ROUND 15 was yet another to be badly affected by COVID-19 restrictions, with just three matches taking place in Queensland – including two clubs which required the VFL’s top-up rule (see bottom of article for League rules) in order to field a team.
Sydney, Southport, Gold Coast and even the former NT Thunder came to the rescue of Essendon and GWS, and we saw three games that were all different to one another.
Despite escaping with a narrow win to move back to the top of the VFL ladder, it could prove costly for the Sharks, with Tom Miller suffering concussion and suspected neck ligament damage in a clash of heads with Essendon debutant Ethan Hunt, while the Match Review Panel has also hit them hard.
Young defenders Rhys King and Matt Gahan will both miss Southport's next game after accepting one-match suspensions for rough conduct against Bombers Martin Gleeson and Josh Eyre respectively from the second quarter, while star forward Billy Gowers has accepted a $250 fine for striking Abraham Ankers.
On the football, nine goals made it an easy call to pick the player of the round, while there were some other terrific efforts in the midfield and up forward – so here are the Players of Round 15:
JOEL JEFFREY (GOLD COAST)
Not a hard decision to pick the player of the round this week. Jeffrey was electric all day against the undermanned Hornets’ defence, taking 10 marks and turning his 12 kicks into a remarkable haul of 9.0.
The haul bettered the 19-year-old first-year player’s previous best of three goals (three times) and gives him an extremely efficient tally of 21.8 from nine matches – heaping the pressure on Stuart Dew and his selectors to hand him an AFL debut.
MALCOLM ROSAS JR (GOLD COAST)
Like Jeffrey, Rosas joined the Suns as a Northern Territory Zone selection, arriving on the Gold Coast last season and earning three AFL games earlier this year.
But this was his breakout performance as he dominated the midfield to rack up 14 kicks, 16 handballs, seven tackles, eight clearances, four inside-50s and a goal, with his pace proving a particular problem in a big win over the Hornets.
ANDREW BOSTON (SOUTHPORT)
The Sharks were off the pace for most of the day, but a leading reason they stayed close enough to strike when the Bombers faltered late was their co-captain.
Boston kicked two goals in the first half to keep Southport in the contest and went on to record 16 kicks, 11 handballs, seven marks, four tackles, 10 clearances and five inside-50s in a best-on-ground performance.
TOM FIELDS (SOUTHPORT)
If Boston kept Southport in the game, Fields stepped up to win it at the death – but his matchwinning goal wasn’t the former Carlton player’s only contribution.
With the Sharks’ small forwards being unable to get off the chain, Fields pulled in eight marks, had 20 kicks and booted 2.1 to send his team back to the top of the VFL ladder.
JEREMY FINLAYSON AND ZACH SPROULE (GWS)
The two key forwards were unstoppable for the Giants, and if not for wasteful kicking could have really had a day out, sharing 49 disposals (including 34 kicks), 21 marks and 5.8 between them.
Finlayson had 22 disposals (16 kicks), 11 marks and kicked 3.4 in a terrific response to being dropped from the AFL team, while Sproule had 27 touches (18 kicks), 10 marks and kicked 2.4.
RYAN CLARKE (SYDNEY PLAYING FOR GWS)
How hard must it be to pull on a different guernsey – your arch-rival’s no less – at short notice, and dominate in it?
One of nine Sydney players to fill in for GWS while the Swans had a bye, Clarke was typically outstanding with 18 kicks, 20 handballs and six marks in a true testament to his professionalism and character.
MATTHEW PAYNE (ASPLEY)
Another tough day at the office for the injury-riddled Hornets, who are missing 13 of their quickest and most experienced players and struggling to keep up as a result.
However, club legend Payne just keeps on aiming up, and he did it again with a game-high 35 disposals (22 kicks, 13 handballs), plus 10 marks, five clearances and four inside-50s.
ESSENDON
Found it impossible to split such an even performance from the Bombers, which came so close to providing a huge roadblock to Southport’s finals charge.
It was like riding a bike for AFL great Alex Rance (18 disposals, four marks, kept Billy Gowers quiet), Swans loaner Pierce Roseby (14 kicks, 15 handballs, six marks) had a breakout game, Dylan Clarke (8 kicks, 23 handballs) got things started, Tyler Cornish (12 kicks, 15 handballs, five marks) stood out in his first State league game for six years, Abraham Ankers (20 disposals, 1.2) nearly pinched it back at the death, NT legend Cam Ilett (19 disposals, one goal) was all class and Patty McCartin (3.2) and former Coburg rookie Christian Burgess (17 disposals, two goals) were always dangerous up forward.
TOP 10 PLAYERS AFTER ROUND 15
- Jacob Dawson (Southport) 69
- Darcy Fort (Geelong) 59
- Tom Wilson (Northern Bullants) 47
- Lewis Taylor (Sydney) 46
- Jai Newcombe (Box Hill Hawks) 42
- Eli Templeton (Port Melbourne) 40
- Oscar Brownless (Geelong) 38
- Brayden Crossley (Southport) 37
- Matthew Hammelmann (Aspley) 37
- Corey Wagner (Port Melbourne) 37
Rule regarding top up players for VFL teams
- VFL Top Up Players
If at any time a VFL Club’s Senior list of players becomes insufficient for that Club to select its Senior team, and the Competitions Manager is satisfied that the lack of availability of players is caused by reason of illness, injury or other exceptional reasons, the Competitions Manager may in respect of any given round of VFL matches, allow the affected Club to temporarily draw upon non-listed players over 18 years of age, to be called "VFL Top Up Players", to be registered and to play for that Club for one week only. Payment for such players can be determined by the VFL Club and must be included in the VFL Club’s salary cap.
Twitter: @BRhodesVFL
Email: brendan.rhodes@afl.com.au
Keep track of your VFL team via our all new VFL Match Centre, which features live scores, team and player stats, match timeline, events summary and even Fantasy points. Check it out here.
This weekend let’s Band Together with TAC. We all have someone to drive safely for.
