There are no more second chances when this weekend’s semi finalists meet in two epic showdowns.

FIRST SEMI FINAL: TASMANIA vs ESSENDON

Tasmania will create more history in their inaugural Smithy’s VFL finals campaign, when they host their first final against a red-hot Essendon outfit at North Hobart Oval on Saturday.

The Devils did all they could to keep up with minor premiers Geelong last week, but were not match away from home, registering their lowest score of the season in the 23-point defeat.

But they return to their home state where they have won seven of 10 matches this year, in fact they are 4-1 at North Hobart this season, with the most recent of those victories coming against fellow top four side Werribee in Round 20.

The Devils will learn plenty from their first finals hit out and still have plenty of player in from coming into this Saturday’s clash.

Geordie Payne has been a constant in defence and has averaged over five intercept possessions a game in his last seven matches, meanwhile Bailey Boag is still having a knack of winning the footy from stoppages, leading his side on the weekend with five clearances, and dipping below that number just once since Round 16.

Lachlan Hay also continues to hit the big sticks, having kicked goals in five of his last six matches, with his two majors last week the first time he’s booted multiple goals in a match since Round 13.

They’ll face Essendon for the first time in the competition and arguably couldn’t have picked a worse time to face Cameron Joyce’s men.

The Bombers registered 26 scoring shots in their 45-point triumph over Williamstown in last week’s elimination final, keeping the Seagulls to just four majors after quarter time in the process.

They had a host of contributors in the triumph headlined by Elijah Tsatas who following his 32-disposal performance has now had 30 touches or greater in his six straight games, in fact he’s only dipped below 30 twice in 13 VFL games.

Xavier O’Neill has also come into form at a great time following a terrific display last week that included 28 touches and eight tackles.

Meanwhile, Nik Cox has made a habit of contributing on the scoreboard following his three-goal outing in the win over Williamstown, having now booted multiple majors in five of his previous six appearances at VFL level.

At the other end of the ground, Essendon has been resolute, allowing just two scores of 90 points or greater in their last seven matches, which included keeping the Seagulls to their lowest score of the year last week.

Whilst the Bombers have the form to produce an eighth straight victory, they’ll need to be prepared to face a side that will have the whole state behind them on Saturday.

2026 SEASON

TASMANIA
4th (11-6-1, 114.7%)
STREAK: Lost 1 (2026: LWWWLWLLWWWLLDWLWWW)

ESSENDON
5th (11-7, 100.7%)
STREAK: Won 7 (2026: WWWWWWWLLWLWWLLWLWL)

LAST MEETING

This is the first meeting between the two clubs.

SECOND SEMI FINAL: WERRIBEE vs PORT MELBOURNE

Werribee and Port Melbourne will meet for the third time in season 2026 in a cutthroat second semi-final at Melbourne Avalon Aiport Oval on Saturday.

The Tigers have now lost two of their last three matches following their qualifying final defeat to Box Hill last week, it was also only their second loss at the venue this year.

If they are to turn their form around, you can expect the likes of Dom Brew and Anthony Depasquale to maintain the starring roles they have played in recent weeks.

The 2024 J.J. Liston Trophy winner is continuing to rack up plenty of the footy and is having a say in stoppages, averaging over nine tackles and five clearances in his previous four matches.

Meanwhile Depasquale has kicked totals of five and seven goals in his last two games respectively and in his Round 17 clash with the Borough, he booted four goals and took seven marks.

Another to watch out for in defence is Jaelen Pavlidis, who had 25 disposals at 92% efficiency in the loss to the Hawks whilst also amassing six intercept possessions. He’s proven the ability to produce multiple rebound 50’s a match also and will be a key player in creating chance from the defensive half for the Tigers.

Dan Lowther’s men will be sweating on the fitness of ruck Ajang Kuol Mun, who despite having 26 hit outs, 19 disposals and 11 clearances in the elimination final, went off the ground late in what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

But regardless of personnel, they will need to tame an in-form Port Melbourne side who recorded their biggest win of the season in a 55-point win over Sydney in last Saturday’s elimination final.

Five of their nine individual goalkickers for the match produced multiple goals, including Dom Bedendo who has now kicked eight goals in his last three matches. He also has a three-goal game against Werribee this season, which he did in their Round 6 encounter.

Ben Hobbs has been a difference-maker in this setup and didn’t disappoint in his first final with the club, having 28 disposals as well as eight clearances in the victory over the Swans. He averages nine clearances and 8.5 tackles in his two games against the Tigers in 2026.

He’ll hope to see his teammate Josh Green replicate his efforts this weekend, fresh off a effort that included 32 touches and eight clearances. A similar output from the pair will make Port Melbourne hard to beat.

Both sides share a 1-1 record in their two meetings this year, but this is the first time the two standalone clubs have faced off in a final since the 2008 qualifying final, in which the Borough prevailed by 74 points on their way to a Grand Final appearance.

2026 SEASON

WERRIBEE
2nd (13-4-1, 120.2%)
STREAK: Lost 1 (2026: LWLWWWWWWWWWDLWWLLW)

PORT MELBOURNE
6th (11-7, 97.3%)
STREAK: Won 3 (2026: WWWLLWWWLWWLWWWLLLW)

2026 MEETINGS

Round 17 – Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval
WERRIBEE                4.2   9.6   12.10   16.13 (109)
PORT MELBOURNE  4.1   4.4   8.8        10.11 (71)

BEST
Werribee: Jay Dahlhaus, Sam Azzi, Jesse Clark, Charlie Lazzaro, Ajang Kuol mun, Will Elliott
Port Melbourne: Kaine Baldwin, Tom Hird, Tom Graham, Lachlan Rankin, Ben Hobbs, Ned Hawkins

GOALS
Werribee: Jay Daulhaus 5, Anthony Depasquale 4, Lachlan Charleson 3, Will Elliott 2, Charlie Lazzaro, Jack Riding
Port Melbourne: Kaine Baldwin 4, Dom Bedendo, Michael Rudd, Alex Tonelli, Flynn Penry, Riley Polkinghorne, Roy George

LEADING DISPOSALS
Werribee: Dom Brew 23, Jesse Clark 22, Jaelen Pavlidis 21, Charlie Lazzaro 19, Daly Andrews 18, Jack Riding 18
Port Melbourne: Ben Hobbs 23, Lachlan Rankin 20, Josh Sparkman 19, Josh Green 17, Matthew Gahan 17, Tom Hird 17

Round 6 – ETU Stadium
PORT MELBOURNE   3.4   5.6   11.11   13.12 (90)
WERRIBEE                 1.2   5.6   7.7         9.10 (64)

BEST
Port Melbourne: Ben Hobbs, Kaine Baldwin, Josh Tovey, Riley Polkinghorne, Tom Hird, Max Rider
Werribee: Xavier Ivisic, Brady Wright, Mace Cousins, Ajang Kuol Mun, Jack Riding, Charlie Lazzaro

GOALS
Port Melbourne: Max Rider 3, Dom Bedendo 3, Josh Tovey 2, Michael Rudd 2, Harry Stubbings, Tom Hird, Luca Alessio
Werribee: Brady Wright 3, Cooper Whyte, Lachlan Charleson, Noah Tullio, Will Elliott, Ajang Koul Mun, Jack Riding

LEADING DISPOSALS
Port Melbourne: Ben Hobbs 29, Riley Polkinghorne 24, Tom Hird 19, Harry Stubbings 18, Josh Tovey 17
Werribee: Charlie Lazzaro 22, Dom Brew 21, Sam Donegan 21, Jake Smith 20, Louis Pinnuck 19, Jesse Clark 18