Williamstown and Coburg secured vital home wins against finals contenders, Sandringham put a dent in the reigning premier’s finals hopes while the second draw of the season played out.

SOUTHPORT              2.2        5.3        8.8        12.10 (82)
SYDNEY SWANS       3.4        8.9        11.10    17.16 (118)

The Sydney Swans jumped into the top six on the Smithy’s VFL ladder following a comfortable 36-point win over Southport at Fankhauser Reserve, their third successive win at the venue. After conceding the opening two goals, the Swans would take the lead at the 16-minute mark of the first term and wouldn’t lose their advantage for the remainder of the morning, thwarting any semi-threats that the hosts made in the match before booting six last quarter goals to claim their sixth triumph of the season. The away side had three players in Jesse Dattoli, Jevan Phillipou and Tom Ryan all finishing the game with three goals, Nic Shipley was brilliant in the middle and had 31 disposals as well as 11 tackles and nine clearances. Jacob Dawson was a standout for the Sharks with 34 touches, nine clearances and two goals in his 100th VFL game, he was only outdone inside 50 by teammate Sam Lowson who booted a season-high four majors.

BEST
Southport: Sam Lowson, Max Pescud, Jacob Dawson, Max Spencer
Sydney Swans: Not submitted

GEELONG CATS                     4.5        11.10    17.12   22.15 (147)
GOLD COAST SUNS               2.0        4.2        5.3        5.4 (34)

Geelong made yet another powerful statement on the weekend, dismantling the Gold Coast Suns by 113 points at GMHBA Stadium. The Cats led from start to finish and registered the first six scoring shots before the Suns could hit the scoreboard, before going on to boot 11 majors in each half on their way to their 10th win and their seventh consecutive victory. Helping the home side record their sixth score of 100 points or greater was Tanner Lewis and Tyson Stengle who each kicked four majors apiece, the latter doing so in his first game of the year. James Worpel was one of the most influential players on the ground, dominating with 36 disposals, 13 clearances and two goals, whilst Jhye Clark was also excellent with 31 touches and six score involvements. Alex Sexton was a highlight for Gold Coast with a team-high 35 disposals, whilst 19-year-old Beau Addinsall was also solid with 23 disposals and seven tackles.

BEST
Geelong Cats: James Worpel, Tanner Lewis, Jhye Clark, Mitch Knevitt, Hunter Holmes, Tyson Stengle
Gold Coast Suns: Beau Addinsall, Cooper Collins, Zak Evans, Jarrod Witts, Alex Sexton, Nick Holman

WERRIBEE                 4.3        8.6        8.13     12.16 (88)
BRISBANE LIONS      1.2        5.2        8.4        9.8 (62)

Werribee moved into third position on the Smithy’s VFL ladder, taking care of Brisbane by 26 points at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval. The Tigers controlled much of the contest and led by as much as 27 points in the second term but were in danger of kicking themselves out of the game in the third quarter when they managed just seven behinds for the term whilst the Lions reduced the gap to as little as six points. Both sides traded quick goals in succession to start the final quarter but the hosts would boot the final three majors of the game to secure the four points. Two of those three games came courtesy of returning forward Anthony De Pasquale, who finished with a game-high four majors. He was assisted inside 50 by Jack Riding who booted three goals as well as amassed 24 disposals, while teammate Zane Keighran was brilliant with 28 touches, 13 marks and seven rebound 50’s. For the away side, Sam Marshall’s ball winning ability didn’t waver as he had 24 disposals and seven clearances.

BEST
Werribee: Zane Keighran, Anthony Depasquale, Dominic Brew, Harry Grintell, Cooper Whyte, Ryan Eyers
Brisbane Lions: Not submitted

FOOTSCRAY               2.2        2.6        4.8        6.12 (48)
SANDRINGHAM         2.2        4.4        7.9        8.11 (59)

Sandringham pulled off a terrific triumph at Misson Whitten Oval on Saturday afternoon, upsetting reigning premier Footscray by 11 points. Having not defeated the Zebras since Round 16, 2022, the Bulldogs were unable to establish any great early leads and were kept to just four behinds in the second term to trail the away side by 10 points at half time. Sandringham increased their lead throughout the third quarter and got out to a five-goal advantage at the 16-minute mark of the term, but the low scoring nature of the match still gave the Bulldogs some hope and some momentum as they reduced the margin to 19 points by the final change. Despite being held to just one goal in the last quarter, a mix inaccuracy by Footscray and strong defending by the Zebras helped the visitors hold on to an 11-point win. Having been one of their most consistent performers all season, it was no surprise to see Nathan Philactides standing out again for Sandringham as he amassed 35 disposals and eight rebound 50s, whilst teammate Kyle Cooper also won plenty of the football, as he too had 35 touches for the game. With 27 disposals and seven tackles, Billy Crofts was Footscray’s best.

BEST
Footscray: Billy Crofts, Sam Davidson, Ryan Gardner, Kane Sexton, Dan Orgill
Sandringham: Nathan Philactides, Kyle Cooper, Lachlan Riley, Owen Bater, Darcy Chirgwin, Jet Peckett

WILLIAMSTOWN                      4.5        4.5        12.7     14.9 (93)
GWS GIANTS                             4.2        7.8        9.12     11.17 (83)

Williamstown returned to the winner’s list after three consecutive defeats, coming from behind to defeat the GWS Giants by 10 points at DSV Stadium. After a tight opening term, the Giants threatened to take the game away from the Seagulls in the second quarter having produced all nine scoring shots, but they only managed three goals to take a 21-point lead into the main break. Astonishingly by the eight-minute mark, that advantage was erased as the home side fired home seven consecutive majors and eight total third term goals to take a 13-point advantage into the last quarter and although the Giants would still hit the scoreboard, the margin would not reach single digits for the remainder of the match. Jake Greiser and Jack Toner each had 29 disposals, the latter also producing an equal season-high seven clearances for the third time in five matches, and both Kallan Dawson and Heath Ollington kicked three goals apiece. Jack Ough had another strong showing in midfield with 31 disposals and eight clearances.

BEST
Williamstown: Not submitted
GWS Giants: James Bell, Harvey Hooper, Kye Pfrengle, Harry Rowston, Jack Ough, Nicholas Kelly

TASMANIA                    2.7        6.13     7.16     11.19 (85)
RICHMOND                  1.1        1.1        3.3        3.4 (22)

Tasmania eased past Richmond to win its sixth match of the 2026 campaign, winning by 63 points at UTAS Stadium on Saturday. The Devils produced their second highest winning margin of the season in Round 12, keeping the Tigers to just three majors in an impressive display. But the result could have been a greater one, as they kicked 11 majors from 30 scoring shots in difficult conditions in Tasmania, regardless, it moves the Devils into the top four. The star of the show was Jye Menzie, who was outstanding with 36 disposals, seven marks, six intercepts, five round 50’s and a goal. Teammate Caleb Mitchell was just as influential with 28 touches, seven clearances and a goal as was Zach Adams who had 14 intercept possessions from his 26 disposals. Samson Ryan was terrific in the ruck for Richmond and finished with 39 hitouts and 16 touches and Harry Scott had a game-high eight clearances for the visitors.

BEST
Tasmania: Jye Menzie, Caleb Mitchell, Lachlan Hay, Cameron Owen, Bailey Boag, Zach Adams
Richmond: Samson Ryan, Zane Peucker, Joel Garner, Sam Philp, Taj Hotton, Noah Roberts-Thomson

NORTH MELBOURNE            1.3        5.6        7.7        13.8 (86)
ST KILDA                               2.6        3.10      7.17     11.20 (86)

The competition’s second draw this season took place at Arden Street Oval on Sunday, where North Melbourne and St Kilda could not be separated. While the Roos had more possession, the Saints produced 12 more inside 50 as well 10 more scoring shots. However the visitors kicked more behinds than goals in each of the first three quarters to keep North Melbourne in the hunt during the game, leading by 10 points at three quarter time. The Roos would start the last quarter with three goals inside a five-minute span to hit the front and create an advantage which they would hold right up until the final minutes, when their narrow one-point lead was taken from them by an Isaac Keeler behind, it would prove to be the final scoring shot of the day. Three second half majors from Liam Henry was a highlight for the Saints, as was the performance of Paddy Dow who had 32 disposals and six clearances. Matthew Keast (33 disposals, eight clearances) and Robbie Hansen Jr (32 disposals, a goal) were two of North Melbourne’s best, along with James Tarrant who kicked four goals.

BEST
North Melbourne: Matthew Keast, James Tarrant, Callum Coleman-Jones, Aidan Corr, Josh Goater, Robert Hansen
St Kilda: Not submitted

COBURG                       2.2        7.5        10.5     12.7 (79)
FRANKSTON                1.3        3.5        8.9        9.10 (64)

It didn’t take long for Coburg to get back onto the winners list and back into the Smithy’s VFL top 10 after a 15-point victory over Frankston at Barry Plant Park. A brilliant encounter only looked to open up late in the second quarter when the Lions kicked the final four majors of the term to take a 24-point lead into half time. A five-goal to three third term reduced the deficit for the Dolphins before the away side made their move in the last quarter, getting the margin to just two points at the 18-minute mark. However, Coburg proved to be the more composed of the two sides in the latter stages, kicking two of the final three goals. Seven majors between Matthew Allison and Jaidyn Stephenson were critical to Coburg’s victory as well as another great all-round performance from Joel Trudgeon which included 27 disposals, eight clearances and seven inside 50s. The Dolphins were led by Trent Mynott who had 32 disposals, seven marks and a goal.

BEST
Coburg: Matthew Allison, Braedyn Gillard, Joel Trudgeon, Cooper Keogh, Ingo Dammersmith, Jack Bytel
Frankston: Trent Mynott, Jackson Voss, Noah Gown, Taine Barlow, Will Hamill, Tyson Milne

CASEY DEMONS       3.5        9.8        12.9     16.11 (107)
ESSENDON               1.2        2.4        7.7        11.9 (75)

A much-improved performance from the Casey Demons saw them pick up a 32-point win over Essendon to end the round at Casey Fields. Having kicked just eight majors in last week’s loss to Collingwood, the Demons made their intent known early, highlighted by six-goal to one second term to lead by 46 points at half time. Despite the Bombers producing a nine-goal second half, the home side’s lead never looked close to falling away, making it now 12 straight wins over the Bombers, dating back to 2015 elimination final. Matthew Jefferson kicked a season-high five majors in his third VFL match of the year while in the middle, Jack Henderson was excellent with 31 disposals, eight clearances, six tackles and a major. For Essendon, Xavier O’Neill was a standout with season highs in disposals (30) and clearances (eight) while also booting his fourth goal of the 2026 campaign.

BEST
Casey Demons: Jack Henderson, Matthew Jefferson, Miller Bergman, Luamon Lual, Ricky Mentha, Luis D’Angelo
Essendon: Xavier O’Neill, Cam Nyko, Tyler Sellers, Tom Edwards, Kristian Ferronato, Jade Gresham