Geelong secured the minor premiership for the first time since 2013, Essendon continued its rise, while the reigning grand finalists both stayed in the Wildcard race with big wins at home.

COLLINGWOOD        7.4        9.8        12.14   14.19 (103)
ST KILDA                   4.0        7.3        10.6     14.9 (93)

For the first time this year, Collingwood produced back-to-back wins as they picked up a 10-point triumph over St Kilda at La Trobe University on Friday. The Magpies booted seven of the first 11 goals of the game in a high scoring opening term before inaccuracy saw their quarter time advantage of 22 points become 20 points at three quarter time. They kicked 5.10 to 6.6 in quarters two and three and although it was more of the same in the final term, the Saints’ four last quarter majors wasn’t enough to threaten Collingwood’s lead, suffering a fourth consecutive defeat as a result. Mitch Podhajski had his best outing in Collingwood colours to date, booting five majors and taking eight makes to help steer his side to a winning score whilst Jack Buller was serviceable alongside him inside 50 with five contested grabs, however he kicked just two goals from seven scoring shots. Josh Browne and Sam Swadling each had 28 touches whilst Harrison Coe had 26 hit outs and seven clearances in the ruck. After going goalless in his last two matches, Bailey McKenzie would kick an equal season-high of five majors for St Kilda while teammate Jack Macrae was kept super busy in midfield with 31 touches, nine tackles and seven clearances.

BEST
Collingwood: Mitch Podhajski, Sam Swadling, Josh Browne, Jack Buller, Tyan Prindable, Wil Parker
St Kilda: Not submitted
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BOX HILL HAWKS      2.2        2.5        4.8        6.10 (46)
ESSENDON                 2.3        6.6        6.8        10.11 (71)

A fourth win in a row has propelled Essendon into top six conversations, particularly with that victory being against top four side Box Hill to the tune of 25 points at Dingley Community Centre. After an even opening term that saw both sides split by just one point, the Bombers fired home four unanswered majors in the second quarter and kept the Hawks to no goals in a term for just the third time this season. The away side would then be the team who failed to find the big sticks to start the second half but Box Hill were unable to create as many opportunities, still trailing by 12 points at three quarter time before Essendon put the game to bed with four of the final six goals of the match. Elijah Tsatas had all the answers in midfield with 34 disposals, six clearances and five inside 50s whilst Jade Gresham also stood out with 24 touches and two goals. Bodie Ryan played well for the Hawks, finishing with 25 disposals and 13 rebound 50s, as did Stu Horner with all 13 of his possessions being intercepts.

BEST
Box Hill Hawks: Stu Horner, Matt LeRay, Aidan Schubert, Max Beattie, Flynn Perez, Bodie Ryan
Essendon: Jayden Nguyen, Vigo Visentini, Harrison Jones, Jade Gresham, Rhys Unwin, Elijah Tsatas
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CARLTON                      2.2        6.2        9.2        12.5 (77)
GOLD COAST SUNS      4.3        5.9        6.15     7.17 (59)

A third win on the trot has kept Carlton’s finals hopes intact as they came from behind to defeat Gold Coast by 18 points at Ikon Park. The Blues were on the back foot for much of the first half as the Suns kicked four opening term goals to lead by 13 points at the first change, and got out to a game-high 19-point advantage early in the second quarter before the home side took charge of the game and reduced their deficit to just one-point by half time. The margin would stay at single figures for the entirety of the third term before Carlton kicked three of the final four majors of the match to run away with the victory. Ben Camporeale’s consistent season extended into another week after a game that included 30 disposals and six clearances, meanwhile Ollie Hollands was terrific with 28 touches, 10 tackles and five inside 50s. Liam Farrar kicked three goals for the Blues as did Jamarra Ugle-Hagan for the Suns, the latter also having five score involvements for his side. Others to perform for the visitors included Sam Clohesy (32 disposals, eight intercepts, seven rebound 50s) and Jarrod Witts (35 hit outs, 17 disposals, seven score involvements.

BEST
Carlton: Adam Saad, Jordan Boyd, Dane Harvey, Oliver Hollands, Jack Sammartino, Ben Camporeale
Gold Coast Suns: Jarrod Witts, Sam Clohesy, Ben Jepson, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Lachlan Gulbin, Nick Holman
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BRISBANE LIONS                 4.1        11.2     19.6     20.11 (131)
NORTH MELBOURNE            5.0        13.0     16.0     19.4 (118)

Brisbane claimed their fourth victory of the season while putting a dent in North Melbourne’s finals hopes in the process, winning by 13 points at Brighton Homes Arena. In a high scoring contest, both sides combined for 24 majors throughout the first half, headlined by the Kangaroos incredible accuracy as they kicked 13 straight goals without a blemish across the opening two quarters. The lead changed hands 12 times in the first half but once Cooper Hodge kicked his first major of the season at the four minute mark of the third quarter, the hosts would have the advantage for the remainder of the afternoon as they booted eight majors in the term to take a 24-point lead into the last quarter. North Melbourne, who at this point had a scoreline of 16.0, would win the final term with a further three goals, but would fall short of a return to the winners list. Will McLaughlin was simply superb for the Lions inside 50, bettering his seven-goal performance in Round 10 with eight majors against the Roos, six of those being kicked across the second and third terms. Dan Annable meanwhile produced his best VFL performance to date with 37 disposals, eight inside 50s and a goal. Both Darcy MacPherson and Thomson Dow were excellent for the visitors combining for 71 disposals, 15 clearances and two goals.

BEST
Brisbane Lions: Not supplied
North Melbourne: Thomson Dow, Wil Dawson, Felix Kneipp, Hugh Byrne, Taylor Goad, Darcy Macpherson
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SOUTHPORT                2.4        5.8        9.9        11.14 (80)
FRANKSTON                1.2        5.3        10.6     11.7 (73)

A seesawing affair at Fankhauser Reserve finished with Southport hanging on to defeat Frankston by seven points. The Sharks would enjoy the lead for much of the first half but it would never be comfortable enough to take control of the game, only reaching a high of 11 points before settling for a five-point advantage by half time. The Dolphins would enjoy their best period for the game in the third term when they booted five majors, three of them coming in the first 10 minutes, to help take a narrow advantage into the last term. But Southport would pepper the goals in the final quarter with the first five scoring shots of the term, two of those turning into goals before holding their nerve in the final few moments to prevail. Zac Foot was magnificent in the triumph, finishing with 34 disposals, 11 marks, seven inside 50s and six clearances, and was also one of two Sharks to kick three goals alongside Max Pescud. Jacob Dawson was also brilliant with 31 disposals and 13 clearances whilst for Frankston, Tyson Milne was resolute as always in defence with 27 disposals and an equal game-high nine intercepts with teammate Corey Ellison kicking three goals.

BEST
Southport: Finn Hay, Max Spencer, Zac Foot, Jacob Dawson, Elijah Reardon, Max Pescud
Frankston: Taine Barlow, Seb Quirk, Corey Ellison, Will Hamill, Tyson Milne, Jackson Voss
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CASEY DEMONS       2.2        6.6        8.7        9.9 (63)
GEELONG CATS        6.4        8.9        13.11   17.14 (116)

Geelong have all but secured the 2026 Smithy’s VFL minor premiership following their 53-point win over Casey Demons at Casey Fields. The Cats were again fast starters on Saturday with six first quarter goals, including the last five unanswered, to lead by 26 points at quarter time. The Demons illustrated an ability to go with the ladder leaders across the second term, reducing the deficit to single figures on multiple occasions before the away side booted five third quarter majors to go into three quarter time 34 points in front, eventually playing out the final term to prevail again.  Jack Bowes put together a brilliant display, amassing 34 disposals, 12 clearances and 11 inside 50s to ensure the Cats remained in control for much of the match, whilst George Stevens was also influential with 32 disposals, six clearances and six score involvements. Jack Martin booted four majors in his first VFL game of the season and Luker Kentfield led the way inside 50 for the Demons with three goals to make it 25 majors from 12 VFL games. Max Heath was a standout for the hosts with 32 hit outs, 20 disposals and six clearances.

BEST
Casey Demons: Max Heath, Luker Kentfield, Christian Salem, Aidan Johnson, Jarrod Gatt, Miller Bergman
Geelong Cats: Jack Bowes, George Stevens, Jesse Mellor, Nicholas Driscoll, Nathan Kreuger, Jack Martin
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GWS GIANTS             2.2        6.3        8.4        14.6 (90)
SYDNEY SWANS        7.6        15.10   23.15   25.8 (168)

Sydney produced yet another monster score to jump into third spot on the Smithy’s VFL ladder, defeating arch-rivals GWS Giants by 78 points at ENGIE Stadium. In another match that showcased their ability to score in quick succession, the Swans already had a 22-point advantage inside 10 minutes of game time and after turning a 34-point quarter time lead into a 61-point half time advantage, highlighted by a scintillating period where they booted four goals in nine minutes, the game was practically over. The margin reached a game-high 101 points by three quarter time before the Giants, who only and six AFL-listed playes on the field, added some respectability to the scoreboard with six final term majors. After illustrating his ability to hit the scoreboard up forward this season, Joel Hamling booted a season-high six majors, whilst Corey Warner (32 disposals, eight inside 50s), Angus Sheldrick (31 disposals, 10 score involvements) and Jedd Longmire (four goals) were all influential in the win. Mitch Szybkowski had a season-best outing that included 35 touches and 10 clearances whilst playing his first state level game since 2021, current GWS development coach Trent Dennis-Lane suited up for his club and kicked four goals.

BEST
GWS Giants: Mitch Szybkowski, Trent Dennis-Lane, Harvey Hooper, Oskar Taylor, Josaia Delana, Toby McMullin
Sydney Swans: Joel Hamling, Corey Warner, Jesse Dattoli, Mitch Mellis, Jedd Longmire, Tom Ryan
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FOOTSCRAY                 3.2        9.4        13.7     16.9 (105)
RICHMOND                  1.2        2.4        2.7        4.7 (31)

Footscray earned back-to-back wins to keep their slim finals hopes alive as they defeated Richmond by 74 points at Mission Whitten Oval. The Bulldogs had edged out a 12-point buffer at quarter time before breaking the game open in the second term, kicking six goals to one, the last four of those coming in seven minutes of game time, to balloon their lead out to 42 points. Their advantage only grew as the game went on, booting seven goals to two across the second half on their way to hitting a triple figure score for the fifth time this season. The reigning premiers had 10 individual goalkickers including Jack Billings and Cooper Craig-Peters, who each booted two majors and had 28 disposals, with Billings also having 15 marks and 10 clearances. Harvey Gallagher also had an impact for the Dogs, finishing with a team-high 31 disposals, as well as nine inside 50s and eight intercept possessions. Oliver Hayes-Brown was a standout for the Tigers on a tough afternoon, finishing with 16 touches, 16 hit outs and seven clearances.

BEST
Footscray: Jack Billings, Harvey Gallagher, Cooper Craig-Peters, Louis Emmett, Luke Cleary, Lachlan McNeil
Richmond: Mutaz El Nour, James Trezise, Samson Ryan, Kane McAuliffe, Judson Clarke, Maurice Rioli Jnr
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COBURG                     4.4        7.6        8.10     11.12 (78)
SANDRINGHAM         2.2        4.4        6.7        9.10 (64)

In a standalone Sunday encounter, Coburg remained ahead of the pack with a 14-point win over Sandringham at Barry Plant Park. The Lions got going in the first quarter despite conceding the opening goal, kicking four straight majors to open up a 14-point quarter time lead and although their advantage would reduce to three points momentarily in the second quarter, the home side would regather to make it a 20-point ball game by half time. The Zebras would struggle to put too many dents in Coburg’s lead in the third term before making a run in the final term where they kicked three goals in five minutes to get within three points of being in front. Again however, it would be the Lions that remained the more composed side, kicking the only two majors in time on to return to the winners list. Jaidyn Stephenson led the way up forward with three majors, making it now 10 games in which the 2018 AFL Rising Star winner has kicking multiple goals in a game, meanwhile teammate Donovan Toohey was a rock in defence once again with 27 disposals, nine intercept possessions and eight rebound 50s and also kicking a goal in the final term, his second of the season. Daniel Pinter was Sandringham’s best with 29 hitouts, 15 disposals, 12 tackles and eight clearances.

BEST
Coburg: Donovan Toohey, Daniel Johnston, Jaidyn Stephenson, Jesse Corigliano, Josh Walker, Max Thompson
Sandringham: Daniel Pinter, Lachlan Voss, Ethan Williams, Lachlan Riley, Noah Sutherland, Charlton Harrop
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