Mitch Owens had 24 disposals and kicked two goals as Sandringham broke a long drought against Carlton at Ikon Park in Round 9. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

SANDRINGHAM's thrilling Smithy's VFL victory over Carlton last Sunday was the first time the Zebras had knocked off the Blues in 22 years and announced themselves as a team to watch this season.

The Zebras conceded the first four goals to the Blues before hauling in the deficit and hanging on in a thrilling finish to break a three-match losing streak.

Williamstown joined Port Melbourne the week before in playing its 500th match in the VFL era in its narrow loss to the Lions in the Brisbane rain and GWS played its 50th match at Giants Stadium in its big loss to Werribee in the other two milestones to take place in Round 9.

Adam Lampton-Nicholls presents Richmond Tigers' Hugo Ralphsmith with the Sir Pastor Doug Nicholls Award at the MCG last Saturday, the first time Richmond and Essendon had played in the VFL at a neutral venue. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

It's going to be much bigger in Round 10.

Clubs will be marking significant milestones across two states this weekend, with the biggest day being at Skybus Stadium on Sunday.

Frankston will celebrate star midfielder Will Fordham’s 100th VFL match when it takes on undefeated ladder leader Casey Demons, but the rest of the club is also marking a big day, with the Dolphins to run out onto Skybus Stadium for the 500th time in their VFA/VFL history.

The Demons aren’t without their own celebration, being set to play their 350th away match since joining the competition, while full-forward Sam Weideman needs one goal to bring up 100 majors at the State league level.

Richmond's Rhyan Mansell breaks clear at the MCG last week. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Earlier on Sunday, it is a big day for the visitors at Windy Hill, with Coburg to play its 850th VFA/VFL away match when it takes on Essendon, but the Bombers will be hoping to spoil the party by landing their 150th home victory and their 50th VFL-era triumph at their traditional home on the same day.

And on Friday afternoon, Sydney will play its 250th home match across its VFA (South Melbourne), NEAFL and VFL history when it plays Richmond at Lakeside Oval.

Essendon's Brandon Zerk-Thatcher marks strongly in front of Richmond's Noah Cumberland. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

FROSTY MILLER MEDAL LEADING GOALKICKER

20 Ben Crocker (Car) 1
19 Sam Day (GC) 4
19 Fergus Greene (Box) bye
17 Mitch Brown (Cas) bye
16 Chris Burgess (GC) 2
16 Shannon Neale (Gee) 5
16 Jacob Townsend (Sou) dnp
15 Joel Amartey (Syd) 4
15 Ben Cavarra (Box) bye
15 Sam Fowler (Col) bye
15 Jacob Van Rooyen (Cas) bye

SMITHY’S VFL ROUND 9 PLAYER MILESTONES

  • Mike Manteit (Southport/Sydney Uni/Sydney/Collingwood) 100 NEAFL-VFL matches (in Round 2)/90 goals.
  • Daniel Capiron (Geelong/Frankston) 50 VFL matches/12 goals
  • Nick Hayes (Werribee/Brisbane Lions) 50 NEAFL-VFL matches/23 goals
  • Sam Lowson (Coburg) 50 VFL matches/71 goals
  • Tom Fields (Southport/Labrador) 50 NEAFL-VFL goals/70 matches
  • Oliver Hanrahan (Werribee/Box Hill Hawks) 50 VFL goals/52 matches
Richmond Tigers' Austin Johnson takes a strong mark in front of Essendon Bombers' Kaine Baldwin during their 2022 VFL Round 09 match at the MCG on May 21, 2022. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

SMITHY’S VFL ROUND 9 CLUB MILESTONES

  • Williamstown played its 500th match in the VFL era (307-185-8)
  • GWS played its 50th NEAFL/VFL match at Giants Stadium (29-21)
  • Sandringham defeated Carlton for the first time since August 28, 2000 (3 losses)
  • Brisbane Lions v Williamstown happened for the first time (1-0)
  • Coburg v Sydney happened for the first time (0-1)
  • Essendon squared its win-loss record in the VFL era (108-108-1)
  • Geelong took head-to-head leads v Northern Bullants overall (15-14), away (9-8) and at Preston City Oval (5-4)
  • Gold Coast defeated Footscray for the first time (1-1)
  • GWS v Werribee happened in Sydney for the first time (0-1)
  • Port Melbourne v Southport happened for the first time (0-1)
  • Richmond v Essendon happened for the first time at a neutral venue (1-0)
  • Sandringham defeated Carlton at Princes Park for the first time (1-1)
  • Sandringham squared its win-loss record v Carlton (3-3)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 21: Billy Cootee of the Bombers is tackled during the 2022 VFL Round 09 match between the Richmond Tigers and Essendon Bombers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 21, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

SMITHY’S VFL ROUND 9 RECORDS

(Figures in brackets are the previous record)

  • 9.11 65 Carlton's lowest score v Sandringham (10.13 73 all venues, 2002; 17.6 108, Princes Park, 2001)
  • 11.6 72 Footscray's lowest score v Gold Coast (16.13 109, 2021)
  • 14.13 97 Gold Coast's highest score v Footscray (6.6 42, 2021)
  • 9.15 69 Sandringham's lowest score v Carlton at Princes Park (13.7 85, 2021)

SMITHY’S VFL ROUND 9 DEBUTS

(Round 9 total: 12. Season total: 209. NEAFL games counted)

  • Brisbane Lions (5): Riley Greene, Patrick McCarthy
  • Carlton (5): Zane Barzen, Harvey Gallagher
  • Footscray (13): Hugo Bromell
  • Geelong (17): Toby Conway, Oscar Faulkhead, Flynn Kroeger
  • Gold Coast (13): Jared Eckersley
  • Northern Bullants (7): Ryan Gardner
  • Sandringham (12): Ben Mansfield
  • Williamstown (9): Michael Ktona

SMITHY’S VFL ROUND 9 FIRST GOALS

(Round 9 total: 11. Season total: 157. NEAFL goals counted)

  • Brisbane Lions (6): Patrick McCarthy (debut)
  • Essendon (16): Maclyn Hallows (3rd)
  • Footscray (10): Charlie Cormack (15th)
  • Geelong (9): Toby Conway (debut), Oscar Faulkhead (debut)
  • GWS (13): Ethan Grace (2nd)
  • Northern Bullants (5): Andrew Courtney (5th), Matt Gundry (17th), Will Mitchell (8th)
  • Werribee (6): Jack Driscoll (3rd)
  • Williamstown (6): Kallan Dawson (12th)
Essendon's Josh Eyre pulls in a powerful grab. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

SMITHY’S VFL ROUND 10 MILESTONES

  • 850 VFA/VFL away matches: Coburg (390-449-10)
  • 500 VFA/VFL home matches: Frankston (272-220-7)
  • 350 VFA/VFL away matches: Casey Demons (185-163-1)
  • 250 VFA/VFL/NEAFL home matches: Sydney/South Melbourne (183-45-21)

SMITHY’S VFL POSSIBLE ROUND 10 MILESTONES

  • 100 VFL matches: Will Fordham (Frankston/North Melbourne)/53 goals
  • 450 VFA/VFL away defeats: Coburg (390-449-10)
  • 150 VFA/VFL home wins: Essendon (149-72-26)
  • 50 VFL wins at Windy Hill: Essendon (49-31)
  • 50 VFL defeats: Footscray (89-49-1)
  • 50 VFL matches: Corey Ellis (Coburg/Richmond)/24 goals, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (Essendon)/1 goal
  • 50 NEAFL/VFL matches: Brayden Crossley (Southport/Gold Coast)/49 goals
  • 100 VFL goals: Sam Weideman (Casey Demons) needs 1; Ben Crocker (Carlton/Collingwood) needs 2; Wylie Buzza (Brisbane Lions/Werribee/Geelong) needs 5; Corey Rich (Williamstown/Frankston) needs 10
  • 100 NEAFL/VFL goals: Wylie Buzza (Brisbane Lions/Werribee/Geelong) needs 1 – 95 VFL/4 NEAFL; Billy Murphy (Northern Bullants/Aspley/Box Hill Hawks) needs 4 – 39 NEAFL/57 VFL; Mike Manteit (Southport/Sydney Uni/Sydney/Collingwood) needs 10 – 80 NEAFL/10 VFL
  • 50 VFL goals: Jed Anderson (North Melbourne/Box Hill Hawks) needs 1; Tom Gribble (Werribee/Geelong) needs 1; Josh Corbett (Gold Coast/Werribee) needs 2; Joe Maishman (Werribee) needs 2; Shaun Mannagh (Werribee/Richmond) 2
  • 50 NEAFL/VFL goals: Brayden Crossley (Southport/Gold Coast) needs 1 – 32 NEAFL/17 VFL; Sam Day (Gold Coast) needs 5 – 25 NEAFL/20 VFL; Reuben William (Werribee) needs 6 – 32 VFL/12 NEAFL

Twitter: @BRhodesVFL

Richmond's Tyler Sonsie sizes up his options. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

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.