Tom Gribble (right) presents his little brother Noah with his guernsey on his VFL debut for Werribee last year. Noah will play in Tom's 100th club game on Saturday night. Picture: Werribee Football Club

THE Werribee Football Club has a clear sense of theatre and sentiment.

Former captain Michael Sodomaco will return to help new co-captain and great mate Tom Gribble celebrate his 100th club match in the Smithy’s VFL match of the round against Southport at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday night.

And Gribble’s little brother Noah has also forced his way into the line-up for his second VFL game after a strong performance for Geelong West last week.

The Tigers made five changes to the team that beat Frankston in Round 1, with Gribble’s fellow co-captain Dom Brew also in for his first game of the season alongside young ruckman Sam Conway and Keegan Gray, with Nick Hayes (suspended) being the key omission.

ALL THE SMITHY’S VFL TEAMS FOR ROUND 3

Michael Sodomaco played his 100th game last year - now he will return to the team for Tom Gribble's milestone

Josh Porter and Louis Pinnuck join Tom Gribble in celebrating milestones, with each playing their 50th VFL matches, while Southport’s Tom Fields reaches the same milestone across his NEAFL and VFL career.

The Sharks have been hit by injuries after their win over Williamstown last week, losing co-captain Mike Manteit with a rib injury, while goalkicker Mitchell Johnson has been ruled out for eight weeks with a knee problem and Tom Miller (back) also goes out, but they have had the luxury of recalling former AFL player Boyd Woodcock, plus Callum Searle and Daniel Charlesworth.

Ladder leader Carlton will be without draftee Jesse Motlop for its trip to Gold Coast to celebrate recruit Will Hayes’ 100th VFL match, with AFL-listed players Oscar McDonald, Sam Philp and Jordan Boyd all in the extended squad.

The Suns will make up to nine changes, with Josh Corbett, Jy Farrar and Malcom Rosas promoted and Rory Thompson, Oleg Markov and Joel Jeffrey among those retuning from injury, with Markov named for his 50th VFL appearance.

Coburg star Luke Bunker will also play his 50th VFL game in the Lions’ trip to meet the GWS Giants at Blacktown, while Sydney Swans captain Jake Bartholomaeus and Footscray’s Roarke Smith are also raising the bat in their team’s games against Port Melbourne and Richmond respectively.

 

Will Hayes played his first 97 VFL games for Footscray. His third for Carlton will be his 100th. Picture: AFL Photos

SMITHY'S VFL INJURY LIST ROUND 3

Other key changes see Hawthorn’s Liam Shiels named to play for Box Hill Hawks against Sandringham along with Connor Downie, Ben Cavarra and Damian Mascitti, with Sam Dunell in for the Zebras, while Ben Silvagni returns for Northern Bullants against Collingwood, which regains Tyler Brown, Jordan Roughead and Neville Jetta but loses Callum Brown, Tom Wilson and Michael Hartley.

Paul Hunter and Dirk Koenen return for Port Melbourne, Joel Amartey and Dylan Stephens are in for Sydney but the Swans lose Peter Ladhams, Sam Reid, Lewis Taylor, James Bell, Gus Sheldrick and Nick Shipley.

Footscray star Robbie McComb (ribs) is out of his team’s clash with Richmond, which has a host of ins after Damian Hardwick wielded the axe, Ben Brown will replace Mitch Brown at Casey Demons, Josh Newman and Taylin Duman are back for Frankston against Essendon, which could make up to 13 changes including the return of Ben Jolley, Devon Smith and Aaron Francis.

All Smithy’s VFL matches in 2022 except the Channel 7 game (Box Hill Hawks v Sandringham) can be livestreamed through the below website or the VFL app.

Twitter: @BRhodesVFL

NORTHERN BULLANTS v COLLINGWOOD

Saturday, April 9, 12.05pm @ Preston City Oval
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 11.50am)
Prediction: Collingwood by 23

PORT MELBOURNE v SYDNEY

Saturday, April 9, 1.05pm @ ETU Stadium
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 12.50pm)
Prediction: Sydney by 13

GWS v COBURG

Saturday, April 9, 1.35pm @ Blacktown International Sports Park
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 1.20pm)
Prediction: GWS by 19

RICHMOND v FOOTSCRAY

Saturday, April 9, 2.05pm @ Swinburne Centre
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 1.50pm)
Prediction: Richmond by 7

WERRIBEE v SOUTHPORT

Saturday, April 9, 7.05pm @ Avalon Airport Oval
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 6.50pm)
Prediction: Werribee by 15

Hawthorn's Liam Shiels has been named to play for Box Hill Hawks against Sandringham at the MCG on Sunday. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

WILLIAMSTOWN v CASEY DEMONS

Saturday, April 9, 7.10pm @ Williamstown
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 6.55pm)
Prediction: Casey Demons by 16

BOX HILL HAWKS v SANDRINGHAM

Sunday, April 10, 12pm @ MCG
(www.3wbc.org.au, 11am; Channel 7 and https://7plus.com.au, 12pm)
Prediction: Box Hill Hawks by 22

GOLD COAST v CARLTON

Sunday, April 10, 12.35pm @ Metricon Stadium
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 12.20pm)
Prediction: Carlton by 14

ESSENDON v FRANKSTON

Sunday, April 10, 12.35pm @ The Hangar
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 12.20pm)
Prediction: Essendon by 11

Brendan Rhodes’ winners: Last Round: 6. Season: 13

All Smithy’s VFL matches in 2022 can be viewed live and free. The VFL Match of the Round will be screened each week on Channel 7, with all other matches to be livestreamed via vfl.com.au and the AFL Live Official App. Radio station 3WBC will also again be broadcasting regular matches.
To access live scores, results, ladder, stats and to link to live streams/replays, download the VFL/W Official App from the Apple or Google Play app stores.
Keep track of your Smithy’s VFL team via our VFL Match Centre, which features live scores, team and player stats, match timeline, events summary and Fantasy points. Check it out here (https://www.afl.com.au/vfl/fixture)