Two top-four sides were bundled out of the finals in straight sets, as the winning momentum continued for two of the most in-form teams in the competition.

TASMANIA    2.2        7.7        9.11     10.14 (74)
ESSENDON    4.1        9.3        12.8     15.11 (101)

Essendon will feature in a Smithy’s VFL preliminary final for the first time since 2019, impressing in a 27-point semi-final triumph over Tasmania at North Hobart on Saturday. In front of a packed Tassie crowd, the Bombers would produce most of the scoring in the opening term after conceding the first major of the game, kicking four goals, including a Liam McMahon major late in the piece to generate an 11-point quarter time lead. The Devils reduced the deficit to under a goal within two minutes to start the second term before the Bombers took control of the game, with three goals in seven minutes seeing them reach a 23-point lead. That margin would be 23 points at the 28-minute mark before the hosts stormed home to end the half with all the momentum, with two goals from five scoring shots making it an eight-point ball game. But that would be as close as Tasmania got to retaking the lead for the rest of the match despite each side having accuracy issues in the third term. The 3.5 kicked by Essendon would help them establish a 15-point three quarter time advantage before booting three majors to one in the last term secured their eighth-straight victory. The visitors had seven individual goal kickers, but five of those booted multiple majors headlined by Jade Gresham who booted four goals. The lively forward has now kicked 15 majors in his last four games. Matt Guelfi kicked two majors while also having 11 tackles, with Elijah Tsatas and Zak Johnson both amassing 32 disposals, the latter also having 11 intercept possessions. Whilst it wasn’t an inaugural finals series to remember for Tasmania, Bailey Boag stood tall in the middle with a season-high 40 disposals as well as eight clearances and eight score involvements.

BEST
Tasmania: Bailey Boag, Nick Williams, Cameron Owen, Jack Callinan, Joseph Chaplin, Brandon Leary
Essendon: Not submitted
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WERRIBEE                   1.4        3.8        4.11     9.15 (69)
PORT MELBOURNE     3.4        6.12     8.12     12.13 (85)

Port Melbourne will break a nine-year preliminary final drought, after toppling second-placed Werribee by 16 points at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval. The Borough got the jump in the first quarter kicking into the breeze, producing seven consecutive scoring shots and three majors to open a 20-point buffer, before settling before a 12-point quarter time lead. After the margin was reduced to single digits early in the second term, the away side again had a period of dominance which saw them boot back-to-back goals while regaining a 21-point advantage in the process. The Tigers, who had an inaccurate first quarter, were looking to making amends late in the second quarter but of their last five scoring shots, they only found the goals once. They would’ve been thankful that their opponents also suffered the same level of inaccuracy as they produced five behinds in five minutes before kicking a solitary goal in time on to go ahead by 22 points at half time. A low-scoring third term was won by Port Melbourne who went two from two in front of the big sticks, meanwhile Werribee’s difficulties inside 50 continued, with just one major from four opportunities to trail by 25 points at the final break. Dan Lowther’s men would be re-energised in the final quarter and on two separate occasions, got the deficit to within two goals. The two sides were separated by 11 points at the 24-minute mark before the away side would seal the result with two goals in three minutes, producing a famous finals triumph for Port Melbourne. Matt Gahan’s terrific finals series continued in defence with 25 disposals and nine rebound 50s, meanwhile Connor Downie and Kaine Baldwin produced three majors apiece for the victors. Jack Riding was enormous for the Tigers despite the loss with 27 disposals, 12 inside 50s and 12 clearances, and Harry McGuire kicked an equal season-high five majors.

BEST
Werribee: Jack Riding, Mitchell Lloyd, Sam Donegan, Caiden Gardiner, Harry Maguire, Will Elliott
Port Melbourne: Connor Downie, Fletcher Hughes, Kaine Baldwin, Michael Rudd, Matthew Gahan, Riley Polkinghorne
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