A HUGE haul of goals, a drought-breaking triumph, upsets, a top-of-the-table thriller and three big margins highlighted a topsy-turvy round five of the VFL that showed nothing can be taken for granted.

Only two teams remain undefeated after five rounds with Williamstown and Geelong going down, while Sandringham’s victory leaves just two clubs at the bottom still waiting to sing their song.

Here are the stars of round five.

MITCHELL JOHNSON (SOUTHPORT)

Key forward Johnson kicked 112 goals in 43 NEAFL matches, but missed the first three VFL games as the Sharks built a solid start to the season.

His return has coincided with consecutive 100-point wins, kicking 2.3 against North Melbourne to blow out the rust before exploding with 10.0 in the destruction of Aspley on Saturday.

It was the first double-figure haul since Werribee’s Ben Warren, now at the Hornets but who missed this match with injury, kicked 11 against Port Melbourne in the opening game of the 2013 season.

RYAN CLARKE (SYDNEY)

Clarke averaged 30.5 disposals in an outstanding first two rounds before an AFL appearance and a bye, but went to another level in the win over Collingwood at the SCG.

He compiled an outstanding 19 kicks, 22 handballs and 11 marks and kicked 3.2 to lead his team to a comfortable victory to stay in touch with the top eight.

PATRICK AMBROSE (ESSENDON)

A matchwinning display from the regular defender, who proved himself more than adept as a key forward to spearhead the inexperienced Bombers to what could be a season-defining win over Frankston at Windy Hill.

Ambrose marked everything that came to him, finishing with 10 grabs on his way to kicking 6.2 as one of only five players to have more than three games’ VFL experience.

LUKE BUNKER (COBURG)

They hadn’t defeated Port Melbourne since 2015 and had only won once in their past 14 meetings, but Bunker and the Lions saw an opportunity against an injury-riddled Borough and took it in style.

Bunker was magnificent in the clinches, laying 12 tackles and racking up 18 kicks and 18 handballs in a best-on-ground display backed up by another 38 touches from ball magnet Marcus Lentini.

MITCH BROWN (CASEY DEMONS)

Having lost Ben Brown and Sam Weideman to AFL duty in recent weeks, the Demons needed to find another goalkicker – and they didn’t have to look far.

Playing his first game of the season, Brown looked dangerous early, but took over in the second half, kicking 4.3 after the main break and finishing with 11 marks to keep Casey undefeated in a thrilling finish against Geelong at Casey Fields.

LUKE DUNSTAN (SANDRINGHAM)

Another mention on this list for the redhot but discarded Saint as his dominance was finally rewarded with a victory – an upset nine-point win over previously unbeaten Williamstown at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

Dunstan helped himself to 20 kicks, 16 handballs, 10 marks and 2.1 as the Zebras built a 23-point half-time lead and held on in a tense finish for their second home win over the Seagulls in a row.

CAM ELLIS-YOLMEN (BRISBANE LIONS)

Playing his first VFL match, the big-bodied midfielder proved a class above in a destructive QClash performance against Gold Coast on Thursday night.

Needing to make a statement to win his AFL spot back, Ellis-Yolmen had 17 kicks, 22 handballs, seven marks and seven tackles to lead a pride of Academy Lions to a big victory over the Suns.

DAN HOWE (BOX HILL HAWKS)

Another AFL regular on the comeback trail, and he won’t be in the VFL for long based on this performance.

Howe terrorised the young Kangaroos to finish with 20 kicks, 17 handballs, six marks, nine tackles and two goals as the Hawks romped to a 108-point victory to move back into the top eight.