ESSENDON 12.14 (86)
COBURG 13.7 (85)
A DESPERATE snap from Jake Sutton and a freak bounce handed Essendon its first victory of the Smithy’s VFL season in a heartstopping one-point epic against Coburg at Windy Hill on Sunday.
Scores were level when Sutton grabbed the ball off a marking contest 25 metres out on the boundary in the bowling club pocket and snapped it over his shoulder, with the siren sounding as it bounced over the despairing heads of Jack Maibaum and Tom McKenzie and through for the matchwinning behind.
The Bombers hauled in a 20-point deficit in the shadows of three quarter-time, hitting the lead entering time-on through Kaine Baldwin’s third goal, with Braedyn Gillard squaring things up again for the Lions with two minutes to play before the insane final play that was as exhilarating for the home team as it was cruel for the visitors.
Essendon had stayed on Coburg’s heels all day, trailing by four points at quarter-time and being level at the main break, but the Lions looked good for their second win when they kicked four goals to one in the third term.
But it ended up being 2021 revived as they found another “you wouldn’t believe it if you didn’t see it” way to lose their sixth game in a row and fall to the bottom of the ladder.
Tom Cutler will be hard to hold out of Essendon’s AFL team after stuffing the stats sheet with a clear game-high 33 disposals, four marks, six clearances, 12 inside-50s, six rebound-50s, four tackles and 1.1, while skipper Joe Atley also starred with 24 touches, eight clearances, five tackles and two goals and James Stewart sparkled in his return from injury, pulling in 15 marks on his way to 21 disposals and six rebounds.
First-year players Stefan Rasinac (23, seven inside-50s, seven tackles, one goal) and Joel Fitzgerald (21, five marks, five inside-50s) also impressed, Nick Bryan (15, four marks, 47 hitouts) dominated the ruck taps and Aaron Francis (seven marks, two goals) was also dangerous.
Gillard backed up his fine performance against Sydney last week, picking up 26 possessions, five clearances, five inside-50s, seven tackles and two goals, with Jesse Corigliano (21, 11 marks, 11 rebounds) and Jhye Baddeley-Kelly (19, seven rebounds) being outstanding in defence, Nathan Boucher (21, five tackles, one goal) providing plenty of run and carry and Sam Lowson and ex-Bomber Edyn Sibbald kicking three goals each, while ruckman Adam Swierzbiolek laid an astonishing 11 tackles to go with 15 touches, seven clearances and 21 hitouts.
WERRIBEE 16.13 (109)
COLLINGWOOD 8.6 (54)
THE sleeping giant that is Werribee might be starting to awaken after crushing a second top-four opponent in consecutive weeks, smacking Collingwood by 55 points at Avalon Airport Oval on Sunday on the back of a five-goal haul from full-forward Hudson Garoni.
The slow-starting Tigers were staring down the barrel at 2-4 before outclassing GWS last week and now the previously second-placed Magpies to get back to 4-4 and close within a game and percentage of the top eight.
Werribee put the foot down with three goals in four minutes midway through the first term and didn’t look back, extended its lead at every change as it dominated disposals (400-322), marks (146-69), clearances (41-30) and hitouts (37-25).
Co-captain Tom Gribble led the way with 33 disposals, seven clearances, six inside-50s and six rebounds, with Kye Declase (28, 13 marks), Bior Malual (24, 11 marks) and second-gamer Sam Clohesy (20, 10 marks, one goal) all magnificent as the home team played a strong possession game, with Garoni cashing in with seven marks and 5.0 as he continues his strong run of form.
Jack Henderson (27, seven marks), Matt Hanson (24 (five marks, five clearances), Shaun Mannagh (17, 10 marks, two goals), Jay Dahlhaus (18, seven marks, two goals) and Sam Conway (30 hitouts, nine clearances) were also influential.
Caleb Poulter (29, six marks, five inside-50s, five tackles) and Fin Macrae (28, eight inside-50s) again starred for Collingwood, with Liam McMahon (21, five marks, nine rebounds) and Trent Bianco (20, eight marks, five rebounds) putting up a strong fight in defence, while Aiden Begg (20, 19 hitouts, five clearances, seven tackles) doing some nice things and Sam Fowler enjoying a strong first half with three goals.
SYDNEY 9.19 (73)
RICHMOND 10.9 (69)
SYDNEY did everything in its power to lose another home game before hanging on to a four-point victory over Richmond at Lakeside Oval in the club’s 250th VFA/VFL/NEAFL home game on Friday afternoon.
The Swans were easily the better team but kicked a woeful 9.19 and seven out-on-the-full from a crazy 72 inside-50s and 35 shots at goal, including just 5.11 from 48 entries in the first half as the dogged Tigers kept themselves in the game simply by refusing to give up.
The visitors in fact gave themselves a golden opportunity to win, taking a seven-point lead late in the third quarter, but missed some simple opportunities of their own as Hayden McLean locked things away at the final change.
Sydney then sprayed 1.6 to 1.2 in the final quarter to keep a healthy workday crowd on edge until the final siren, but it held on to briefly take Richmond’s spot in the eight at 5-3 ahead of a huge task against the undefeated Casey Demons at the MCG this Saturday.
Lewis Taylor was the best player on the ground with 38 disposals, seven marks, six clearances, eight inside-50s and a goal, while Dylan Stephens also did as he pleased with 37 touches, 11 marks, eight clearances and 13 inside-50s but was responsible for five shots at goal that failed to score to slightly blot an otherwise excellent copybook and Ryan Clarke (30, eight clearances, seven inside-50s, five tackles) completed the Swans’ dominant midfield trio.
Will Gould (21, six marks, nine rebounds) again starred down back and Ben Ronke kicked three classy goals, while James Bell (22 disposals) was excellent for three quarters, with injuries to Lachlan McAndrew (ribs) and Marc Sheather (ankle) being worries for the home team.
Ben Miller was wonderful in defence for Richmond, picking up 25 touches, six marks and 11 rebounds, Tyler Sonsie showed his undoubted class with 21, five marks, six rebounds and a terrific goal and fellow youngsters Thomson Dow (20, six clearances, one goal), Sam Banks (20, five marks, eight rebounds) and Tom Brown (20, six marks) provided a strong glimpse to the future.
The real low point of the game, however, was a shoulder injury to Western Jets’ excitement machine Massimo D’Ambrosio, who was in severe pain after a first-quarter contest with Corey Warner and left the game with his arm in a sling in what hopefully doesn’t affect his hopes for Wednesday night’s NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.
GOLD COAST 13.11 (89)
BOX HILL HAWKS 17.9 (111)
BOX HILL Hawks planted their flag as a premiership contender with a spirited 22-point win over a strong Gold Coast in a high-standard clash at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
The Suns had turned a 13-point deficit into a 15-point lead with six out of seven goals either side of quarter-time, but the Hawks were able to stem the flow and majors to Brady Grey and Fergus Greene in the shadows of half-time turned the game on its head and the visitors banged on the first four goals of the third term (three on the back of Gold Coast misses) to grab an advantage they wouldn’t relinquish.
Gold Coast had the top four ballwinners on the ground, led by Brayden Fiorini again proving himself above the level in his first VFL appearance of the year that yielded a whopping 40 possessions, six marks, 10 clearances, eight inside-50s and two goals, with Jack Bowes (30, 14 clearances, nine inside-50s), Sam Flanders (26, six inside-50s, two goals) and Darcy Macpherson (29 touches) in fine fettle and Chris Burgess (eight marks, four goals), Ned Moyle (19, 26 hitouts, six clearances, six inside-50s) and Elijah Hollands (23) also doing plenty.
But Box Hill had a more even spread of contributors, with 20 players earning double-figure disposals led by former captain Damian Mascitti (26, six marks, 10 rebounds) in defence and Jackson Callow (19, six marks, four goals), Ben Cavarra (19, seven marks, three goals) and Greene (four goals) up forward.
Jordan Cunico (26, six marks, seven clearances, five inside-50s), James Parsons (24, eight inside-50s, one goal), James Worpel (22, five inside-50s), Ed Phillips (19, six marks, five inside-50s) and debutant Max Hall (18, one goal) also impressed for the Hawks.
SOUTHPORT 16.12 (108)
BRISBANE LIONS 10.12 (72)
SOUTHPORT climbed into second spot on the ladder, shaking off Queensland rivals Brisbane Lions after a tight start to win by 36 points at Carrara’s Austworld Centre on Saturday.
The Lions led by six points when Blake Coleman kicked his second at the 16-minute mark of the second term, but the Sharks flicked the switch with five goals before half-time and the first four of the third term to barge out to a 49-point advantage 17 minutes in and despite conceding the next four were never threatened again.
Jacob Dawson bounced back from a rare quiet game to have 34 disposals, seven clearances and his first two goals of the season, with Billy Gowers (30, seven marks, five clearances, five inside-50s, two goals) continuing to relish a move into the midfield and Dawson’s co-captain Mike Manteit (28, 11 marks) also starring alongside Jay Lockhart (24, 13 marks, nine inside-50s, one goal), Boyd Woodcock (24, seven marks, six clearances, seven inside-50s, one goal), Max Spencer (18, eight marks, six rebounds) and Fraser Thurlow (six marks, 24 hitouts).
The Lions didn’t lose any fans, however, having twice lost to the Sharks by more than 100 points last year, proving their resurgence on the back of another brilliant display from Rhys Mathieson (37 disposals, five marks, eight clearances, seven inside-50s), with support coming from Ely Smith (23, five clearances, six inside-50s) and Tom Berry (20, one goal).
SANDRINGHAM 16.10 (106)
NORTH MELBOURNE 11.6 (72)
SANDRINGHAM soared to third spot after swamping a gallant North Melbourne in the last quarter to win by 34 points at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday.
The Zebras saw a 36-point lead entering time-on of the second quarter eroded as the Kangaroos powered back into the contest to take the lead through Tom Howard five minutes into the last.
But that was their last score as omitted St Kilda forward Dan Butler took it upon himself to save the day for Sandringham, booting three majors in the last quarter on his way to five for the day (from 23 possessions) as his team kicked the last six goals to move to five wins and a draw from its past six matches.
The Zebras dominated in the middle (62-24 hitouts, 51-29 clearances) and won inside-50s 59-38 as Blake Watson had the best performance of his six-match career with 31 disposals, 11 clearances, six inside-50s and seven tackles and Tom Campbell (23, 50 hitouts, 11 clearances, five inside-50s, one goal) destroyed his former team, while AFL-listed players Jack Billings (25, six tackles, one goal), Jarryn Geary (23, nine marks, one goal) and Jarrod Lienert (21, seven marks) were all influential and Chris Carey snagged three goals.
Dom Tyson (29, six clearances, six rebounds, one goal), Matt McGuinness (27, 11 marks, nine rebounds) and Marty Hore (24, nine marks, eight rebounds) were excellent down back for North Melbourne, while Charlie Comben (three goals) was dangerous up forward and Kade Answerth (21, 12 tackles) tireless in the middle.
NORTHERN BULLANTS 13.6 (84)
CARLTON 13.15 (93)
CARLTON broke a two-match losing run and the hearts of former spouse Northern Bullants when it came from 25 points down early in the last term to steal a nine-point win at Genis Steel Oval on Sunday.
The Blues were staring down the barrel of a second-straight loss to the Bullants since ending their alignment when Matthew King kicked the first goal of the last quarter, but they kicked the next four goals – including two to Sam Philp – to take the lead, and although Ben Hurley wrenched it back for the home team, Carlton answered immediately through an unlikely source in full-back Dom Akuei before Ben Crocker sealed the points.
Joel Trudgeon is quietly putting together an excellent season for Carlton and was again terrific with 27 possessions, eight clearances and eight tackles, with Will Setterfield (26, eight clearances, seven tackles), Tom Williamson (25, six marks, six tackles, one goal), Stefan Radovanovic (22, six marks), Crocker (21, seven marks, 3.4), Philp (21, three goals) and Alex Cincotta (21, six rebounds) not far behind.
Captain Tom Wilson (29, seven marks, one goal) and Will Mitchell (28, 11 clearances) were again the home team’s one-two punch, although King (22, eight marks, two goals), Tim Jones (23, five marks) and Doug Lawrence (20, eight marks 11 rebounds) were also wonderful contributors and Jack Boyd kicked four goals in a stellar contribution three days out from the mid-season draft.
FRANKSTON 6.12 (48)
CASEY DEMONS 10.6 (66)
CASEY Demons stretched their undefeated start to nine games with a professional 18-point victory over Frankston at Skybus Stadium on Sunday.
The Demons went into their 350th VFA/VFL away game with just 11 AFL-listed players after the late withdrawals of Sam Weideman, Luke Dunstan (both AFL) and Majak Daw (illness), but took full advantage of every mistake the Dolphins made to kick clear with six goals to one in the second quarter.
The home team had the lion’s share of possession in its own milestone outing – 500 games at Frankston Park – winning disposals 344-298, hitouts 63-32, clearances 47-32 and inside-50s 54-31, but couldn’t convert that glut of opportunity, with many of those entries being undisciplined high bombs that were comfortably picked off by best-on-ground Adam Tomlinson (28 disposals, eight marks, 12 rebounds) and Daniel Turner (15, eight marks).
Jimmy Munro (24, 14 tackles) was magnificent early for Casey, while Corey Ellison (three goals) was brilliant in attack in the first half and George Gray (21, six clearances, eight tackles, one goal), Deakyn Smith (19, five marks, seven rebounds, six tackles) and debutant Josh Smith (nine disposals, 25 hitouts and the sealing goal) turned heads with excellent efforts.
Riley Baldi (16, seven tackles) silenced Frankston’s 100-game star Will Fordham (16, seven tackles, one goal), with Connor Riley (25, six clearances, nine tackles), Tom Murphy (23, six marks) and Trent Mynott (23, seven tackles) working hard to keep the Dolphins in it.
Ryley Stoddart and returning gun Nathan Freeman were quiet for three quarters but exploded with 29 disposals between them in the last quarter, Stoddart finishing with a game-high 30 touches and seven inside-50s and Freeman grabbing 27 possessions.
GEELONG 12.14 (86)
GWS 8.8 (56)
GEELONG continues to quietly tick off the wins, accounting for GWS by 30 points at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday to move to 6-2 and sixth on the ladder.
The Cats got out by 27 points in the second quarter, saw the Giants edge back within five on the back of captain Ryan Hebron’s fourth goal midway through the third term and then steadied with six of the last seven goals to win comfortably.
Jye Chalcraft (28 disposals, six marks, 10 clearances, one goal) and Luke Dahlhaus (25, 11 clearances, two goals) starred in the midfield for Geelong, Ben Lloyd (24, 10 marks, one goal) is getting better with every match, Daniel Capiron (19, 11 marks, six rebounds) starred in defence and first-year ruckman Toby Conway (20, 16 hitouts, eight clearances) made his presence felt.
The Giants got the most out of cameo appearances from Alex Smout (32, five marks nine clearances), and Angus Baker (29, six marks, six rebounds, who are playing for Wodonga and returning when the Ovens and Murray league Bulldogs have a bye, with the pair picking up 61 disposals, 11 marks, 11 clearances, five inside-50s and six rebounds between them.
Hebron (16, eight marks, 4.3) was also terrific for GWS, as was Callum Brown (24, nine marks, eight rebounds, Sam Frost (20, nine marks), Ryan Angwin (18, 10 tackles) and Jake Stein (18, eight rebounds).
WILLIAMSTOWN 8.7 (55)
FOOTSCRAY 19.7 (121)
JAMARRA Ugle-Hagan kicked six goals in a breakout performance as Footscray showed signs of awakening from its season-long slumber by thrashing Williamstown by 66 points in their Terry Wheeler Cup clash at Williamstown Oval on Saturday.
The Bulldogs were seen as gettable after slumping to 2-6 and it was still the case when scores were level late in the first term, but Ugle-Hagan kicked his third on the siren and it became the first of a 15-goal-to-four onslaught by the visitors as the Seagulls simply had nothing in the tank after their gruelling slog in Brisbane last week and losing Kallan Dawson and Billy Myers early.
Ugle-Hagan showed off all his skills, plucking six marks and kicking 6.1, while Josh Schache (seven marks, three goals) was a more than useful foil as skipper Lachie Sullivan (27, five clearances, 11 tackles), returning star Mitch Wallis (24, nine marks, six inside-50s, one goal and Joel Garner (21, nine inside-50s, nine tackles, one goal) proved too much for the home team to handle.
Teia Miles (28, 10 marks, nine rebounds) worked tirelessly in defence for Williamstown, while ruckman Tom Downie (16, four marks, 50 hitouts, eight clearances), Brayden Monk (28, 13 marks), Nick Mellington (22, nine tackles) and Jake Greiser (18, 11 marks) also performed well and Darcy Fritsch kicked three goals.
BYE: Port Melbourne.
SMITHY’S VFL LADDER, ROUND 10 – click here
THIS WEEK
ROUND 11: Friday, June 3: Brisbane Lions v Northern Bullants (Moreton Bay Sports Complex, 3.35pm); Footscray v Geelong (Victoria University Whitten Oval, 4.05pm). Saturday, June 4: Casey Demons v Sydney (MCG, 3.45pm). Sunday, June 5: Collingwood v Gold Coast (AIA Centre, 11.05am); Coburg v Frankston (Piranha Park, 12.35pm); North Melbourne v Box Hill Hawks (Aegis Park, 1.05pm); Port Melbourne v Williamstown (ETU Stadium, 2.10pm). Bye: Carlton, Essendon, GWS, Richmond, Sandringham, Southport, Werribee.
NEXT WEEK: ROUND 12: Wednesday, June 8: Richmond v Werribee (Swinburne Centre, 7.35pm). Friday, June 10: Frankston v Brisbane Lions (Skybus Stadium, 7.35pm). Saturday, June 11: Southport v Sandringham (Fankhauser Reserve, 12.05pm); Box Hill Hawks v Port Melbourne (Box Hill City Oval, 1.35pm); Essendon v Carlton (Windy Hill, 1.45pm). Sunday, June 12: GWS v North Melbourne (Blacktown International Sports Park, 1.05pm); Casey Demons v Collingwood (Casey Fields, 2.10pm). Bye: Coburg, Footscray, Geelong, Gold Coast, Northern Bullants, Sydney, Williamstown.
THEN: ROUND 13: Friday, June 17: Carlton v Footscray (Ikon Park, 7.35pm). Saturday, June 18: Werribee v Geelong (Avalon Airport Oval, 1.05pm); Sandringham v Essendon (Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval, 2.05pm). Sunday, June 19: Sydney v Williamstown (Blacktown International Sportspark, 11.35am); Gold Coast v GWS (Metricon Stadium, 11.35am); Northern Bullants v Southport (Genis Steel Oval, 12.05pm); Coburg v Richmond (Piranha Park, 2.10pm). Bye: Box Hill Hawks, Brisbane Lions, Casey Demons, Collingwood, Frankston, North Melbourne, Port Melbourne.
Twitter: @BRhodesVFL
All VFL matches in 2022 are live-streamed free. The match of the round can be viewed on Channel 7, while all remaining games are streamed live and on demand via www.afl.com.au and the AFL Live and VFL apps. Radio 3WBC is again broadcasting Box Hill Hawks matches.
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