The make-up of the top 10 remained the same on a dramatic weekend which produced the third draw of the season and several other thrilling finishes.

COLLINGWOOD                     4.5        5.10     11.14   17.16 (118)
NORTH MELBOURNE            2.4        5.4        7.8        11.9 (75)

Collingwood got back in the win column after breaking away in the second half to defeat North Melbourne by 43 points at Marvel Stadium on Friday. The Pies were seemingly in control for much of the opening half and led by 13 points at quarter time but only held a six-point half time advantage after inaccuracy saw them manage just one major from seven scoring chances, allowing the Roos to reduce the deficit with a three-goal quarter. Collingwood would arrest their goal kicking woes in the third term with a brilliant six-goal effort which they repeated in the final quarter to record their third highest score of the season. Max Mahoney was the star of the show inside forward 50 with five majors, all of them coming after half time as Collingwood surged ahead, whilst teammates Josh Browne (32 disposals, seven score involvements, one goal) and Lachie Sullivan (22 disposals, eight score involvements, six clearances) were all influential in the victory. North Melbourne was led by a mammoth performance from Bailey Scott who had 43 disposals, nine inside 50s and six clearances.

BEST
Collingwood: Will Phillips, Roan Steele, Lachie Sullivan, Josh Browne, Max Mahoney, Ben De Bolfo
North Melbourne: Bailey Scott, Oliver Griffin, Robert Hansen, Oliver Lowe, Sam Linder, Matthew Keast
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TASMANIA                              0.2        5.7        9.10     18.14 (122)
GOLD COAST SUNS               4.5        7.5        9.8        10.12 (72)

Tasmania ended a short losing run with a confidence by holding 50-point victory over Gold Coast at North Hobart Oval. The Suns looked to pour more pain on the Devils in the early stages of this contest, keeping them goalless and kicking four majors in the first term, and then reaching a 33-point advantage in the second quarter before the home side got going with a five-goal run to reduce the margin to 10 points at the main break. The momentum would continue into the second half with Tasmania hitting the front at stages of the third quarter and eventually taking a two-point lead into the final term before blasting the Suns with a nine-goal quarter, their highest scoring term of the season, to stay within touching distance of the top six. Jed Hagan continued his brilliant goal kicking form with four majors, and was one of five Devils to kick multiple goals in the win. Jack Callinan and Nick Williams were a dynamic duo for the home side, combining for 52 disposals and 17 intercept possessions whilst for Gold Coast, Sam Clohesy was outstanding with 37 disposals and 11 rebound 50s whilst Caleb Lewis booted four majors.

BEST
Tasmania: Nick Williams, Bailey Boag, Brandon Leary, Harry Elmer, Zach Adams, Aiden Begg
Gold Coast Suns: Sam Clohesy, Caleb Lewis, Isaac Mayne, Caleb Graham, Harrison Gray, Max Knobel
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SYDNEY SWANS        3.1        7.5        10.10   13.13 (91)
WILLIAMSTOWN       5.0        8.3        11.5     14.7 (91)

The season’s third draw took place at International Sports Park in Blacktown on Saturday as the Sydney Swans and Williamstown couldn’t be separated at the full time siren. An accurate Seagulls outfit start the match well with some late goals giving them a nine-point quarter time lead. It reached as high as 18 points in the second term before the Swans booted three of the last four goals of the second half to reduce the deficit four points at the main break. The margin would not reach double digits for the remainder of the game with the lead changing hands multiple times. Two goals in two minutes from Jack Toner put the away side seven points in front 15 minutes into the final term and his side would absorb multiple inside 50s from the Swans late in the piece before a Nicholas Shipley major put Sydney back in front at the 21-minute mark. It would be a back and forth encounter in the closing stages but the final score would come off the boot of Williamstown’s Angus Seivers, with his behind signalling a draw between the two sides. Keeping the Swans in the contest were the likes of Riley Bice (31 disposals, 13 intercepts), Braeden Campbell (21 disposals, six inside 50s, two goals) and Jake Sutton with a season-high four goals. Toner meanwhile was simply spectacular and nearly willed the Seagulls over the line on his own, finishing with 35 disposals, seven clearances, seven marks, six score involvements and two goals.

BEST
Sydney Swans: Braeden Campbell, Jake Sutton, Patrick Snell, Riak Andrew
Williamstown: Not submitted
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GEELONG CATS         3.4        7.7        14.11   23.14 (152)
RICHMOND               3.1        7.2        10.4     11.4 (70)

Geelong had another opportunity to flex their muscles and the ladder leaders did just that in an 82-point thumping of Richmond at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday. It was another match that wasn’t headed for the eventual result throughout the early stages of the game as the Tigers, who were looking to end a five-game losing run, matched the Cats on the goal front in each of the opening two terms to trail by only five points at half time. But as Richmond began to tire, the home side pounced, firing home seven goals in the third term before a huge nine-goal final quarter helped them record their second highest score of the season and 10th consecutive victory. The Cats had a plethora of players that contributing to the large win headlined by 19-year-old Jesse Mellor who slammed home six majors as well as Jay Polkinghorne who kicked a season-high of five goals to make it 20 goals from only six VFL games. Also doing the damage was James Worpel who had a monster game that included 33 disposals, 12 clearances, seven inside 50s, seven tackles and a goal. Highlights for Richmond included Tyler Sonsie who had 32 touches and 10 clearances as well as Liam Fawcett who kicked three goals.

BEST
Geelong Cats: Jay Polkinghorne, James Worpel, Gryan Miers, Jed Bews, Jesse Mellor, Joe Pike
Richmond: Tyler Sonsie, Samson Ryan, Olli Hotton, Nick Collier, James Milner, Sam Toner
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ST KILDA                       0.2        2.4        7.9        9.11 (65)
WERRIBEE                    2.1        5.2        6.3        10.6 (66)

In a thriller at RSEA Park on Saturday, a goal on the full time siren saw Werribee come from behind against St Kilda to make it eight straight games without a loss. In a low scoring encounter, it was the Tigers who created an important 16-point lead by the main break, but it was quickly erased in the third quarter after some terrific football by the Saints saw them kick five majors to one to give them a 12-point three quarter time advantage. Two Lachie Charleson goals either side of a Patrick Said major kicked off a frantic opening five minutes to the final term and with the scores tied at the 23-minute mark, it was anybody’s for the taking. Isaac Keeler would convert a set shot at the 25-minute mark to put the Saints in front before the Tigers surged forward and managed a behind before Tom Simpson was given a set shot opportunity for the away side inside 50 with just seconds remaining and as the full time siren sounded, slotted through the goal to sneak his side home by the barest of margins. Charleson would finish with three majors for the afternoon and teammate Jack Riding, who also hit the scoreboard in the final term, was one of the Tigers’ best, finishing with 31 disposals, eight inside 50s and six clearances. For St Kilda, Said kicked a season-high four majors doing all he could to get his side over the line while Charlie Banfield impressed with 22 touches, nine intercepts and five score involvements.

BEST
St Kilda: Not submitted
Werribee: Ryan Eyers, Cooper Whyte, Will Elliott, Jack Riding, Jesse Clark, Lachlan Charleson
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BRISBANE LIONS      1.6        5.7        7.9        10.13 (73)
ESSENDON                 2.1        7.3        10.9     15.13 (103)

Back-to-back wins have seen Essendon move just two points shy of a top 10 spot, which comes after a 30-point win over Brisbane at Brighton Homes Arena on Sunday. On the back of an impressive performance last week, the Lions had no issues creating scoring opportunities throughout the first half, but they were unable to convert their chances, unlike the Bombers who would go into half time eight points in front despite having two less scoring shots. The hosts would wrestle back the lead momentarily in the early stages of the third term before the Bombers worked their way through the Lions, kicking the final three majors of the third quarter to lead by 18 points before booting five goals to three in the last term to defeat Brisbane for the first time in the VFL competition. Liam McMahon is no stranger in front of goal but had his best performance of the season to date with a six-goal effort, whilst Elijah Tsatas was dominant in the middle with 35 disposals, seven clearances and five inside 50s. AFL draftee Daniel Annable impressed with 32 disposals, six tackles and six clearances while Sam Marshall’s excellent VFL form continued.

BEST
Brisbane Lions: Dan Annable, Liam Jones, Wyatt Greenaway, Sam Marshall, Tahj Abberley, Will McLachlan
Essendon: Liam McMahon, Tyler Sellers, Xavier O’Neill, Deacon Kalpakis, Jaxon Artemis, Elijah Tsatas
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FOOTSCRAY                 2.5        2.10     6.16     7.16 (58)
FRANKSTON                0.5        2.9        3.9        10.11 (71)

An incredible seven-goal final term propelled Frankston to a terrific 13-point win over Footscray at Mission Whitten Oval on Sunday afternoon. Both sides would have great difficulty in being accurate in front of goal and by half time, each team had combined for 19 behinds and just four goals with the Bulldogs holding a narrow one-point lead. The reigning premiers would remain inaccurate in the third term but still managed to kick four goals to one and take a 25-point lead into the final quarter. But from the 11-minute mark of the last term, where the deficit sat at 18 points, the Dolphins would go on a rampage, kicking five unanswered goals in an 11-minute span to completely turn around the contest and return to the winners list. Trent Mynott was crucial to the victory for the away side with a terrific performance that included 34 disposals, eight inside 50s and a goal, whilst Noah Gown and Corey Ellison each kicked three majors apiece for the victors. Adam Treloar (37 disposals, six clearances) and Riley Garcia (32 disposals, 10 inside 50s) were busy in the middle for the Bulldogs.

BEST
Footscray: Ryan Gardner, Riley Garcia, Lachlan McNeil, Adam Treloar, Lachie Jaques
Frankston: Trent Mynott, Noah Gown, Darby Hipwell, Tomoya Owens, Tyson Milne, George Grey
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COBURG                                      4.1        6.1        14.7     20.8 (128)
CASEY DEMONS                      3.0        7.5        9.6        12.13 (85)

Coburg remained in touch with the top six after a 43-point win over Casey Demons at Barry Plant Park. The Lions would find themselves behind at the main break after a strong second term from the Demons where they booted four majors from nine scoring shots. But the home side would produce arguably their best half of football for the season when they fired home eight third quarter majors and a further six goals in the final to produce their highest score of the season and more importantly, maintain their gap from sides outside of the top 10. A host of players helped Coburg to their big victory, headlined by a stunning performance from Cooper Keogh in the ruck who had 38 hit outs, 36 disposals and 17 clearances as well as nine score involvements. Jaidyn Stephenson, Daniel Johnson and Hugo Bromell each booted three majors in the victory while Joel Trudgeon was strong in defence and had 30n disposals and 11 intercepts. The Demons, who have now lost three straight games, were led by Lukas Cooke in defence who had 23 disposals, 10 intercepts and eight rebound 50s.

BEST
Coburg: Cooper Keogh, Hugo Bromell, Max Thompson, Joel Trudgeon, Seb Murphy, Will Hoare
Casey Demons: Ricky Mentha, Luamon Lual, Lukas Cooke, Luis D’Angelo, Christian Salem, Ethan Stanley
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PORT MELBOURNE                1.6        2.8        4.10     7.14 (56)
SANDRINGHAM                      0.3        2.5        2.7        6.9 (45)

Port Melbourne prevailed by 11 points over Sandringham in a low scoring affair at ETU Stadium to be outside of the top four only on percentage. It was another instance in which the Borough looked to rue their missed opportunities in front of goal as while they only kept the Zebras to two goals at half time, they too only had two goals to their name at the same period of the match and led by three points at the main break. Helping their cause in the third, the home side would kick the only two majors for the quarter but were in danger of losing the game during the fourth quarter when three goals in six minutes from Sandringham saw them take a one-point lead into time on. Brendan McCarthy’s side would settle in the final stages of the match with two important goals thereafter to claim their third win on the trot. Dom Bedendo had a terrific all round performance that included 22 disposals, four clearances, four intercepts and a goal, while Ben Hobbs was as tough as ever with 24 touches and 11 tackles. Darcy Chirgwin was a standout for the Zebras, leading his side in disposals (26), clearances (10) and inside 50s (5).

BEST
Port Melbourne: Josh Green, Dom Bedendo, Harry Stubbings, James Van Es, Roy George, Ben Hobbs
Sandringham: Will Johnson, Ben Hopkins, Darby Heelis, Kynan Brown, Nathan Philactides, Owen Bater
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BOX HILL HAWKS      2.0        5.1        7.3        9.7 (61)
CARLTON                    6.5        9.5        11.9     12.12 (84)

Carlton produced the upset of the round to conclude Round 16, proving too strong for top four side Box Hill in a 23-point triumph at Box Hill City Oval. The Hawks would lead this match for only four minutes, as the Blues got to work early, registering nine consecutive scoring shots throughout the first and second quarters to lead by 29 points at quarter time and 28 points at the main break. The away side’s advantage would not be threatened thereafter, with the margin never dipping below 20 points as the Blues recorded another huge win to be back in the top 10 race. Lachie Fogarty (32 disposals, eight clearances, six intercepts) was brilliant in his side’s victory while Flynn Young booted three majors and Zac Williams had 11 intercepts from his 23 disposals down back. Cody Anderson was one of Box Hill’s more consistent players for the afternoon, finishing with 22 disposals, nine inside 50s, five tackles and also popping up for two majors. The ruck battle between Liam Reidy and Max Ramsden was also a highlight, each finishing with 22 disposals and both men hitting the scoreboard.

BEST
Box Hill Hawks: Cody Anderson, Max Ramsden, Bodie Ryan, Grifff Julian, Max Beattie
Carlton: Sam Paea, Lachie Fogarty, Zac Williams, Flynn Young, Blake Acres, Jordan Boyd
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