GOLD COAST SUNS 14.10 (94)
SOUTHPORT 12.13 (85)
GOLD COAST is on the brink of an historic maiden Smithy’s VFL finals appearance after edging out Southport by nine points in a pulsating Coast Clash at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
The Suns qualified for four finals series in their nine NEAFL seasons but haven’t been close in two previous VFL campaigns, but they are perched in seventh spot on the ladder, a game clear of Richmond and knowing a win over North Melbourne at Arden St on Saturday morning will get them over the line.
Against their next-door neighbours, Gold Coast twice arrested dangerous runs of momentum to come back from three goals down before hanging for its fifth win in a row – four of which have come by single-figure margins, with this one only “blowing out” to nine points when Chris Burgess put up a Hail Mary torpedo from 70m out after the siren that bounced away from a Shark defender and trickled through.
The game looked like going to script when the Sharks bounced out of the blocks in their bid to break a two-game slump, scooting to a 15-0 lead after 12 minutes and getting out by 21 just before quarter-time.
The Suns hit back with six of the next seven goals to grab a 15-point buffer of their own, only for Southport to bang on five majors in the next 10 minutes and take control again.
Two late goals before the final break to Burgess and Alex Sexton set up a rollicking final quarter and it was the Suns who took their chances with 4.2 to 1.6 to tip the Sharks out of the top two for the first time in the best part of four months.
Both teams clearly knew the importance of the contest, with the Suns laying a stunning 112 tackles (season average 59.6) to the Sharks’ 93 (63.2), but it was the home team who got the job done on the back of a remarkable performance from Brayden Fiorini, who piled up 39 disposals, 17 clearances, eight inside-50s, 15 tackles and two goals.
James Tsitas (31, eight clearances, six entries, 10 tackles) and Charlie Constable (28, five entries, 11 rebounds, 13 tackles) were also brutal in their attack on the ball and the Sharks, while Jack Bowes (22, seven clearances, seven entries, seven tackles), Burgess (five marks, 3.4), Sexton (17, 3.2) and Ned Moyle (45 hitouts) were all instrumental.
Southport is all of a sudden looking vulnerable on the back of a hattrick of defeats, falling to third on the ladder and possibly even out of the top four if it can’t stop the slide against Coburg this week, despite Jacob Dawson (30, six clearances, seven entries, nine tackles), Jesse Joyce (26, eight clearances), Boyd Woodcock (22, eight clearances, six entries, one goal), Mike Manteit (20, five marks, six entries, five tackles, one goal), Mackenzie Willis (20, nine rebounds) and Brayden Crossley (35 hitouts, six clearances, 10 tackles) putting in strong shifts.
SYDNEY SWANS 10.7 (67)
COLLINGWOOD 9.10 (64)
SYDNEY held onto fourth spot and set up an early qualifying final against Box Hill Hawks after holding off Collingwood by three points in a desperate finish at the SCG on Sunday.
The Swans looked in complete control early, grabbing a 113-78 disposal advantage as the Magpies laid a paltry two tackles in the first quarter, but Peter Ladhams and Joel Amartey missed a couple of simple set shots and they only led by 13 points at the first break.
Whatever coach Craig Black said at quarter-time worked as Collingwood upped its workrate and intensity and squared the tackle count at one stage before eventually falling 58-49 in that stat, but Amartey’s second goal seven minutes into the second term gave the home team a 19-point lead and they held a similar margin through to the last change.
Sydney dominated the stats sheet (392-345 disposals, 131-65 marks) but were forced to chip the ball around the midfield and halfback line due to a gutsy defensive performance from the Magpies, who were rewarded when they booted the first three goals of the last quarter to take the lead.
The lead changed hands three more times as the teams stood toe to toe like prize fighters but Sydney looked home when Ben Ronke put it 10 points up at the 27-minute mark, only for Fin Macrae to produce a wonderful running goal a minute later and set up a tense finish, with the visitors adding a rushed behind as the Swans clung on.
Ladhams recovered from his early blemish to be Sydney’s best with 32 disposals, 12 marks, 28 hitouts and seven clearances, providing first use to Angus Sheldrick (31, six marks, 10 clearances, six tackles), Lewis Taylor (29, six clearances, eight rebounds, six tackles, one goal), Sam Wicks (21, seven tackles, two goals) and Lachie Rankin (20, seven marks), while key defender Will Gould (23, seven marks, five rebounds) blanketed Ollie Henry (eight disposals, five marks, no score), Harry Cunningham (26, 14 marks, six rebounds) and regular forward Hugo Hall-Kahan (26, 14 marks) rebounded well from defence and Amartey plucked nine marks and kicked two goals.
Macrae was outstanding for Collingwood with his 29 possessions, eight clearances, six entries, five tackles and two goals supported by co-captains Campbell Hustwaite (26, five clearances) and Lachie Tardrew (23, five entries, seven tackles) and Sam Glover was dangerous up forward with three goals, but it was the Magpie defence that really shone, led by Trey Ruscoe (23, six rebounds), Liam McMahon (17, five rebounds, held Hayden McLean to one goal) and Neville Jetta (18, five marks).
ESSENDON 10.14 (74)
WERRIBEE 10.9 (69)
ESSENDON completed its remarkable second half of the season in style and brought a somewhat fitting end to a disappointing Werribee’s mathematical finals hopes when Jye Menzie snapped an opportunistic late goal to snatch a thrilling five-point win at Windy Hill on Sunday.
The Tigers entered the season as one of the premiership favourites but barely got going despite some bright moments and now find themselves two games outside the eight with one round to play.
They ran onto Windy Hill knowing they needed two wins and two other teams to not win again to make the eight and looked like upholding their end of the bargain when they kicked four unanswered goals with the breeze to skip to a 23-point lead at quarter-time.
They failed to score in the second quarter as Tom Cutler sparked the Bombers with a 70m bomb and they booted the next five goals to grab the lead, but four of the next five gave the visitors a nine-point break turning for home.
Essendon kicked three quick goals to start the last and the teams traded behinds until Marty Brennan looked like winning it for Werribee in the 30th minute, only to be usurped by Menzie’s heroics two minutes later.
Mid-season draft pick Menzie finished with 20 disposals, six marks, six entries and two goals for the Bombers, with Brayden Ham (27, five marks, five rebounds, five tackles), Brad Bernacki (23, seven entries), Billy Cootee (20, eight clearances), Aaron Francis (18, 10 marks), Joe Atley (18, six clearances, six entries, eight tackles) and Zach Reid (17, seven marks, one goal) also influential.
Co-captain Tom Gribble (31, nine clearances, one goal) again did his best to keep Werribee’s heart beating, with Nick Coughlan (26, 14 rebounds), Dom Brew (25, 11 tackles), Shaun Mannagh (24, six clearances, five tackles), Ollie Hanrahan (23, five clearances, five entries, two goals) and Kye Declase (20, eight marks, one goal) could hold their heads high.
PORT MELBOURNE 12.9 (81)
FRANKSTON 11.11 (77)
PORT Melbourne celebrated its 2550th VFA/VFL match in the best possible way when it charged back from 45 points down in the third quarter to pip Frankston by four points in a highlight-laden standalone epic at ETU Stadium on Saturday.
In one of the best games of the season, the Dolphins were redhot from the start, piling on six goals to one in the first term to seemingly blow the Borough out of the water, especially with Port having lost Mitch Lewis within the first six minutes to what looked to be a serious knee injury or broken leg.
Lewis has since been cleared of any break, with scans still being taking to determine exactly what the problem is.
The Borough managed to rein in the Dolphins’ free-flowing football in the second quarter, but still conceded two goals to one and looked gone when Taine Barlow snagged an opportunistic soccer goal two minutes into the third term to take the margin beyond seven goals.
But with Frankston captain Josh Newman having been helped off midway through the second term after also losing Joe Lloyd (ankle) in the first, the Dolphins didn’t have the level head they needed to calm things down as Port kicked the last four goals of the term to make it 18 points turning for home.
The visitors looked like they’d steadied by trading two goals each to start the last, but with Frankston running out of soldiers after also losing Kai Owens (hamstring) and Sam Fletcher (severe cramp) and having Will Fordham (knee), Liam Hiscock and Lachy Riley (cut heads) patched up, they couldn’t stop the Borough’s momentum.
Jake Gasper booted his third before Cody Szust exploded with three in 12 minutes level the scores, with Frankston fighting tooth and nail to hold on against a wave of attacks – and could indeed have won it when a ball spilled over the back only for Bailey Lambert to fumble in the goalsquare, with the Borough going back on the attack and Matt Signorello receiving a free kick for a high tackle against Jackson Voss 30m out straight in front at the 33-minute mark and kicking truly to put Port in front for the first time in the game.
The Dolphins had one last chance to pinch it back but impressive fourth gamer Jai Florent’s 45m set shot floated wide and the siren sounded shortly after on a famous Port Melbourne win.
While Szust (16 disposals, five marks, three goals) and Signorello (although shut out by Taylin Duman [] for most of the day were the heroes late, it was Corey Wagner (28 disposals, six marks, eight rebounds, seven tackles), Tom O’Sullivan (30, five marks, eight clearances), Anthony Anastasio (22, seven marks, six entries, two goals), Gasper (24, five entries, five tackles, three goals), Nash Holmes (26, five marks, five clearances, six tackles, one goal), Harvey Hooper (34) and Tom Hofert (15, 39 hitouts, seven clearances) who pulled Port Melbourne back into the match.
Duman was terrific again for Frankston despite not winning as much of the ball as in recent weeks, while Liam Reidy put in a great shift with 17 disposals, 27 hitouts, eight tackles and three goals and Trent Mynott (23, seven clearances, seven entries, eight tackles), Fletcher (21, five entries), Owens (19, six clearances, eight entries, seven tackles, one goal) and Fordham (19, six clearances, one goal) were also good.
SANDRINGHAM 13.10 (88)
BRISBANE LIONS 17.11 (113)
BRISBANE LIONS climbed into the top two and box seat for a home qualifying final after recording a comprehensive 25-point win over Sandringham at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday.
The Lions destroyed any hopes the Zebras had of escaping their jaws in the first half, piling on seven goals to two in the first term and four to none in the second to lead by 58 points at the main break, and while Sandringham broke even in the third quarter and kicked seven majors to two in the last, it was only putting respectability on the scoreboard.
Will Ashcroft again had Lions fans salivating after dominating the game on his NAB League home ground, dominating with 32 disposals, six clearances, six inside-50s, six tackles and a goal in front of his dad, Lions legend and Zebras CEO Marcus, while Kai Lohmann thrust his name in front of the AFL selectors with 25 touches, five marks and three goals.
Deven Robertson (24, six clearances, nine tackles, one goal), Darcy Wilmot (21, five marks, five rebounds), Will Fletcher (20, eight entries), James Tunstill (19, five entries, one goal) and Toby Triffett (18, nine tackles, one goal) also impressed, while Tom Fullarton and Henry Smith caused plenty of problems in attack with three goals each and nine marks between them.
Jack Bytel was instrumental pulling the Zebras back from the brink of a monster thrashing, picking up 29 possessions, 14 clearances and 10 tackles, with Tom Campbell again a ruck powerhouse with 22 touches, 42 hitouts and 11 clearances, while Ryan Byrnes (26, six marks, seven clearances, nine tackles, Goy Lok (24, six marks, five entries, one goal) and Leo Connolly (20, five marks) put their hands up.
Oliver Lowe had his best VFL game for Sandringham, taking five marks and kicking four goals, with Dean Kent adding three.
CASEY DEMONS 6.13 (49)
CARLTON 5.3 (33)
CASEY Demons survived a concerted challenge to their undefeated record to celebrate captain Mitch White’s 100th VFL game with a grinding 16-point win over Carlton in wet conditions at Casey Fields on Sunday.
The desperate Blues were trying to lock away their finals berth and threw everything at the Demons in the rain, with their best period being the second half of the second quarter when they kicked three goals to take a one-point lead at the main break.
They were still level 18 minutes into the third term and within three points when Oliver Sanders kicked their only goal of the second half three minutes into the last, but the Demons were able to compose themselves and secure the win with majors to Roan Steele and Jake Bowey, leaving Carlton possibly needing to beat Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday to make the finals.
White starred in his milestone game, compiling 30 disposals, six clearances, seven inside-50s and eight tackles alongside a similarly great effort from James Harmes, who enjoyed having a run around after consecutive games as Melbourne’s unused medi-sub to win 34 touches, six marks, seven inside-50s and eight tackles.
Bowey (23, five marks, one goal), Sam Weideman (23, six marks, five entries), Oskar Baker (25, five entries), Bailey Laurie (21, six tackles), Adam Tomlinson (21, five marks) and White’s best mate Jimmy Munro (19, eight tackles) were also important.
Paddy Dow (34, eight clearances) was back to his best for Carlton, while Will Hayes (31, five clearances, eight tackles), Jack Carroll (22, seven clearances, 10 tackles), Lachie Fogarty (19, five clearances, 14 tackles, one goal) and Zavier Maher (19, five entries, five rebounds, nine tackles) all relished the conditions, but they didn’t suit Tom De Koning as he tried to win his AFL spot back, although he did manage 14 touches, 18 hitouts, six clearances and a goal.
BOX HILL HAWKS 14.13 (97)
GEELONG 7.12 (54)
BOX HILL Hawks all-but locked up their finals spot after breezing past Geelong by 43 points at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday.
The Hawks extended their margin at every break as they gradually pulled away from the Cats despite losing Charlie Beasley, who was taken to hospital with concussion after a nasty knee to the head early in the third quarter, with the final margin being the biggest of the day as they set up a double chance showdown with Sydney in Round 22.
Fergus Greene took eight marks and snagged another five goals in his 50th VFL game to move to 49 and on the brink of becoming the first VFL player to kick 50 goals in a season since 2013 – and the first Hawk since 2002 – to put one hand on the Frosty Miller Medal, with a two-goal lead over Sun Chris Burgess.
He cashed in on the dominance of Damian Mascitti (31, nine marks, six entries, seven rebounds), who enjoyed the opportunity to roam around the ground, Cal Porter (29, 10 clearances, one goal), Jack Saunders (25, 11 marks, five entries, one goal), Dan Howe (29, five marks), Ed Phillips (19, six marks, seven entries, six tackles), Brady Grey (20, five entries, one goal), skipper Hugh Beasley (18, eight marks, seven rebounds), Max Lynch (17, 22 hitouts, six clearances, six entries, one goal) and debutant Luis D’Angelo (20, six tackles).
Geelong’s mid-season draft pick Zane Williams had a breakout game in defence, finishing with 25 touches, nine marks and seven rebounds, with the talented Jye Chalcraft (24, six marks, five clearances), co-captain Matthew Ling (22, five marks), veterans Shaun Higgins (20, one goal) and Oliver Tate (19, 10 marks), Nick Stevens (20, five rebounds), Ling’s fellow skipper Jackson McLachlan (19, two goals) and first-gamer Tanner Lovell (21) all making their presence felt.
COBURG 9.10 (64)
NORTH MELBOURNE 18.14 (122)
NORTH MELBOURNE young guns Tarryn Thomas, Jason Horne-Francis and Flynn Perez showed they could be a great triple threat in the club’s AFL midfield for years to come after combining with style to help the Kangaroos thrash Coburg by 58 points at Piranha Park on Saturday.
Thomas (29 disposals, five marks, eight entries, three goals), Horne-Francis (29, six marks, nine clearances, five entries) and Perez (27, seven marks, six rebounds) were all magnificent as the visitors stole a march with six goals to two in the second quarter before answering a five-goal-to-one third-quarter challenge that got the Lions within 19 points with 6.6 to 0.3 in the last for a convincing triumph.
North enjoyed +101 disposal count (389-288) and took 114 marks to 86, with the generation next trio being well backed by Tom Williamson (27, seven marks, two goals), Jack Mahoney (17, six marks, four goals), Marty Hore (23, eight marks, nine rebounds), Dom Tyson (25, eight marks, six entries), Aiden Bonar (21, six marks), Josh Walker (19, 10 marks) and Josh Goater (20, five marks), while Kade Answerth and Charlie Comben kicked three majors each – the latter also pulling in a huge hanger deep in attack.
The Lions were trying to celebrate retiring co-captain Peter McEvoy’s last home game in style, and he had 14 touches and took eight marks in a solid shift, with Braedyn Gillard (21, seven entries, nine tackles), Ben Jepson (20, six marks, seven rebounds), Nathan Boucher (19, seven marks, six entries) and Aaron Clarke (14, six marks, three goals) also working hard.
But North could be without Eddie Ford for its final round match against Gold Coast after he was offered a one-week suspension for striking Coburg’s Ben Overman in the third quarter.
BYE: Footscray, GWS, Northern Bullants, Richmond, Williamstown
SMITHY’S VFL LADDER, ROUND 21 – click here
THIS WEEK
ROUND 22: Saturday, August 20: North Melbourne v Gold Coast (Arden St, 9.45am); Brisbane Lions v Casey Demons (Red Rooster Park, Moreton Bay, 11.35am); Southport v Coburg (Fankhauser Reserve, 11.35am); GWS v Footscray (Blacktown International Sports Park (12.05pm), Box Hill Hawks v Sydney (Box Hill City Oval, 12.35pm); Richmond v Frankston (Swinburne Centre, 2.05pm); Werribee v Northern Bullants (Avalon Airport Oval, 2.05pm). Sunday, August 21: Carlton v Collingwood (Ikon Park, 12.01pm); Geelong v Port Melbourne (GMHBA Stadium, 1.05pm); Williamstown v Sandringham (Williamstown Oval, 1.35pm). Bye: Essendon.
NEXT WEEK: August 27-28: Qualifying Finals: 1v4, 2v3. Elimination Finals: 5v8, 6v7.
THEN: September 3-4: Semi Finals: Loser 1v4 v Winner 5v8; Loser 2v3 v Winner 6v7.
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 and Casey Radio are also broadcasting matches.
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