Port Melbourne (and Cody Stackelberg) marked the club's 500th match in the VFL era with a win over Northern Bullants at Preston City Oval on Sunday. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

PORT Melbourne and Frankston marked big weekends in Round 8 of the Smithy’s VFL competition last weekend.

The Borough became the first team to play 500 matches in the VFL era (since 1996), coming from behind to spoil the Northern Bullants’ Preston Football Club celebration with a 16-point victory at Preston City Oval on Sunday.

And the Dolphins broke two huge droughts against Williamstown, beating the Seagulls for the first time anywhere since 2005 and the first time at Williamstown since 1999.

They also held the Seagulls to their lowest score in head-to-head matches and handed them the 400th home defeat in their long VFA/VFL history.

GWS captain Ryan Hebron played his 100th NEAFL/VFL match in the Giants’ loss to Southport, while six players reached their 50th games and Collingwood also lined up for its 150th home match in VFA/VFL football.

The other big achievement was made by Box Hill Hawks defender Kyle Hartigan, who finally kicked his first VFL goal in his 52nd match, one of the longest droughts in recent memory.

01:45

VFL Showreel, R7: Fergus Greene highlights

Enjoy Fergus Greene's standout VFL performance for Box Hill

FROSTY MILLER MEDAL LEADING GOALKICKER

19 Ben Crocker (Car) bye
19 Fergus Greene (Box) 4
17 Mitch Brown (Cas) dnp
16 Jacob Townsend (Sou) 0
15 Ben Cavarra (Box) 4
15 Sam Day (GC) bye
15 Sam Fowler (Col) 2
15 Jacob Van Rooyen (Cas) 6
14 Chris Burgess (GC) bye
14 Joel Ottavi (Wil) 0

Southport Shark Kwaby Boakye played his 50th NEAFL/VFL match against GWS on Sunday. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/AFL Photos

SMITHY’S VFL ROUND 8 PLAYER MILESTONES

  • Ryan Hebron (GWS/Sydney/Werribee/Sydney University) 100 NEAFL/VFL matches/21 goals
  • Kwaby Boakye (Southport) 50 NEAFL-VFL matches/10 goals
  • Josh Guthrie (North Melbourne/Sydney/Coburg/Geelong) 50 VFL matches/8 goals
  • Jacob Heron (Southport/North Melbourne) 50 NEAFL-VFL matches/11 goals
  • Brayden Monk (Williamstown) 50 VFL matches/7 goals
  • Trent Mynott (Frankston/Box Hill Hawks/Essendon) 50 VFL matches/21 goals
  • Sam Weideman (Casey Demons) 50 VFL matches/99 goals
  • Will Fordham (Frankston/North Melbourne) 50 VFL goals/99 matches
Jacob Heron takes a screamer for North Melbourne last year. He crossed to Southport this season and played his 50th match on Sunday. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/AFL Photos

SMITHY’S VFL ROUND 8 CLUB MILESTONES

  • Port Melbourne played its 500th match in the VFL era (293-200-7)
  • Collingwood played its 150th home VFA/VFL match (77-68-5)
  • Frankston defeated Williamstown for the first time since August 8, 2005 (19.5 matches) and at Williamstown for the first time since June 20, 1999 (14 matches)
  • Williamstown lost its 400th VFA/VFL home match (763-400-24)
  • Box Hill Hawks squared their VFA/VFL record v Richmond (5-5)
  • Collingwood squared its win-loss records v Footscray in the VFL era (5-5) and at Olympic Park (1-1)
  • GWS lost at a neutral venue for the first time in the VFL (3-1)
  • North Melbourne v Casey Demons happened at Arden St for the first time (0-1)
  • Southport v GWS happened for the first time at a neutral venue in the VFL (1-0)
  • Southport played its first VFL match at a neutral venue (1-0) and took a NEAFL/VFL lead at neutral venues (5-4)
  • Southport defeated GWS for the first time in the VFL (1-1)
Frankston's Trent Mynott played his 50th VFL match in the win over Williamstown on Saturday night. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

SMITHY’S VFL ROUND 8 RECORDS

(Figures in brackets are the previous record)

  • 13.12 90 Collingwood's highest score v Footscray at Olympic Park (6.4 40, 2019)
  • 4.11 35 Collingwood's lowest score conceded at Olympic Park (9.8 62 v NM, 2018)
  • 55 Collingwood's biggest win v Footscray (32, 2018)
  • 4.11 35 Footscray's lowest score v Collingwood at Olympic Park (17.10 112, 2019)
  • 3.16 34 Williamstown's lowest score v Frankston (7.5 47, 1996)

SMITHY’S VFL DEBUTS

(Round 8 total: 12. Season total: 197. NEAFL games counted)

  • Box Hill Hawks (total 12): Fion O'Hara, Josh Ward
  • Collingwood (9): Chad Mulvogue
  • Footscray (12): Sam Darcy, Charlie Macisaac, Josh Patullo
  • North Melbourne (12): Jacob Boyd, Tom Howard, Bode Stevens
  • Sandringham (11): Jarrod Lienert (Rd7)
  • Southport (2): Tom Reeves
  • Williamstown (8): Darcy Fritsch
Box Hill Hawk Kyle Hartigan broke through for his first VFL goal in his 52nd match on Sunday. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

SMITHY’S VFL FIRST GOAL

(Round 8 total: 8. Season total: 146. NEAFL goals counted)

  • Box Hill Hawks (8): Kyle Hartigan (52nd match)
  • Casey Demons (6): Daniel Turner (6th)
  • Collingwood (8): Chad Mulvogue (debut), Jack Raines (3rd)
  • GWS (12): Brodie Romensky (5th)
  • North Melbourne (7): Bode Stevens (debut)
  • Richmond (7): Jack Ross (9th)
  • Southport (3): Tom Reeves (debut)

SMITHY’S VFL ROUND 9 MILESTONES

  • 500 VFL-era matches: Williamstown (307-184-8)
  • 50 NEAFL/VFL matches at Giants Stadium: GWS (29-20)

SMITHY’S VFL POSSIBLE ROUND 9 MILESTONES

  • 50 VFL matches: Corey Ellis (Coburg), Sam Lowson (Coburg), Daniel Capiron (Geelong)
  • 50 NEAFL/VFL matches: Nick Hayes (Werribee) – 35 NEAFL/15 VFL
  • 150 VFL goals: Anthony Anastasio (Port Melbourne) needs 4
  • 100 VFL goals: Wylie Buzza (Brisbane Lions) needs 5; Ben Crocker (Carlton) needs 3; Corey Rich (Williamstown) needs 10
  • 100 NEAFL/VFL goals: Wylie Buzza (Brisbane Lions) needs 1 – 95 VFL/4 NEAFL; Billy Murphy (Northern Bullants) needs 4 – 39 NEAFL/57 VFL
  • 50 VFL goals: Tom Gribble (Werribee) needs 1; Oliver Hanrahan (Werribee) needs 1; Josh Corbett (Gold Coast) needs 2; Joe Maishman (Werribee) needs 2; Shaun Mannagh (Werribee) 3; Mitch Wooffindin (Port Melbourne) needs 4
  • 50 NEAFL/VFL goals: Brayden Crossley (Southport) needs 2 – 32 NEAFL/16 VFL; Tom Fields (Southport) needs 3 – 25 NEAFL/22 VFL; Reuben William (Werribee) needs 6 – 32 VFL/12 NEAFL

Twitter: @BRhodesVFL

All Smithy’s VFL matches in 2022 are live streamed free. The match of the round is screened on Channel 7 and 7Plus, while all other matches are live and available on demand via afl.com.au and the AFL Live Official App. Radio station 3WBC 94.1 also broadcasts Box Hill Hawks 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.