Last year’s beaten preliminary finalists exacted revenge on their conquerors, while close contests were the tale of the weekend with five matches decided by less than ten points.

TASMANIA                             1.1        3.5        7.10     15.14 (104)
NORTH MELBOURNE            2.4        5.6        8.9        13.12 (90)

Tasmania returned to the winners’ list after three weeks without a victory by defeating North Melbourne by 14 points at North Hobart Oval on Saturday. The Devils were always in the match despite not holding a lead for the entirety of the opening three quarters. The Roos managed to get the margin out to as a high as 19 points at the start of the third term, however the Devils rallied to close the buffer to five points at the final change. The hosts then put on a terrific display in the final term, booting eight majors from 12 scoring shots, which included five goals in a 12-minute span, to pick up a crucial four points. There were multiple contributors to Tasmania’s win, with Jed Hagan’s three final term majors proving to be critical to his side’s triumph, whilst teammates Geordie Payne (25 disposals, 10 marks, nine rebound 50s) and Jye Menzie (23 disposals, eight marks) were also excellent. Darcy Macpherson was a standout for North Melbourne with 30 touches and seven tackles, while Oliver Lowe booted a season-high four majors.

BEST
Tasmania: Geordie Payne, Jye Menzie, Oscar Paprotny, Jack Callinan, Cameron Owen, Harry Elmer
North Melbourne: Oliver Lowe, Bailey Scott, Aidan Corr, Zac Banch, Thomson Dow, Felix Kneipp
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FRANKSTON                              7.1        11.3     16.5     21.7 (133)
SOUTHPORT                              3.3        9.5        11.6     12.12 (84)

Another powerful performance from Frankston saw last year’s preliminary finalist jump into the fifth spot on the ladder, defeating Southport for the first time in a 49-point triumph at Kinetic Stadium. Fresh off a 20-goal effort against the Brisbane Lions a week prior, the Dolphins were on track to do the same against the Shark after a seven-goal opening term. They opened a 41-point advantage halfway through the second term but their lead would reduce to 10 points by the main break thanks to some great attacking work by the Sharks before half time. However, the hosts would regain control in the second half, not allowing Southport to kick more than three goals in the final two terms, while they slammed home repeated five-goal quarters to produce their fourth 100+ score of the season. The brilliant goal kicking form of Corey Ellison reached new heights with a career-high seven majors, making it 17 majors in his past four games. Others to stand tall for the hosts included Darby Hipwell (33 disposals, six tackles and two goals) and Tyson Milne (30 disposals, 10 intercepts and 10 rebound 50s). Max Pescud had an excellent all-round performance for Southport, amassing 20 disposals and kicking three goals.

BEST
Frankston: Patrick Dozzi, Darby Hipwell, Corey Ellison, Tyson Milne, Deng Andrew, Tom Hofert
Southport: Max Pescud, Jacob Dawson, Zac Foot, Sam Day, Sam Lowson, Ryan Burton
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COLLINGWOOD                                    2.1        2.7        7.9        9.14 (68)
CASEY DEMONS                                    5.3        6.4        8.6        8.8 (56)

Collingwood ended a five-game losing run with a gutsy come-from-behind 12-point victory over the Casey Demons at Casey Fields. After a five-goal to two opening quarter and after managing just 0.6 in the second term, things were looking grim for the Magpies at half time. But after the deficit reached 27 points, Collingwood flicked the switch, kicking four unanswered goals to trail by just three points at the final change before booting the only two goals of the last quarter to finish as winners for the first time since Round 5. Harry DeMattia won plenty of the football and found the goals when pushing forward, finishing with two majors and 24 disposals. Meanwhile teammate Ned Long was excellent in his VFL return, dominating the middle of the ground with 33 disposals and nine clearances. Joel Fitzgerald stood out again in his second match for the Demons with 33 touches and five inside 50s. Lukas Cooke was also impressive with 32 disposals and 13 intercepts.

BEST
Collingwood: Ned Long, Jakob Ryan, Harry Demattia, Lachie Sullivan, Will Phillips, Wil Parker
Casey Demons: Lukas Cooke, Jack Henderson, Joel Fitzgerald, Max Heath, Miller Bergman, Riley Onley
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GOLD COAST SUNS                              4.3        9.7        12.11   12.13 (85)
BRISBANE LIONS                                 1.4        3.8        3.12     9.14 (68)

The Gold Coast Suns punished an inaccurate Brisbane Lions outfit, winning by 17 points at People First Stadium to go a game clear of their rivals at the bottom of the ladder. The Suns were the better of the two sides across the first half and dominated possession to establish a 35-point half time lead. That margin grew to 53 points by three quarter time before the Lions closed the margin considerably with the only six goals of the final quarter. The Suns banked their second win despite registering 21 fewer clearances and nine less inside 50s than their opponents. Sam Clohesy stuffed the stat sheet with 43 disposals, 15 rebound 50s and 11 marks. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan gave his hopes of an AFL return a boost with a four-goal effort, while Charlie Ballard had 11 intercepts from his 23 possessions. Brisbane was led by Luke Beecken (27 disposals, seven intercepts).

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BOX HILL HAWKS                    0.6        5.8        9.9        10.13 (73)
FOOTSCRAY                              3.4        4.8        6.9        9.11 (65)

Box Hill jumped to second on the Smithy’s VFL ladder following a gritty eight-point triumph over Footscray at Box Hill City Oval in a rematch of last year’s preliminary final. The Bulldogs had an excellent start to the game, keeping the Hawks goalless in the opening term and leading by as much as 19 points midway through the second quarter before a string of four consecutive goals in nine minutes put the home side in front at the main break. The Hawks carried on that form in the third term, kicking three of the next four majors to take an 18-point three quarter time advantage. Jack Billings looked to lead a comeback for Footscray with two final term majors, his second reducing the gap to six points at the 22-minute mark, but they were unable to find the go-ahead goal by the full-time siren. Trent Bianco and Harry Morrison were ball magnets for Box Hill, amassing 36 and 33 disposals respectively, whilst teammate Henry Hustwaite was just as impressive with 29 touches and 10 clearances. Harvey Gallagher was a standout for the Bulldogs with a season-high 29 disposals and a goal.

BEST
Box Hill Hawks: Harry Morrison, Trent Bianco, Henry Hustwaite, Noah Mraz, Kye Declase, Thomas Swainston
Footscray: Ryan Gardner, Jedd Busslinger, Harvey Gallagher, Sam Davidson, Luke Cleary, Jack Billings
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WERRIBEE                                  0.1        5.6        10.9     16.11 (107)
COBURG                                      3.7        5.8        6.10     6.12 (48)

Werribee arrested a slow start to comfortably defeat Coburg by 59 points at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval. Entering the game on a four-game winning streak, the Lions looked the goods at quarter time, holding a 24-point advantage. However, they only managed three majors from their 10 scoring shots in the opening term, which left open the door for the Tigers. The home side responded in the second term, booting five goals to trail by just two points at the main break. The hosts would repeat their efforts in the third quarter, this time keeping the Lions to just one major before six majors in the final term put the icing on the cake for Werribee who jumped into third spot on the ladder. Brady Wright had another terrific outing with five majors, having now kicked 23 goals in his previous six matches, while teammate Jake Smith was just as influential with 24 disposals and five intercepts. For Coburg, Donovan Toohey continued to have no issues finding the footy in the defensive half, finishing with 29 disposals and eight rebound 50s.

BEST
Werribee: Jake Smith, Mace Cousins, Brady Wright, Harry Grintell, Sam Donegan, Cooper Whyte
Coburg: Seb Murphy, Donovan Toohey, Matthew Allison, Thomas Legudi, Ingo Dammersmith, Max Kennedy
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SANDRINGHAM                      2.2        3.4        5.5        5.6 (36)
GEELONG CATS                       1.4        3.11     7.12     13.16 (94)

Geelong maintained its two-game gap atop the Smithy’s VFL ladder after a 58-point win over Sandringham at Trevor Barker Beach Oval. While the final margin looked comfortable, the early going was anything but. The Cats would trail at quarter time and only held a seven-point advantage at the main break, aided in part to an inaccurate second term in which they kicked 2.7. But their repeat entries inside 50 would eventually pay off in the second half, as they booted 4.1 in the third term before keeping the Zebras to one behind and kicking six goals in the last quarter to finish as winners for the ninth time in 10 starts this year. George Stevens maintained his status as one of the premier midfielders in the competition with an effort that included 29 disposals, nine tackles, nine clearances, four inside 50s and two goals. Jhye Clark was another to impress for the ladder-leader with 24 disposals and nine marks. For the Zebras, Nathan Philactides enjoyed a solid afternoon with 22 disposals and 12 rebound 50s.

BEST
Sandringham: Kyle Cooper, Nathan Philactides, Adrian Cole, Ethan Williams, Lachlan Riley, Willis Reidy
Geelong Cats: Jhye Clark, George Stevens, Rhys Stanley, Bradley Close, Cillian Burke, James Worpel
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SYDNEY SWANS                      3.0        9.1        15.1     17.5 (107)
ST KILDA                                 6.2        9.6        13.10   16.14 (110)

The Sydney Swans and St Kilda kicked off the round’s Sunday slate in fine fashion, with the Saints prevailing in a three-point thriller at Tramway Oval. The visitors led for much of the opening three quarters after starting brilliantly with a six-goal to three first quarter. The Swans would fight hard to get back into the contest and held the lead momentarily in the second term before the Saints threatened to run away with the game again as they reached a game-high 24-point advantage at the 14-minute mark of the third term. But in the blink of an eye, scores would be level as Sydney fired home four goals in four minutes to set up a thrilling final term. Scores were level at the 15-minute mark of the last quarter and whilst St Kilda had the ascendency in the final moments, the door was left open for the Swans to pinch the win right up until the final siren. Paddy Dow was critical in the away side’s triumph having 32 disposals, nine clearances while also kicking a big fourth-quarter goal, while teammate Jonah Campigli booted three majors for the victors. The Swans had their fair share of contributors despite the narrow defeat, including Peter Ladhams (35 disposals, 26 hitouts, 10 clearances), Harry Cunningham (37 disposals at 95% efficiency, 10 rebound 50s) and Tom Ryan who kicked a season-high five majors.

BEST
Sydney Swans: Mitch Mellis, Tom Ryan, Harry Cunningham, Peter Ladhams, Billy Cootee, Joel Hamling
St Kilda: Paddy Dow, Jonah Campigli, Joshua Clarke, Tobie Travaglia, Jack Carroll, Alex Dodson
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ESSENDON                                 6.0        10.4     13.8     14.9 (93)
CARLTON                                    3.3        7.10     8.13     11.19 (85)

Essendon had to fight off a surging Carlton in the dying stages to record their fifth win of the season, prevailing by eight points at Windy Hill. A strong finish to the opening term that saw the Bombers lead by 10 points at quarter time carried over into the second quarter getting, with the buffer blowing out as far as 28 points at the 17-minute mark of the second term. The Blues would turn things around and did well to reduce the deficit to two straight kicks by half time, but the Bombers would have a another patch of dominance and kicked the last two goals of the third term to take a 25-point lead into the fourth quarter. The away side would produce the first nine scoring shots of the term and whilst only kicking three goals, would bring the margin to within one point, but time on belonged to the Bombers who didn’t allow their opponents any more opportunities on goal, while sealing the match with Tom Edwards’ fifth goal of the game. Edwards led the way with Jackson Hately (30 disposals, eight clearances, two goals) and Kayle Gerreyn (15 disposals, four goals), who were keys to Essendon’s triumph. For the Blues, Cooper Lord had 30 disposals and seven tackles, as well as Lachie Fogarty who impressed with 29 touches and six inside 50’s.

BEST
Essendon: Tom Edwards, Jackson Hately, Jordan Ridley, Kayle Gerreyn, Tyler Sellers, Solomon McKay
Carlton: Lachlan Fogarty, Cooper Lord, Darcy Hogg, Zac Williams, Lewis Young, Taj Logan
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PORT MELBOURNE                4.2        9.5        13.12   14.16 (100)
WILLIAMSTOWN                   5.3        7.5        10.6     15.9 (99)

Round 11 ended with a thriller between two great VFL rivals as Port Melbourne held off a fast-finishing Williamstown to win by a point at ETU Stadium. The game had plenty of ebbs and flows with no side able to break the game open across the first half despite the Borough holding a two-goal advantage at the main break. Trailing by five points halfway through the third quarter, the hosts took the game by the scruff of its neck and produced nine consecutive scoring shots, three of those resulting in goals, to have all the momentum heading into three quarter time with a 24-point lead in check. The Seagulls made their move midway through the fourth term with three unanswered goals bringing the margin back to seven points. Roy George kicked a settler for Port Melbourne as time on commenced but that was before consecutive majors from the away side made it a one-point ball game in the dying stages to create a grandstand finish. A Diesel Moloney kick from the boundary line with the final disposal of the game fell just short, as the home side jumped to sixth spot on the ladder. The experience of Ben Hobbs was imperative in the triumph, as he finished the match with 29 disposals and five tackles, while seven crucial goals were kicked between Kaine Baldwin and Patrick Farrant. After a career in defence, Kallan Dawson became a threat up forward for the Seagulls and booted a season-high five goals, four of those coming in the opening half, to keep his side in the contest, and teammate Jake Greiser was as reliable as ever in defence, amassing 29 disposals and nine rebound 50s.

BEST
Port Melbourne: Ben Hobbs, Josh Tovey, Josh Green, Thomas Hird, Kaine Baldwin, Riley Polkinghorne
Williamstown: Jake Greiser, Toby Triffett, Jack McHale, Nathan Colenso, Alex Mirkov
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