Geelong opened a two-game buffer at the top of the ladder with a statement win, while the remainder of the competition remains logjammed approaching the halfway point of the home and away season.

SYDNEY SWANS                      2.1        3.5        6.8        9.14 (68)
RICHMOND                              3.0        3.5        9.6        12.8 (80)

Richmond produced a massive upset to begin Round 10, as they defeated the Sydney Swans by 22 points at Tramway Oval. As the Tigers continue to battle without many of their AFL listed players, they took it right up to the Swans and did not trail during the first half before settling for both sides to be 3.5 apiece by the main break. The visitors would then begin the third term in terrific style, kicking four majors in the opening eight minutes of the quarter to put the Swans on the backfoot and with a 16-point three quarter time lead intact, Richmond would hold off an inaccurate home side, who kicked just three majors from nine scoring shots in the final term, to earn one of their best victories of the season so far. Joshua Pollocks was responsible for three of the four goals kicked at the beginning of the third term and finished the afternoon with a game-high five majors whilst teammate Mohammed Yassine produced a season-high three goals take his tally for the season to 11. Kaleb Smith was critical to the Tigers’ win with his role in defence that included 37 disposals at 86% while also eight rebound 50’s and seven marks. For Sydney, Corey Warner impressed with 26 disposals and eight clearances, as did Mitch Mellis who was again excellent in the middle with 30 touches and up forward with two goals.

BEST
Sydney Swans: Mitch Mellis, Billy Cootee, Corey Warner, Patrick Snell, Nicholas Shipley, Jesse Dattoli
Richmond: Harry Scott, Lachlan Street, Olli Hotton, Josh Pollocks, Thomas Burton, Nick Collier
Click here for match stats and videos

CARLTON                                 5.1        5.3        7.5        12.9 (81)
GEELONG CATS                       3.6        6.8        15.10   20.11 (131)

A powerful second half saw Geelong produce a score of 90 points or greater for the seventh time this season, this time defeating an in-form Carlton outfit by 50 points at Ikon Park. It took a while for the Cats to get going, as they trailed by seven points at quarter time despite registering more scoring shots and only led by 11 points at the main break despite keeping the home side goalless. But the Cats would illustrate why they could be the team to beat in 2026 with a scintillating third quarter which included nine goals, all but preventing Carlton from causing an upset. For the second time this season, Daniel Capiron kicked five majors, all of them coming in the second half, whilst three other teammates in Jamieson Ballantyne, Oli Wiltshire and Jack Bowes all booted three majors apiece, the latter adding to his terrific game with 28 disposals. Despite the loss of Marcus Herbert to West Coast in last week’s mid-season draft, George Stevens proved he had the ability to control the middle on his own as he had a game-high 41 disposals to go along with seven inside 50’s and six clearances. For Carlton, Cooper Lord was a standout with 26 disposals, seven tackles and three goals.

BEST
Carlton: Matthew Cottrell, Adam Saad, Cooper Lord, Darcy Hogg, Wade Derksen, Cooper Vickery
Geelong: George Stevens, Jack Bowes, Oli Wiltshire, Daniel Capiron, Lennox Hofmann, Jhye Clark
Click here for match stats and videos

ST KILDA                                  4.3        6.6        10.8     14.8 (92)
BOX HILL HAWKS                    3.2        5.2        9.3        9.4 (58)

Another upset took place at RSEA Park on Saturday, this time by St Kilda who won their third game in succession in a 34-point triumph over top four side Box Hill Hawks. The Saints would be in the lead for much of the opening three quarters but could never really separate from the Hawks, as they got out to a then game-high lead of 28 points before the away side stormed back to make it an 11-point margin at three quarter time. But it would be St Kilda who would be clinical in front of the big sticks kicking four unanswered majors in the final term to end the Hawks’ four-game win streak and move one-game outside the top 10. Lance Collard and Paddy Dow were they key ball winners, each with 26 disposals whilst Ned Maginness kicked a season-high four majors, including two in the final term, as well as laid 11 tackles to help the home side get the four points. Noah Mraz did all he could in defence with 21 disposals and a team-high eight intercept possessions while Brodie McLaughlin continued to find the big sticks and kicked three majors.

BEST
St Kilda: Lance Collard, Ned Maginness, Hugh Boxshall, Josh Clarke, Alex Dodson, Paddy Dow
Box Hill Hawks: Matthew LeRay, Noah Mraz, Oliver Greeves, Stu Horner, Henry Hustwaite, Harry Morrison
Click here for match stats and videos

FOOTSCRAY                                           4.2        6.4        10.5     14.8 (92)
COLLINGWOOD                                     3.3        5.6        8.9        10.12 (72)

Footscray returned to the winners list with an important 20-point victory over Collingwood at Whitten Oval on Saturday afternoon. With both sides on large losing runs heading into this match, neither team were willing to give an inch as the regining premiers held narrow five and four-point leads at quarter time and half time respectively. The Pies would get it to under a goal on multiple occasions in the third term but could never hit the lead, with the Bulldogs extending their advantage to eight points at the final change before they kicked four goals to two in the final quarter to claim their first win since Round 4. Jack Billings was incredible in the victory for the home side, amassing 27 disposals and nine clearances while also kicking three goals. Others to impress included Sam Davidson (28 disposals, six intercepts) and Harvey Gallagher (26 disposals, seven clearances) whilst for Collingwood, Jack Buller continues to perform at VFL level and kicked another three goals and Mitch Podhajski was solid on his Magpie debut, kicking 2.4. Josh Browne led the way on the disposal front with 33 touches.

BEST
Footscray: Jack Billings, Harvey Gallagher, Zac Walker, Louis Emmett, Ryan Gardner, Daniel Orgill
Collingwood: Lachie Sullivan, Joshua Browne, Jakob Ryan, Will Phillips, Tyan Prindable, Jack Buller
Click here for match stats and videos

BRISBANE LIONS                     2.2        7.3        10.5     17.6 (108)
FRANKSTON                              6.6        9.6        13.11   20.15 (135)

Frankston jumped back into the top 10 following a high scoring encounter with the Brisbane Lions which saw them prevail by 27 points at Brighton Homes Arena. Both sides made the most of their opportunities inside 50, with each team ending the Sunday afternoon clash with 58 and 63 inside 50s respectively. The Dolphins’ six-goal opening quarter saw them by 28 points at quarter time but it was reduced to 15 points at the main break when the Lions kicked five goals to two in the second term. The away side would not let the margin reach single figures for the rest of the afternoon, pushing their lead back out to 22 points by three quarter time before both sides kicked seven majors apiece in a free-flowing final term. Darby Hipwell’s excellent form continued for Frankston as he had 30 disposals, eight clearances, five tackles and a goal while teammate Seb Quirk was just as influential in the triumph with 28 touches, eight score involvements and five inside 50’s. Taine Barlow led the way up forward with four majors but his outdone at the other end by Brisbane’s Will McLaughlan who nailed seven majors in the loss, having now kicked 17 majors in his six matches in 2026.

BEST
Brisbane Lions: Will McLachlan, Shadeau Brain, James Tunstill, Tahj Abberley, Luke Beecken, Sam Tilley
Frankston: Seb Quirk, Darby Hipwell, Trent Mynott, Taine Barlow, George Grey, Thomas Hofert
Click here for match stats and videos

CASEY DEMONS                      4.2        8.2        9.3        12.5 (77)
GWS GIANTS                          4.3        5.5         8.9        9.9 (81)

Casey Demons picked up consecutive wins for the first time this season holding off the GWS Giants in a 14-point victory at Casey Fields. Both sides had periods of dominance throughout the first half before the Demons first threatened to break open the game, initially thanks to a strong end to the second quarter that saw them lead by 15 points at half time, and then with the opening two goals of the second half that ballooned their lead to a game-high 23-point margin. The Giants however would have the next eight scoring shots and would eventually pip the lead with the first goal of the final term to put the home side on the back foot. But Luker Kentfield stood up with back-to-back majors halfway through the quarter before Ethan Stanley produced the sealer. Kentfield finished with four goals for the third time in eight VFL matches and was the only multiple goalkicker for the Demons. Joel Fitzgerald’s terrific form continued from Williamstown into his Casey debut as he had 39 disposals, 10 clearances, nine inside 50’s and kicked a goal. Standing tall for the Giants was Jack Ough who again had plenty of the football with 33 disposals and seven clearances, whilst teammate Ryan Hebron kicked another three goals.

BEST
Casey Demons: Joel Fitzgerald, Luker Kentfield, Max Heath, Luamon Lual, Miller Bergman, Jarrod Gatt
GWS Giants: James Leake, Jack Ough, Harry Rowston, Nicholas Kelly, James Bell, Harvey Hooper
Click here for match stats and videos

ESSENDON                                 2.0        10.1     12.1     18.6 (114)
WERRIBEE                                 7.4        11.8     22.12   27.12 (174)

An astonishing 45 goals were kicked between Essendon and Werribee in their Sunday encounter at Windy Hill, with the away side cruising to a 10-goal triumph. The conditions looked to play a key role in this contest as the Tigers booted seven goals to two in the opening term before the Bombers replied with an eight-goal quarter of their own to make it a 13-point ball game at half time. But nobody would make more use of the wind than Werribee in the third quarter as they piled on 11 goals from 15 scoring shots to create a game-high 71-point advantage by three quarter time. It was a gap too big for the Bombers to close down but they did win the final quarter with a six-goal effort. The visitors had 14 individual goalkickers for their 27 majors, headlined by Brady Wright who booted six goals, and has now kicked multiple majors in his last five games. Jack Riding kicked three goals to add to a brilliant all-round performance that included 28 disposals and 10 tackles, whilst Sam Donegan had season-highs in disposals (32) and clearances (10). On the goal front for Essendon, Jared Eckersley and Lachlan Monteith each fired three goals but it was Kristian Ferronato who was a standout for the hosts with 24 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 11 clearances and two goals.

BEST
Essendon: Kristian Ferronato, Cam Nyko, Jackson Hately, Boston Dowling, Lachlan Monteath, Lewis Hayes
Werribee: Jack Riding, Brady Wright, Sam Donegan, Mace Cousins, Jordan Busuttil, Charlie Lazzaro
Click here for match stats and videos

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

Coburg’s brilliant run of form continued on Sunday, this time by holding off Williamstown to claim an 18-point triumph at Coburg City Oval. Led by Donovan Toohey who was excellent in defence all afternoon, the Lions would keep the Seagulls to just two goal in the first half and whilst they established an important 30-point lead at half time, they managed only six goals from 18 scoring shots. The inaccuracy continued in the third quarter as the hosts produced 1.6, allowing Williamstown to 20 points by the final change. Led stirringly by Jack McHale who kicked three final term goals, the Seagulls would incredibly hit the front in time on of the last quarter but just as momentum looked to get the visitors over the line, Coburg would find another gear and against the run of play kick three goals in six minutes to earn a fourth straight triumph. Jack Bytel maintained his status as one of the best ball winners in the competition, amassing 36 disposals and 11 clearances with Joel Trudgeon not far behind him with 35 touches and 11 inside 50’s as well as Flynn Gentile who had 32 disposals and booted two majors. Along with McHale’s three majors Luke Parks was instrumental in the Seagulls’ fightback with a game-high 12 intercept possessions and both Alex Mirkov and Brayden Pruess were terrific in the ruck, combining for 61 hitouts.

BEST
Coburg: Flynn Gentile, Donovan Toohey, Jack Bytel, Ryan Sturgess, Matthew Allison, Max Kennedy
Williamstown: Jack McHale, Luke Parks, Nathan Colenso, Jake Greiser, Ned Pendergast, Max Philpot
Click here for match stats and videos

PORT MELBOURNE                6.2        7.4        12.8     16.8 (104)
TASMANIA                             5.2        10.8      12.8     14.16 (101)

Round 10 concluded with a thriller at ETU Stadium, as Port Melbourne snatched a late victory over the Tasmania Devils by four points. The match produced wild swings in the opening three quarters as the Borough got out to a 25-point lead midway through the opening term which was then flipped to a 25-point Devils advantage by the 11-minute mark of the third term. Incredibly both sides would be on level proceedings by three quarter time setting up a grandstand finish. Both sides traded goals throughout the final term before Michael Russ’s second major gave the home side a two-point lead in time on. The match would find its way to getting level before Kaine Baldwin capped off an outstanding performance with his sixth goal of the afternoon to regain the Borough’s lead. Tasmania would flurry forward in the final moments of the game but didn’t find the go ahead goal. Baldwin’s excellent display has now seen him kick 14 goals in his previous three matches as he proves to be a threat in the Smithy’s VFL competition. Others to shine for Port Melbourne included Ben Hobbs (29 disposals, seven clearances) and Connor Downie (23 disposals, eight marks, six intercepts). Tasmania were led by a great ruck-forward display from Hugh Dixon who kicked three goals as well as Geordie Payne who had eight intercepts.

BEST
Port Melbourne: Kaine Baldwin, Connor Downie, Tom Hird, Ben Hobbs, James Van Es, Josh Tovey
Tasmania: Hugh Dixon, Brandon Leary, Joseph Chaplin, Lachlan Hay, Geordie Payne, Jye Menzie
Click here for match stats and videos