Box Hill brought Essendon’s winning streak to an end to book its place in the Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, while Geelong continued its dominant form to charge into the premiership decider.

BOX HILL HAWKS    5.3        9.8        12.11   13.17 (95)
ESSENDON               6.1        9.3        11.8     13.10 (88)

Box Hill halted the run of a rampaging Essendon side to book their spot in the 2026 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, winning by seven points at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday. A highly anticipated preliminary final clash looked set to deliver from the onset with 11 goals kicked between the two sides in the opening term. The Bombers kicked the opening three goals of that span, all coming in a four-minute period, to suddenly lead by 17 points at the nine-minute mark before the Hawks responded with a strong period of their own to go two points ahead as time on approached. Jade Gresham’s third major of the quarter at the 32-minute mark would give the visitors a narrow four-point quarter time advantage, before both sides traded goals in the second quarter, resulting in the margin failing to reach double figures by half time. That looked to be the case for much of the third term also with both sides trading leads in what was an intense quarter, and it wasn’t until late in the quarter that any side looked likely to break the game open, as Box Hill three quick majors to reach a 15-point advantage before settling for a nine-point ball game by three quarter time. By starting the final term with four straight behinds, the Hawks kept the door ajar for the away side who had one final surge in them, as goals from Zak Johnson and Nik Cox either side of a Matt Hill major brought the deficit to five points at the 23-minute mark. But Cox’s third of the afternoon would prove to be the last major of the match, as the hosts hung tough to deliver a brilliant finals triumph and end their preliminary final demons. Calsher Dear led the way inside for the Hawks with three goals, having now booted seven majors in his two VFL finals thus far, meanwhile Brodie McLaughlan’s two goals take him to 50 majors for the season. In the middle, Henry Hustwaite amassed 26 disposals, as well as 10 tackles and seven clearances, and Noah Mraz was terrific in defence with 11 intercept possessions. For the Bombers, who’s remarkable eight-game winning run comes to an end, Elijah Tsatas again won plenty of the footy, finishing with 30 touches and nine clearances, with Tyler Sellers a rock in the backline, finishing with 14 intercept possessions and eight rebound 50s.

BEST
Box Hill Hawks: James Blanck, Noah Mraz, Jack Scrimshaw, Henry Hustwaite, Calsher Dear, Tom Farrer
Essendon: Jade Gresham, Jackson Hately, Tyler Sellers, Deacon Kalpakis, Xavier O’Neill, Ty Kitchell
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GEELONG CATS         2.5        8.5        11.8     14.12 (96)
PORT MELBOURNE   2.2        5.6        5.9        6.13 (49)

Geelong will feature in a Smithy’s VFL Grand Final for the first time since 2013, after accounting for Port Melbourne by 47 points at GHMBA Stadium on Sunday. The Cats, who were bolstered by some AFL listed players for this preliminary final, got off to a shaky start against a determined Borough outfit, conceding the first two majors of the game inside five minutes of playing time, before settling with back-to-back goals of their own and taking a three-point advantage into quarter time, a lead that could have been greater if not for some inaccuracy late in the term. But the minor premiers would correct those issues in the second term with six goals straight, despite the Borough still getting to within seven points at the 24-minute mark thanks to successive majors from Dom Bedendo. With a 17-point lead at the main break, the Cats would make their move, showcasing why they were the best defensive team in the competition by keeping Port Melbourne to just three points, whilst adding a further three majors themselves to open up a 35-point lead at the final change. The gap would be too hard to chase down in the last quarter for the visitors, as Geelong booted two further goals by the six-minute mark to seal their place in the decider. Jamieson Ballantyne responded to his goalless final against Tasmania with four majors while teammate George Stevens dominated in the middle as he has all season long with 30 disposals, 12 tackles, nine clearances and a goal. Joe Pike was dominant in the ruck and around the ground with 33 hit outs, 20 disposals and an equal team-high seven intercept possessions and Mitch Knevitt had seven inside 50s from 25 disposals. Matt Gahan’s excellent finals series continued for the Borough despite the defeat, finishing his season with 26 disposals and five rebound 50s. Tom Hird (27 disposals, five rebound 50s), Ben Hobbs (24 disposals, eight clearances) and James Van Es (nine intercept possessions, seven rebound 50s) were other standouts for Port Melbourne.

BEST
Geelong Cats: George Stevens, Joe Pike, Jack Bowes, Jay Rantall, Mitchell Knevitt, Jed Bews
Port Melbourne: Not selected
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