New venues produced two thrilling finishes, while the second-half fightbacks boosted Port Melbourne and Essendon’s finals hopes.

FRANKSTON              3.1        4.2        7.6        8.6 (54)
GEELONG CATS         2.2        7.7        9.10     15.16 (106)

Another week, another win for Geelong who remain on top of the ladder following a comfortable 52-point win over Frankston at Kinetic Stadium on Friday night. The Dolphins would lead at quarter time in a stock standard opening quarter before the ladder leaders made their move in the second term. They kicked five majors to one and led by 23 points at half time but could’ve extended that margin greater if not for some inaccuracy during the period, including a run of four straight behinds. It gave Frankston an opportunity to respond in the third term but they too would be unable to capitalise on opportunities, winning the quarter by only seven points to trail by a still gettable 16 points at the final break. The Cats would dominate the final term producing six of the seven last quarter majors to put the result beyond doubt. George Stevens didn’t miss a beat after returning from a stint in the AFL, amassing 33 disposals, 13 clearances and eight score involvements (all game-highs). Up forward Jay Polkinghorne and Mitch Knevitt each booted three goals, the latter also dominating around the ground with 30 disposals, five inside 50s and five clearances. Trent Mynott starred once again for Frankston with 31 disposals, 11 clearances and seven inside 50s.

BEST
Frankston: Seb Quirk, Jackson Voss, Trent Mynott, Corey Ellison, Bailey Lloyd, George Grey
Geelong Cats: Mitch Knevitt, George Stevens, Jhye Clark, Keighton Matofai-Forbes, Gryan Miers, Lennox Hofmann
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COLLINGWOOD         2.4        3.8        4.14     8.19 (67)
BRISBANE LIONS      6.3        10.5     13.8     13.10 (88)

Brisbane claimed back-to-back wins for the first time this year with 21-point triumph over Collingwood at Barry Plant Park. The Lions got off to the perfect start with a six-goal to two opening term and continued their momentum into the second term where they put an inaccurate Pies to the sword with a further four majors to lead by 39 points at the main break. It was much of the same in the third term as despite producing one less scoring shot, they would push their advantage out to 48 points by the final break. They would be without a goal in the last quarter following an improved term from the home side but it would be too little too late with the Magpies now just two games clear from the bottom of the ladder. Sam Marshall impressed in the midfield with 30 disposals and five inside 50s whilst Darragh Joyce was just as important in defence with 24 touches, 11 marks and nine intercepts. Up forward, it was a surprise packet in Keidean Coleman who kicked his side’s most majors with three, meanwhile Lachie Sullivan was a clear standout Collingwood, leading his side, and the game, in disposals (32), clearances (11) and tackles (seven).

BEST
Collingwood: Lachie Sullivan, Oskar Faulkhead, Harrison Coe, Harry Demattia, Tyan Prindable, Will Hayes
Brisbane Lions: Darragh Joyce, Daniel Annable, Sam Marshall, Keidean Coleman, Shadeau Brain, Reece Torrent
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GOLD COAST SUNS               6.1        9.2        10.5     12.8 (80)
SYDNEY SWANS                    8.1        11.5     15.8     18.12 (120)

The goals continued to come for Sydney as they put another stellar performance in to defeat Gold Coast by 40 points at People First Stadium. The Swans kicked 26 majors in their victory over Sandringham last week and in a high scoring opening term, didn’t look like slowing down booting eight first quarter majors, to take a 12-point lead. An even second quarter followed with the Suns able to match their opponents with taking opportunities on the scoreboard, but it was in the third term where some separation started to show, with the away side kicking four goals to one before also winning the final term by seven points to move a game outside of the top four. Leading the way for the Swans were the likes of Riley Bice (35 disposals, six intercepts) and Billy Cootee (27 disposals, eight clearances) whilst Jesse Dattoli, Jedd Longmire and Jevan Phillipou all kicked three majors apiece. Caleb Lewis booted four goals for Gold Coast in a great forward display and teammate Alex Sexton had plenty of the footy finishing with 38 touches and 16 marks.

BEST
Gold Coast Suns: Oscar Adams, Caleb Lewis, Leroy Kaesler, Caleb Graham, Koby Coulson, Miles Enders
Sydney Swans: Lewis Melican, Billy Cootee, Riley Bice, Malcolm Rosas, Ned Bowman
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WERRIBEE                    2.4        6.5        11.10   13.13 (91)
SOUTHPORT                2.2        7.7        9.8        10.11 (71)

Werribee have now made it seven straight games unbeaten after a strong second half saw them defeat Southport by 20 points at Melbourne Avalon Airport. Both sides had periods of dominance throughout the opening two quarter but neither were able break the game out beyond three goals, with the Sharks taking a seven-point lead into half time. The third term would be the home side’s strongest and with plenty of possession were able to generate 10 scoring shots, kicking five majors to two in the quarter to take an important 14-point lead into the three-quarter time break. After an immediate Sam Day goal inside the first minute of the final stanza, the margin remained at single digits for much of the quarter as both sides couldn’t find the big sticks until back-to-back goals from Dom Brew and Cooper Whyte was enough to distance themselves from a Southport comeback. Brady Wright’s five majors would prove crucial in the triumph, with the forward now having 35 goals to his name this season, and Anthony DePasquale was the only other multiple goalkicker for the victors with two goals. Dom Brew was superb in the middle with 30 disposals, 13 tackles, nine clearances and a goal whilst for the visitors, Jacob Dawson had a season-high 43 touches as well as a game-high 13 clearances.

BEST
Werribee: Dom Brew, Mace Cousins, Brady Wright, Will Elliott, Jesse Clark, Jay Dahlhaus
Southport: Jacob Dawson, Sam Day, Zac Foot, Finn Hay, Christian Webster, Brayden Crossley
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TASMANIA                                2.0        3.6        6.9        10.11 (71)
BOX HILL HAWKS                    5.2        7.6        9.7        11.10 (76)

Box Hill survived a late fightback from Tasmania to keep their top four position intact, winning by five points at Dial Park. The Hawks were on track to record a comfortable triumph throughout the first half, highlighted by a five goal opening term that saw their 20-point quarter time lead increase to 24 points by the main break. The Devils would win the third quarter but some inaccuracy prevented them from putting more scoreboard pressure on their opposition and even at the 17-minute mark for the final term, the Hawks still held a 17-points advantage. But two goals in under a minute from the hosts brought the margin back to within a goal and whilst opportunities came to lead for the first time late in the piece, they were unable to find the winning goal. Griff Julian was incredibly influential in defence with 29 disposals, 11 rebound 50s and six intercepts and teammate Tom Farrer also impressed with 25 disposals, five inside 50s and a goal. Three goals from Aidan Schubert kept the scoreboard ticking over the away side, just as three Jed Hagan majors did for Tasmania, who was one of his side’s best for the afternoon alongside Zach Adams (26 disposals, 11 marks) and Geordie Payne (22 disposals, nine intercepts).

BEST
Tasmania: Jed Hagan, Joseph Chaplin, Nick Williams, Zach Adams, Cameron Owen, Jye Menzie
Box Hill Hawks: Griff Julian, Tom Farrer, Henry Hustwaite, Cody Anderson, Will Pewtress, Max Ramsden
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RICHMOND                  4.1        8.3        10.6     10.7 (67)
CARLTON                      4.4        7.7        9.10     15.12 (102)

Carlton ended a losing run to return to top 10 conversations after a terrific last quarter in their 35-point victory over Richmond at Ikon Park. Both sides had no issues finding the goals across the first two quarters but despite the Blues leading for much of the first half, the Tigers would kick three goals in three minutes to take a two-point advantage into the main break.  Richmond would also boot the first two majors of the second half to lead by 13 points midway through the third quarter but would fail to find the big sticks for the rest of the match as Liam Farrer kicked consecutive goals of his own to reduce the margin to two points by three quarter time before his side slammed home six unanswered majors in the last quarter to end a five-match losing streak. Farrer would finish with three majors to lead the way up forward while teammate Lachie Fogarty enjoyed an outstanding afternoon that included 28 touches as well as a game-high amount of clearances (seven) and inside 50s (six). Nick Collier had a solid outing for Richmond, and had 21 disposals, eight intercept possessions and also booted two goals.

BEST
Richmond: Nick Collier, Harry Scott, Mutaz El Nour, Judson Clarke, Olli Hotton, Samson Ryan
Carlton: Lachlan Fogarty, Cooper Lord, Darcy Tucker, Campbell Chesser, Ashton Moir, Adam Saad
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WILLIAMSTOWN       3.0        4.4        5.5        9.6 (60)
FOOTSCRAY               3.6        5.8        12.13   14.17 (101)

One quarter of dominance was all it took for Footscray to get the better of Williamstown in their clash at DSV Stadium on Saturday. The Bulldogs arguably foreshadowed their eventual third quarter display across the first half, as they produced six more scoring shots in the opening term and kicked two goals to one in the second quarter yet only led by 10 points at the main break. After half time however the reigning premiers went to another level, putting the result beyond doubt with a seven-goal third term that could’ve been even greater with 12 total scoring shots recorded in the period by the away side. The Seagulls kicked four final term majors to reduce the 50-point three quarter time advantage but they have now dropped to ninth with back-to-back losses. The Bulldogs had multiple contributors to the victory including Sam Davidson (23 disposals, six inside 50s, two goals), Rhylee West (24 disposals, eight clearances) and Cooper Craig-Peters (25 disposals, eight inside 50s, eight clearances) whilst Louis Emmett and Kane Sexton kicked three goals apiece. Williamstown’s Jake Gresier was reliable as ever once again in defence and finished with 38 disposals and five intercepts while also booting a major, his third in the last four games.

BEST
Williamstown: Not submitted
Footscray: Sam Davidson, Louis Emmett, Rhylee West, Oskar Baker, Luke Cleary, Josh Dolan
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GWS GIANTS               1.6        4.11     5.14     8.18 (66)
COBURG                       1.4        4.5        8.9        9.10 (64)

An inaccurate GWS Giants produced a final quarter comeback against Coburg to maintain their position in the top four, winning by two points at Narrandera Sports Ground. Both sides would kick the same number of goals in the first two quarters, but the Giants inability to make the most of their chances looked to haunt them the most in the second term, when they kicked five behinds from eight scoring shots to lead by only six points at the main break. It looked set to have an even greater impact on the game in the third quarter when the Lions kicked four goals to one, with the hosts again kicking more behinds than goals to trail by 13 points at the final change. But GWS would quickly shift into gear in the final stanza with three straight majors seeing them regain the lead. That advantage would reduce to under a goal for the entirety of time on but the away side couldn’t get the final goal, handing the Giants a third straight win in the process. Nicholas Madden was brilliant in the ruck and fresh off signing an extension with the club during the week, delivered with 18 disposals, 15 hit outs, nine marks and two goals. James Bell was also important to the victory for the home side and had 23 disposals, seven inside 50s and six clearances while for Coburg, Donovan Toohey and Jack Bytel each had 32 disposals and Jaidyn Stephenson finished with four majors, the most he’s kicked since Round 9.

BEST
GWS Giants: Nick Madden, Cody Angove, Jim Houston, Toby McMullin, James Bell, Kye Pfrengle
Coburg: Jaidyn Stephenson, Donovan Toohey, Jack Bytel, Max Kennedy, Ryan Valentine, Seb Murphy
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ESSENDON            4.1        9.3        13.6     18.8 (116)
ST KILDA               6.4        11.5     11.10   13.13 (91)

Essendon showcased its best footy in the second half to return to the winners list, defeating St Kilda by 25 points at Windy Hill on Sunday. Looking to inch closer towards a spot in the top 10, the Saints had a terrific opening half that included 11 majors and a game-high lead of 33 points at the 18-minute mark of the second term. With the Bombers booting the final three majors of the term, it looked to be an intriguing second half to come which turned out to be the case for a different reason, as the home side kicked all four goals of the third quarter and the first two majors of the final quarter to all but put the game in their control. The Saints produced six straight behinds after their 11th goal in the second term before kicking another goal and never really threatened to take back the lead for the rest of the game. Elijah Tsatas (29 disposals, seven tackles, six clearances) and Jackson Hately (28 disposals, eight tackles, six inside 50s) both enjoyed plenty of the footy and were influential with their pressure. Liam McMahon kicked a season-high four majors for Essendon while those that impressed for the Saints included Hugh Bixshall and Paddy Dow who each had 30 disposals and combined for 16 clearances.

BEST
Essendon: Angus Clarke, Jackson Hately, Jayden Nguyen, Jaxon Binns, Liam McMahon, Deacon Kalpakis
St Kilda: Not submitted
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CASEY DEMONS                     4.3        7.8        9.10     9.12 (66)
PORT MELBOURNE                1.1        5.3        8.7        12.12 (84)

In what could prove to be a finals shaping contest, Port Melbourne’s final quarter helped them get over the line against Casey Demons, winning by 18 points at Casey Fields. The Demons, who were looking for their third straight victory, looked the better of the two teams in the initial stages of the game and from the 11-minute mark of the opening term, had led right up until the first few minutes of the last quarter, a period which included a game-high lead of 23 points on multiple occasions, even as late as the seven-minute mark of the third term. With a 21-point deficit to chase during time on of the third term, the Borough got to work, kicking five unanswered goals to lead by double digits in the final quarter and despite going on a run of four consecutive behinds, they would settle any remaining nerves when Dom Bedendo kicked his second goal of the game to secure the win. Ben Hobbs continued to lead from the front and had 28 disposals, six clearances and six score involvements in his side’s win, while teammate Flynn Penry had an impactful day in the ruck with 36 hit outs, six tackles and six clearances. Casey was led by Aidan Johnson who booted three majors and Jack Henderson who had 23 touches and six tackles.

BEST
Casey Demons: Aidan Johnson, Luamon Lual, Ricky Mentha, Miller Bergman, Jarrod Gatt, Jack Henderson
Port Melbourne: Kaine Baldwin, Ben Hobbs, Fraser Rosman, Harry Stubbings, Archi Manton, Alex Tonelli
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