State of Play hosts Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani preview the big topics ahead of this weekend's VFL and VFLW action.
Tassie’s history-making weekend
Tasmania has been the fairytale story of the VFL in 2026. The story isn’t finished yet either. With victories in the final month of the season over Sydney, Werribee and the GWS Giants, the Devils locked away a top four spot and this weekend they head into a qualifying final against Geelong with a free swing at the minor premiers. Regardless of the result, the Apple Isle will host a final over the next fortnight, which would have felt like a pipe dream at the beginning of the season. Fans of the Devils will know the experience of Robbie Fox, Jye Menzie and Hugh Dixon and confidence of Jed Hagan and Brandon Leary won’t be overawed by the opportunity that sits in front of them.
Magpies must-win match up
The last time the Magpies had a ‘must-win’ tag next to their name was the 2025 Grand Final. This year, it’s come a lot earlier. Williamstown have jumped off the coattails of both Collingwood and North Melbourne Werribee and have gone past. Now, in the final home and away round for the season, the Magpies are outside the top two looking in. Since Round 8, five of the seven matches the Pies have played have been decided by nine points or less, with the usually unflappable Magpies winning only two of those matches. Williamstown is the form side of the competition having put the reigning premiers away convincingly a fortnight ago. Is this weekend’s clash at DSV Stadium a precursor to what we’ll see in September?
Box Hill celebrates its champions
Earlier this season the Box Hill Hawks celebrated 25 years of alignment with Hawthorn, and 500 matches as a combined club. Since the Box Hill-Hawthorn alignment began in 2000, the Hawks have reached the VFL finals 21 times. This season they have done so under first-year coach and club great Dave Mirra. A spot in the preliminary final is on the line as the Hawks head to Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval to face 2024 VFL premier Werribee. For additional motivation, the Hawks will be celebrating two 100-game milestones. Club stalwart and captain Stu Horner, who leads the backline with little fanfare, has played his entire VFL career with Box Hill since making his debut in 2017. At the other end, five-club star Brodie McLaughlin also raises the bat with his 100th VFL game. McLaughlin has twice won the Frosty-Miller Medal (2023 and 2025) and is three goals away from another 50 goal haul this season.
Promising signs for Geelong VFLW
It would be the most catastrophic finish for the Western Bulldogs if they were to lose to Tasmania and Geelong was to beat Port Melbourne. With 30% separating the two sides the Cats have left their run to the finals too late, but a win on Saturday will give Taylah Hassett’s side an eight-win season. It would be the best return for Geelong since 2023, where they posted seven wins, six losses and a draw before registering six wins in total across 2024 and 2025. The Cats have won four matches in a row and are finishing the year with plenty of momentum. The noticeable area of improvement has been in defence. Last year they conceded 55.1 points per game, the most of any side. This year that number has dropped to 37 points per game. It’s a defence-first mindset that will springboard them into a strong pre-season and campaign for 2027.
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