State of Play hosts Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani preview the big topics ahead of this weekend's VFL and VFLW action.

Western Bulldogs, owning close finishes
Fans of the Western Bulldogs VFLW team have little to no fingernails left in season 2026. With a month still to go in the home and away season, the Dogs have been on the right side of the close one more than any other VFLW side. In games decided by three points or fewer, they are three wins and one loss following consecutive close victories in their past fortnight. Steph Asciak was the hero a fortnight ago with a winning goal with the final kick of the game against Sandringham, before a defensive press to hold off North Melbourne Werribee on Saturday inflicted the Roos with their first loss of the season. Port Melbourne and Carlton stand in the Bulldogs’ way in the next two games, essentially a mini-finals series before the finals. If it’s close, beware the team from the West.

The fascinating logjam
With 16 games played, sixth through to 12th on the VFL ladder all sit on nine wins. Tasmania and Williamstown are clinging to their spots on the back of mid-season draws, and they are in must-win encounters this weekend. The Devils face off against second-placed Werribee, who can’t move from second spot. The Seagulls arguably have the biggest game of the round, tackling Coburg at home on super Sunday. That is a game the 'Burgers must win because Essendon and Port Melbourne are breathing down their necks ready to snatch their place inside the top ten. There are 19 home and away matches remaining this year and we are no closer to knowing who’s going to making up the bottom part of the top six and face off in the Wildcard weekend.

VFLW’s fight for fourth
All the chatter has been about separating North Melbourne Werribee, Collingwood and Williamstown. But, the sideshow has been which side fills out fourth on the table to earn a home elimination final. Under Aasta O’Connor, Carlton is the third highest scoring team this season. The Blues have won their past four and take on Tasmania this weekend. Port Melbourne is the fourth-best defensive side in the competition with coach Tom Chitsos adopting a defence-first mindset, with the Borough also on a four-game winning streak. The Western Bulldogs are in sixth under coach Liam Cavanagh, who has shown in recent years how to time his side's run perfectly having taken Williamstown to back-to-back campaigns in recent years.

Who is the coaches pick for player of the year?
The VFL Coaches MVP Award votes went in-camera at the conclusion of Round 17. At that point, Frankston captain Trent Mynott had gone to the top of the leaderboard ahead of 2025 winner Jacob Dawson from Southport, while Coburg midfielder Jack Bytel rounded out the top three. The Dolphins leader and Dawson went head-to-head in Round 18. In round 19, Mynott missed the victory over Port Melbourne with a calf injury, Dawson racked up 48 disposals in the Sharks’ big win over GWS, while Bytel’s team had the bye. With two matches remaining and Mynott remaining under an injury cloud, will Dawson go back-to-back and win the award for the third time or can Bytel chase them down?

Geelong’s building something special
Geelong’s VFL program has taken out the minor premiership and is setting itself for a big September. Meanwhile, the Cats’ VFLW program has taken huge strides forward in 2026. Three wins in 2024, three wins in 2025, and this year they’re sitting in seventh spot with five wins, including their biggest scalp of the season last week in ladder-leader Collingwood. The last time the Cats won three games in a row was Round 4-6, 2023 and the opportunity is there for the taking when they face an in-form Tasmania at Deakin University following the bye. If they are to keep their slim finals chances alive, this is a must-win match for Taylah Hasset’s emerging side.

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