachie Sullivan, Harry Demattia
Click here for match stats and videos

GEELONG CATS         1.6   7.11   9.14   12.18 (90)
SYDNEY SWANS        5.2   7.3     9.10   10.16 (76)

Geelong earned a fourth straight triumph to remain a game clear on top of the Smithy’s VFL ladder as they pushed past the Sydney Swans by 14 points at GMHBA Stadium. The Swans got the jump in the opening term, kicking five goals to one, and despite the Cats turning it around in the second term, inaccuracy looked to haunt them as they kicked just seven goals from 18 scoring shots despite holding an eight-point half time advantage. The lead was reduced to four points by three quarter time, before the home side got out to a 22-point lead at the 15-minute mark of the fourth quarter. The Swans would have ample chances to win the match, but would ultimately be the side to have the yips in front of goal, kicking just one major from their final four scoring shots to fall short of victory. A host of contributors helped Geelong get over the line including Jack Bowes and James Worpel who each had 39 disposals. Oliver Wiltshire was just as influential with 25 disposals and an equal game-high three goals meanwhile for Sydney, Joel Hamling was a rock in defence with 17 marks, three of them contested while also finding the scoreboard with a major to go along with his 25 disposals.

BEST
Geelong Cats: James Worpel, Oli Wiltshire, Jack Bowes, Marcus Herbert, Mitch Knevitt, Hunter Holmes
Sydney Swans: Joel Hamling, Patrick Snell, Harry Cunningham, Noah Chamberlain, Peter Ladhams, Jedd Longmire
Click here for match stats and videos

NORTH MELBOURNE            4.0   7.5   9.6     13.12 (90)
GOLD COAST SUNS               5.5   6.6   11.8   11.11 (77)

North Melbourne returned to the winners list to keep in touch with the top 10, coming from behind to defeat the Gold Coast Suns by 13 points at Arden Street on Saturday afternoon. Both sides would enjoy moments of ascendency throughout the game, with the Suns twice gaining leads of beyond two goals in the first half before the roos fought back to lead by five points at the main break. The away side was excellent in the third quarter, kicking five goals to two and threatening to break the game open with a 14-point advantage. However Gold Coast would be kept goalless in the final quarter as North Melbourne found a way to level proceedings as time on commenced before goals from Zac Fisher and Darcy MacPherson helped the Roos claim their fourth win of the season. Both Robert Hansen Jr (32 disposals, five inside 50’s) and Tom Blamires (29 disposals, eight inside 50’s) were both critical parts to the home side’s triumph as was Fisher who ended the match with three goals and 22 touches. The Suns were led by Ben Jepson who had 28 disposals, seven clearances and seven inside 50’s whilst Max Knobel impressed in the ruck with 33 hitouts and a goal.

BEST
North Melbourne: Zac Fisher, Toby Pink, Aidan Corr, Tom Blamires, Matthew Keast, Robert Hansen Jr
Gold Coast Suns: Ben Jepson, Max Knobel, Alex Sexton, Zak Evans, Cooper Collins, Tommy Bennett
Click here for match stats and videos

FRANKSTON                1.4   2.6   5.11   6.15 (52)
SANDRINGHAM         0.3   2.8   2.10   8.12 (60)

A low scoring encounter at Kinetic Stadium on Saturday night saw Sandringham claim a crucial eight-point victory over Frankston. Scores were hard to come by in the opening half with just four goals kicked between the two sides to half time, as the Zebras held a narrow two-point advantage. From the 22 second mark of the third quarter until the 28-minute mark of the final term, the hosts would be in the lead and even reached a margin of 22 points early in the last quarter as they looked to run away with the win. But their inaccuracy in front of goal would come back to bite them, as they would kick 10 behinds in the second half and score just 1.5 in the fourth quarter, allowing the Zebras the opportunity to kick six final term goals, to snatch the win away from home. Darcy Chirgwin again had influential moments for Sandringham and finished with 24 touches and five clearances Jhett Haeata kicked the important go-ahead goal to add to his performance that included 20 disposals and eight inside 50’s. Darby Hipwell got plenty of the footy once again for the Dolphins and had 31 disposals as well as seven tackles, with teammate Joe Lloyd having a game-high 13 intercept possessions.

BEST
Frankston: Joe Lloyd, Trent Mynott, Darby Hipwell, Will Hamill, Jackson Voss, Kobe Askew
Sandringham: Ben Hopkins, Owen Bater, Nathan Philactides, Darcy Chirgwin, Jet Peckett, Jhett Haeata
Click here for match stats and videos

CASEY DEMONS       8.3   14.3   17.6      21.10 (136)
FOOTSCRAY             2.2   7.10   10.13    14.17 (101)

Casey Demons had one of their best performances of the season on Sunday, with a great four quarter effort seeing them defeat Footscray by 35 points at Casey Fields. An eight-goal to two opening quarter set the tone for the Demons who had kicked 87 points in the first half and finished with 21 goals for the game to record their highest score since Round 17, 2025, all while consigning the Bulldogs to a fourth straight loss as their slump continues. The Demons had four players who kicked three goals or greater, with Jake Melksham and Luker Kentfield each leading the way with four majors apiece. Andy Moniz-Wakefield, who was one of those to register three majors, also got plenty of the football and had a game-high 32 disposals along with Ricky Mentha. Lachlan Smith was a clear best for the struggling Dogs, as he controlled the ruck with 40 hitouts, while also amassing 25 disposals, eight clearances, seven score involvements and kicking a goal.

BEST
Casey Demons: Andy Moniz-Wakefield, Jake Melksham, Luker Kentfield, Jarrod Gatt, Tom McDonald, Xavier Taylor
Footscray: Lachlan Smith, Harvey Gallagher, Jack Billings, Daniel Orgill, Oskar Baker, Nathan Howard
Click here for match stats and videos

COBURG         5.4   8.6   11.10   16.14 (110)
CARLTON       2.2   3.5   3.9        10.14 (74)

Coburg put Carlton’s winning run to a halt while moving inside the top 10 in the process following an impressive 36-point victory at Barry Plant Park on Sunday. The Lions would not trail from start to finish, increasing their lead across the opening three quarters while keeping the in-form Blues to just three majors from 12 scoring shots in the same period of time. The Blues would boot seven final term goals but it didn’t stop Coburg from producing their third straight score of 110 points or greater. It was the Jaidyn Stephenson show inside 50, as he had nine scoring shots and kicked five goals for the second time in three weeks, he’s now booted 16 majors in his previous four games for Coburg. In the middle, Joel Trudgeon was brilliant with 31 disposals and and seven clearances whilst also kicking two goals. For Carlton, Ben Camporeale stood out with 31 touches, nine inside 50’s and a goal and Liam Farrer booted a team-high three majors.

BEST
Coburg: Jaidyn Stephenson, Joel Trudgeon, Jack Bytel, Donovan Toohey, Cooper Keogh, Flynn Gentile
Carlton: Ben Camporeale, Harry Charleson, Dane Harvey, Liam Farrar, Lachlan Fogarty, Hudson O'Keeffe
Click here for match stats and videos

GWS GIANTS               3.3   10.3   11.4   16.6 (102)
BRISBANE LIONS       2.3   5.5      8.9     10.12 (72)

The GWS Giants jumped to second on the Smithy’s VFL ladder after having little issues in their 30-point win over the Brisbane Lions at ENGIE Stadium on Sunday. After a tight opening quarter, the Giants put their foot down and kicked seven second term goals, three of them coming in a four-minute span in time on to lead by 28 points at the main break. Brisbane would manage to work their way to a seven-point deficit by the early stages of the final quarter but the hosts would go on another run to close out the match, kicking five consecutive goals to secure the victory. Jack Ought broke his own season-high in the disposal tally for a second straight game, registering 40 disposals to go with eight clearances and a goal. He was supported well by James Leake (30 disposals, 11 intercept possessions) whilst inside 50, Josaia Delana and Ryan Hebron each kicked four goals. The Lions were led by Luke Lloyd (21 disposals, 13 intercept possessions) but remain on the bottom of the ladder with just one victory still to their name.

BEST
GWS Giants: Josaia Delana, Jack Ough, James Leake, Louie Montgomery, Oskar Taylor, Ryan Hebron
Brisbane Lions: Not supplied
Click here for match stats and videos