SANDRINGHAM 13.12 (90)
ESSENDON 15.14 (104)
ESSENDON’s remarkable revival claimed another high-profile victim when the Bombers stunned Sandringham by 14 points at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday to claim its third successive Smithy’s VFL victory.
The Bombers were 0-8 after losing to Richmond at the MCG in Round 9 but after a last-gasp win over Coburg in Round 10 have rolled top-four contenders Carlton and Sandringham in consecutive weeks.
But unlike the comebacks against the Lions and Blues, they took down the Zebras by kicking clear in the first quarter and holding them at a comfortable distance for the rest of the game, save for a three-goal rally early in the second term that they answered with three in three minutes of their own.
Sandringham did get within nine points early in the last term but never seriously looked like hauling Essendon in as Tom Cutler responded to his AFL omission with a dominant 35-disposal, four-mark, seven-rebound-50 performance in the backline, while Brad Bernacki shone again with 27 disposals, six marks, eight clearances and a goal.
Captain Joe Atley (23, five clearances), Kyle Langford (20, five marks, five clearances) and Stefan Rasinac (17, five entries, eight tackles, one goal) were all important, while Kaine Baldwin (three), James Stewart (three) and Jye Menzie (two) kicked eight goals between them.
Marcus Windhager was huge for the Zebras with 32 disposals, 12 clearances, six entries and two goals to stake his own claim for an AFL recall, while the resilience of defenders Darragh Joyce (24, 10 marks, 11 rebounds, one goal), Jarrod Lienert (27, six marks, 10 rebounds), Leo Connolly (23, six marks, six rebounds) and Tom Highmore (19, six marks, eight rebounds) stopped the Bombers from kicking an even higher score.
Tom Campbell (19 disposals, five marks, 37 hitouts, nine clearances, five tackles) won an enthralling ruck battle with Nick Bryan (14, four marks, 26 hitouts, six inside-50s), while Tyson Milne (23, seven marks) and Cooper Sharman (three goals) also played their part.
WERRIBEE 16.16 (112)
GEELONG 7.7 (49)
WERRIBEE climbed to within percentage of the top eight after thrashing Geelong by 63 points to bank a fourth consecutive win at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday.
Playing their 500th VFA/VFL home match, the Tigers wasted their early chances to get on top by struggling to a 3.8 to 3.0 lead 10 minutes into the second term, but once best-on-ground Shaun Mannagh broke the shackles, they made a decisive break sparked by three goals in six minutes from champion midfielder Matt Hanson, who went forward and cashed in on some laser precision delivery.
The Cats did their best to hang on despite being below full-strength after the club took AFL emergencies Shaun Higgins, Ollie Dempsey, Francis Evans and Shannon Neale to Perth, but the floodgates opened again in the last quarter as Werribee booted six goals to one to break an eight-year winning drought against the visitors built on the back of a huge 114-possession advantage.
Mannagh was awarded the Damian Drum Medal after a performance that oozed class, finishing with 21 disposals, eight marks, 13 inside-50s – most of which were bullets that found their targets – and three goals, while Hanson had 20 touches and those three goals in a blistering first half to be not far behind.
Ollie Hanrahan (28, five marks, seven entries, five tackles, three goals), reigning Liston medallist Tom Gribble (35, nine clearances, five tackles), Louis Pinnuck (21, nine marks, five rebounds), Bior Malual (20, nine marks) and Jack Henderson (20, six entries, seven tackles) were also dominant, but Werribee didn’t have a bad player, with its only worry being a shoulder injury that forced Josh Porter off in the first quarter.
Max Holmes impressed for Geelong on his return from injury, gathering 21 touches, five clearances, eight entries and 10 tackles and bursting from the centre with regularity, while Jye Chalcraft (22, five clearances), Oliver Tate (18, six marks), second-gamer Jack Evans (17, one goal) and Daniel Capiron (seven intercept marks) were also good.
Jack Henry (16, six marks, seven rebounds) and Esava Ratugolea (five marks, 2.3) got through and made their presence felt in their first games back from long-term injury, while Toby and Sam Conway had an enthralling battle in the ruck, with the Tigers’ older brother Sam getting the points with 15 disposals, 21 hitouts and nine clearances to Toby’s eight touches and 24 hitouts.
GOLD COAST 18.11 (119)
GWS GIANTS 9.9 (63)
GOLD Coast added itself to the logjam of teams fighting for a finals berth in what is developing into a thrilling season with another six-goal haul from Chris Burgess leading the Suns to a 56-point dismissal of GWS at Metricon Stadium on Sunday.
Burgess regained the lead in the Frosty Miller Medal with his third bag of six or more this season giving him 33 for the year and 13 in the past two matches after his seven against Collingwood in Round 11.
The Suns broke clear with six unanswered goals either side of quarter-time and were never threatened after that, getting out by as much as 69 points in the final term before the Giants put some respectability on the board.
Burgess took 10 marks to go with his six goals, while Rory Atkins finally rediscovered his best with a magnificent performance that brought him 38 possessions, 11 marks and 10 rebounds and Charlie Constable (33, six marks, nine clearances, 10 entries, one goal), Brayden Fiorini (37, six clearances, one goal) and Jeremy Sharp (30, six marks, six entries) also racked them up.
Hewago Paul Oea (23, nine marks, one goal), Elijah Hollands (21, eight marks, five entries, one goal), Jez McLennan (20, six marks), Rory Thompson (16, eight marks) and Ned Moyle (four marks, 39 hitouts, five clearances, one goal) also starred for the Suns as they moved to 11th on the ladder, but just one win behind the third-placed Brisbane Lions.
Tim Taranto and Phil Davis were outstanding in their comeback matches for GWS, with Taranto winning 32 possessions and taking eight marks and Davis pulling in a whopping 17 grabs on his way to 25 touches and six rebounds, while Josh Green (27, six clearances, five tackles), Sam Frost (23, six marks, six rebounds), Callum Brown (22, six marks) and Xavier O’Halloran and Wade Derksen (three goals each) turned in solid displays.
CARLTON 11.9 (75)
FOOTSCRAY 8.8 (56)
CARLTON overcame a slow start to record its first VFA/VFL victory over Footscray in 130 years, all-but eliminating the Bulldogs from the finals race at Ikon Park by 19 points on Friday night.
The Blues lost the last five games they played against the Bulldogs in the VFA before the VFL was formed in 1897, and their first modern-era clash last year, having not claimed a head-to-head victory since August 13, 1892, at the Albert Cricket Ground.
The Blues were rocked by some fierce early pressure as the Bulldogs raced out to a 21-point lead before they troubled the scorers, and the visitors looked well-and-truly on when they mobbed comeback kid Josh Bruce after he marked and goalled 11 minutes in.
But once the home team got going they were able to work their way back into the game and took the lead before the break, only falling behind again to Bruce’s second after the siren.
From there, however, Carlton gradually took over, keeping Footscray to just one major until midway through the last term, leading by as much as 38 points before the Bulldogs kicked the last three goals.
Will Setterfield was everywhere for the Blues in picking up 35 touches, seven marks, seven inside-50s, eight tackles and a goal, with Lachie Fogarty (31, seven marks, seven clearances, five tackles), Alex Cincotta (29, five marks, six tackles) and Ben Crocker (21, 12 marks, three goals) starring and Josh Honey bobbing up with a goal in each quarter in a crucial contribution.
Jack Carroll (29, eight marks, six clearances), Paddy Dow (29, eight clearances, six entries), Will Hayes (29, eight marks, one goal), Liam Stocker (26, nine marks, six rebounds) and Joel Trudgeon (19, 11 tackles) were also important.
Hayden Crozier (27, 10 marks, six rebounds, one goal) was Footscray’s best, with Dom Bedendo (24, 10 marks) starring and taking a screamer in the first quarter, Riley Garcia (27, eight clearances, eight tackles) in everything and Sam Darcy pulling in 14 marks in defence.
Lachie Hunter made an impressive comeback with a team-high 30 possessions, seven marks and a goal, while Bruce kicked three goals in a strong return.
NORTHERN BULLANTS 10.6 (66)
SOUTHPORT 20.14 (134)
AN EIGHT-goal burst in 21 minutes broke the back of a gallant Northern Bullants as Southport moved two wins clear in second spot with a 68-point victory at Genis Steel Oval on Sunday.
There were ominous signs early when the Sharks booted four goals in the first 13 minutes, but the Bullants never lie down and worked their way back into the contest, getting back within six minutes when captain Tom Wilson goalled in the opening minute of the second term.
But after Billy Gowers snagged his second at 10:29, Southport exploded with majors to Michael Selsby (16:56), Max Pescud (18:07), Jacob Townsend (20:25), Mitch Johnson (22:27), Brayden Crossley (23:57 and 26:24) and Townsend again after the siren to blow the scoreboard out to 57 points in the blink of an eye.
The home team again battled back, kicking four goals to none in the third term, but the damage was done and Southport booted the last four of the game finish with a win that was harder earned than it looked.
The Sharks’ huge 71-35 inside-50 advantage ended up swamping the Bullants as Boyd Woodcock again dominated with 36 disposals, nine marks, nine clearances and two goals to win the inaugural Alexander Aurrichio Medal for best-on-ground, just ahead of the brilliant Billy Gowers (20 possessions, six marks, four goals)
Co-captains Mike Manteit (25, nine marks, six entries) and Jacob Dawson (24), defender Matt Gahan (21, 14 marks, seven rebounds), 100th-game ruckman Fraser Thurlow (19, six marks, 27 hitouts, eight clearances, six entries) and Mackenzie Willis (18, 10 marks) also shone.
Wilson yet again sparkled for the Bullants with 33 disposals, 14 marks and one goal, with fellow ball magnet Will Mitchell (29, seven clearances), forward Jean-Luc Velissaris (20, seven marks, three goals), defender Doug Lawrence (20, seven marks, 11 rebounds), Mackenzie Doreian (21, nine marks, five entries), Liam Mackie (23, six marks, five clearances) and Matt King (20, six marks) also putting their hands up, while Liam Podhajski battled hard against Thurlow to win 25 hitouts and 14 touches.
COBURG 7.10 (52)
RICHMOND 15.14 (104)
RICHMOND hit back from its disappointing loss to Werribee by overcoming a slow start to cruise past Coburg by 52 points in front of a big Vicky Cleary Day crowd at Piranha Park on Sunday.
The Lions looked on early in kicking the only two goals of the first term and were still within one point at the end of a first half highlighted by a big mark to Mitch Podhajski, but a Noah Cumberland goal on the siren changed the whole complexion of the match and the Tigers piled on 11 goals to four after the break to run out convincing winners.
Jack Ross was one of the few Tigers able to hold their heads high against the Bees and he backed that up with a best-on-ground 34 disposals, seven marks, eight clearances, seven inside-50s and one goal, while Matt Parker roamed far and wide to pick up 25 possessions, 11 marks, five clearances, seven entries and six rebounds.
Riley Collier-Dawkins (25, five marks, six clearances, five entries), Sydney Stack (23, seven marks, nine entries, one goal), Tyler Sonsie (21, 12 clearances, one goal) found some form and omitted big man Ivan Soldo had 27 hitouts and kicked two goals.
Breakout youngster Flynn Gentile was Coburg’s best after Sam Lowson limped off early with a hamstring injury, finishing with 25 disposals, five clearances, six tackles and a goal, with Lachlan Walker (25, seven marks), Nathan Boucher (24, five clearances, one goal) and Braedyn Gillard (24, one goal) all trying hard.
SYDNEY 24.17 (161)
WILLIAMSTOWN 7.8 (50)
SYDNEY sent out its most powerful team of the year and it showed as the Swans crushed an undermanned Williamstown by 111 points at Blacktown International Sports Park on Sunday.
The Swans had 19 AFL-listed players including gun ruckman Tom Hickey and all their key midfielders, with captain Adam Gulden, former captain and NEAFL MVP Jake Bartholomaeus and ex-Giant Nick Shipley among the other four, while the Seagulls went in without vital cogs Nick Mellington, Corey Rich and Noah Gown from last game, plus several others from their best team.
Sydney took full advantage, booting six, seven, four and seven goals across each of the quarters to climb into the top eight as Joel Amartey snared five in the first half to go with 10 marks and 18 disposals, while mid-season draft pick Hugo Hall-Kahan sparkled with 23 possessions, six marks, six inside-50s and five goals of his own.
Hickey (21 disposals, five marks, 38 hitouts, one goal) was a behemoth in the ruck against a gallant Tom Downie (14, 20 hitouts, one goal) and will surely return to the AFL team against St Kilda in place of the suspended Peter Ladhams.
Ryan Clarke (30, seven clearances, five entries, two goals), Matt Roberts (28, seven marks, five clearances, six entries), Robbie Fox (30, five tackles), Lewis Taylor (26, five marks, five entries, one goal), Dylan Stephens (24, six marks, six entries, eight tackles), Ben Ronke (20, 12 marks, six entries, three goals) and Hayden McLean (20, 12 marks, 1.4) also did as they pleased for the home team.
Williamstown stuck at its daunting task all day, with Teia Miles (28, seven marks, five rebounds), Liam Hunt (25, five marks), Corey Preston (24, five marks), Noah Gadsby (21, seven marks), Jake Greiser (21, six marks, five rebounds), Finbar O’Dwyer (20, nine marks, seven rebounds), Darby Henderson (19, seven marks, two goals) and Brayden Monk (22, five clearances) doing their best to hold back the tide.
BYE: Box Hill Hawks, Brisbane Lions, Casey Demons, Collingwood, Frankston, North Melbourne, Port Melbourne
SMITHY’S VFL LADDER, ROUND 13 – click here
THIS WEEK
ROUND 14: Friday, June 24: Port Melbourne v Werribee (ETU Stadium, 7.05pm). Saturday, June 25: Southport v Frankston (Fankhauser Reserve, 12.05pm); Sydney v Sandringham (Lakeside Oval, 1.05pm); Collingwood v Brisbane Lions (AIA Centre, 1.05pm); Footscray v Box Hill Hawks (Victoria University Whitten Oval, 1.05pm); Gold Coast v Casey Demons (Austworld Centre, 1.35pm); Williamstown v Essendon (Williamstown Oval, 3.05pm); Carlton v Coburg (Ikon Park, 5.05pm). Sunday, June 26: Geelong v Richmond (GMHBA Stadium, 12.01pm); North Melbourne v Northern Bullants (Aegis Park, 2.05pm). Bye: GWS.
NEXT WEEK: ROUND 15: Friday, July 1: Brisbane Lions v Footscray (Red Rooster Park, Moreton Bay, 12.05pm). Saturday, July 2: Essendon v Sydney (Windy Hill, 10.35am); Casey Demons v Port Melbourne (Casey Fields, 1.05pm); Werribee v North Melbourne (Avalon Airport Oval, 2.05pm); Frankston v Geelong (Skybus Stadium, 7.05pm). Sunday, July 3: Richmond v Collingwood (Swinburne Centre, 11.05am); GWS v Box Hill Hawks (Giants Stadium, 11.35am); Coburg v Gold Coast (Piranha Park, 2.15pm); Northern Bullants v Williamstown (Genis Steel Oval, Preston, 2.15pm). Bye: Carlton, Sandringham, Southport.
THEN: ROUND 16: Friday, July 8: Geelong v Casey Demons (GMHBA Stadium, 7.05pm). Saturday, July 9: Collingwood v North Melbourne (AIA Centre, 11.05am); Box Hill Hawks v Southport (Box Hill City Oval, 12.35pm); Gold Coast v Frankston (Metricon Stadium, 12.50pm); Werribee v Coburg (Avalon Airport Oval, 2.05pm); Port Melbourne v Carlton (ETU Stadium, 7.05pm). Sunday, July 10: Sandringham v Footscray (Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval, 12pm); Williamstown v GWS (Williamstown Oval, 1.05pm). Bye: Brisbane Lions, Essendon, Northern Bullants, Richmond, Sydney.
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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