A review of all the action from Round 12 of the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season.
On a weekend we are unlikely to ever see again, there are no undefeated teams left in the Smithy’s VFL after Brisbane Lions dropped their first game, Sydney broke its duck, three premiership contenders flagged their credentials, two others lifted their finals stocks and a trio of mid-table clubs kept their hopes alive.
Continue for all the talking points.
SYDNEY SWANS vs SANDRINGHAM
SYDNEY SWANS 3.1, 6.2, 11.5, 12.7 (79)
SANDRINGHAM 3.4, 3.6, 8.7, 11.10 (76)
SYDNEY’s Mid-Season Rookie Draft haul paid immediate dividends as Jack Buller and Harry Arnold led the Swans to a drought-breaking first win of the Smithy’s VFL season in a three-point thriller against Sandringham at Tramway Oval on Friday.
Claremont’s Buller, the No.15 pick, had 17 disposals and booted 5.3 in a match-winning debut while Arnold, taken at No.6 from the Brisbane Lions’ VFL program, pulled in nine marks and collected 23 disposals with five rebounds in defence as the Swans snapped a 10-match losing streak dating back to Round 22 last year.
But the duo didn’t do it on their own, with first-year rookie listers Jaiden Magor (24 possessions, 13 marks, seven rebounds) and Will Edwards (22 possessions, 12 marks, four rebounds) turning in career-best games in defence alongside backline general Will Gould (21 possessions, 10 marks, five rebounds).
Another first-year player in Caleb Mitchell (20 disposals, 10 marks) provided strong support for Dylan Stephens (27 disposals, six clearances, 13 tackles) and Corey Warner (23 disposals, eight entries) in the midfield, while Lachlan McAndrew (34 hitouts) performed well one-out against Tom Campbell and Max Heath. Meanwhile, Harry Morrison was terrific in attack with 15 touches, six marks and three goals.
Sydney flew out of the blocks with two goals to Morrison either side of Buller’s first in red and white before the Zebras hit back with three of their own to take the lead at quarter-time, but where the Swans had been falling away when challenged all year, this time they hit back, kicking 3.1 to 0.2 in the second for a 14-point half-time lead.
They held sway in a seesawing third term and led by 18 early in the last, but Sandringham came again with goals to Heath, Blake Watson and Tim Membrey and looked like pinching it, only to miss three late opportunities.
That left the door open for former Sydney captain and 2019 NEAFL MVP Jake Bartholomaeus to take an intercept mark and kick truly from 40m out with 27 minutes on the clock to secure Damian Truslove’s first win as Swans coach.
Sydney’s young backline was called into action plenty of time as the Zebras enjoyed a 58-42 inside-50 advantage after winning clearances 41-28.
The visitors’ defence was a lot more experienced and it was them who kept their team in the game, led by Tom Highmore, who had a game-high 28 touches, 13 marks and five rebounds, alongside Ben Paton (27 disposals, 13 tackles, five entries, six rebounds), with Darby Hipwell (24 disposals, nine clearances, five tackles) and regular forward Noah Gown (22 disposals, six clearances, six tackles, seven entries) going well in the midfield in the absences of Jack Bytel and Jack Billings.
Cooper Sharman was always dangerous with 21 disposals and 10 marks. Tim Membrey took eight marks and booted two goals as he tries to win his AFL spot back at St Kilda.
SOUTHPORT SHARKS vs PORT MELBOURNE
SOUTHPORT SHARKS 5.3, 9.8, 11.10, 13.13 (91)
PORT MELBOURNE 1.2, 4.6, 8.11, 9.13 (67)
SOUTHPORT kept itself in touch with the top 10 with a hard-earned 24-point win over Port Melbourne at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday.
The Sharks seemed to have the match well in control when they kicked five goals to one in the first quarter and then added four of the first five in the second to get out by as much as 44 points, as Jesse Joyce (31 disposals, eight clearances, six tackles, eight inside-50s, two goals) proved unstoppable and Jay Lockhart (20 disposals, 12 marks, five entries, one goal) flew for everything.
But the Borough wasn’t going down without a fight, with Josh Green (33 disposals, 11 clearances) burrowing under the packs, the in-form Tom Hird (31 disposals, seven rebounds) having his best game for the club and skipper Harvey Hooper (30 disposals, six clearances, nine entries) stepping up.
The visitors slammed on the next five goals either side of the main break and got as close as 11 points at the 22-minute mark of the third to create some nervous moments for the home team, who had also lost Jacob Heron to a hamstring injury.
Faced with the threat of falling well off the pace, the grand finalists were able to shut the game down by controlling possession (130 marks to 83) before easing away late for a crucial four points that left Port now needing to go on a winning run to save its own finals hopes.
Sharks superstars Boyd Woodcock (35 disposals, nine clearances, eight entries) and Jacob Dawson (31 disposals, 10 clearances, five tackles) again ran Champion Data’s inkwell dry, with support from Mike Manteit (21 disposals, seven entries, one goal), Matt Gahan (19 disposals, eight marks, five rebounds) and Jackson Edwards (29 disposals, eight marks, eight rebounds) starred down back and big men Brayden Crossley (20 disposals, 31 hitouts, six tackles, one goal) and Fraser Thurlow (20 hitouts, three goals) took advantage of Sam Naismith’s absence.
Archi Manton was an ever-present threat up forward for the Borough with 17 touches and 10 marks only to let himself down with 1.4, while fourth-gamer Kyle Viccars continued the impressive start to his career with 15 possessions, nine marks and three goals while also impressing in defensive stints. Anthony Anastasio buzzed around for 19 disposals and a goal and Nash Holmes had 25 disposals.
BOX HILL HAWKS vs BRISBANE LIONS
BOX HILL HAWKS 3.5, 7.8, 10.9, 16.13 (109)
BRISBANE LIONS 2.4, 3.8, 8.13, 12.18 (90)
BOX HILL Hawks responded to a rare loss on their home turf in style to bring the Brisbane Lions’ undefeated start to the season crashing down in convincing style by 19 points at Box Hill City Oval.
The Hawks were overrun by Williamstown at home last week – only their second loss in their previous seven home matches, and they didn’t take kindly to it, ambushing a power-packed Lions outfit on the back of a rollicking five-goal return to form from Fergus Greene.
The Lions kicked the first two goals but conceded the next five – three to Greene – as Box Hill raced to a 24-point gap at the main break and the home team saw off every challenge thrown at them in the second half.
The visitors got within 10 early in the second, eight at three quarter-time after a three-goal blast in time-on and 13 late in the piece, but the Hawks had the answers every time, sealing the match with four goals in 10 minutes early in the last and capping it off with Greene’s fifth goal at the 31-minute mark.
Jed Rule kicked four goals in his only previous game in Round 1 and added another three in an opportunistic support role, while Damian Mascitti continues to relish his move into attack with 25 disposals, eight marks and two goals.
Callum Brown (30 disposals, five clearances, seven tackles, one goal) was best-on-ground for the Hawks, but young gun Josh Ward (28 disposals, six tackles, one goal) and Harry Morrison (30 disposals, seven marks, five rebounds) weren’t far behind.
Cal Porter (21 disposals, seven marks), Ed Phillips (24 disposals, nine marks, one goal), Henry Hustwaite (24 disposals, five clearances) and Ned Long (23 disposals, nine marks, five entries) were important through the middle, while Chad Wingard’s first State League game in 12 years yielded 14 disposals, six marks, five inside-50s and a goal.
James Tunstill kept the Lions in it early and stayed strong throughout for 25 disposals, five marks and six clearances, Jarryd Lyons (31 disposals, five marks, seven clearances, one goal), Noah Answerth (24 disposals, eight marks, five entries, six rebounds) and Callum Ah Chee (23 disposals, nine marks, five entries) kept their names in front of the AFL selectors.
Father-son Jaspa Fletcher grabbed 18 disposals, seven marks and two goals and Blake Coleman and Darragh Joyce held back the tide with 15 marks between them.
FRANKSTON vs FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS
FRANKSTON 4.4, 4.5, 8.8, 12.9 (81)
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS 3.1, 9.3, 12.5, 15.10 (100)
SIX unanswered goals in the second quarter ensured Footscray kept its undefeated record against Frankston and its finals hopes intact with a 19-point win at Kinetic Stadium.
The Bulldogs are now 7-0 against the Dolphins, but it looked in jeopardy when the home team jumped to a nine-point lead at quarter-time, only for the visitors to rattle on six goals in 20 minutes to turn the game on its head.
Frankston won the rest of the match but couldn’t get closer than the nine-point deficit late in the third term that was quickly snuffed out by Buku Khamis and Lachie Sullivan on the wrong side of the half-hour mark.
The Dolphins had 35 more disposals but couldn’t convert that into scoring opportunities, as Sullivan (25 disposals, nine clearances, nine tackles, one goal), Ewan Macpherson (20 disposals, nine clearances, five entries, one goal) and Robbie McComb (20 disposals, five tackles, one goal) were cleaner with ball in hand, Tim O’Brien plucked eight marks in defence and Mitch Hannan outshone them all with 16 touches, six marks and five goals up forward.
Kai Owens (26 disposals, six tackles, six entries), Trent Mynott (25 disposals, one goal) and Will Fordham (29 disposals, seven marks, five clearances) were strong for the Dolphins, while their defence led by Ryley Stoddart (28 disposals, nine marks, six rebounds), Jackson Voss (22 disposals, eight marks, eight rebounds) and Max Williams worked tirelessly. Meanwhile, Bailey Lambert and youngster Justin Davies were dangerous in attack with three goals each.
WILLIAMSTOWN vs NORTHERN BULLANTS
WILLIAMSTOWN 2.3, 7.8, 11.10, 15.18 (108)
NORTHERN BULLANTS 1.2, 2.2, 4.3, 5.3 (33)
THE day was all about Ben Jolley as he became the third VFA/VFL player to reach the 300-game milestone, and Williamstown honoured one of its greats in style with a 75-point victory over Northern Bullants at DSV Stadium.
Jolley finished with 15 disposals as the fighting Bullants made it a mission to deny him a fairytale goal at the death, however his teammates simply had too much class, as shown by counts of +93 in disposals, +39 in marks, 44-26 in hitouts, 68-30 for inside-50s and 33 scores to eight.
It was all started by Tom Downie (20 disposals, 39 hitouts, nine clearances, six entries, one goal), who gave a valuable lesson in ruckwork to gallant but undersized and inexperienced rookies Finnbar Maley and Liam Kolar (16 touches, 23 hitouts between them).
He gave an armchair ride to a quality midfield cohort led by Corey Preston (30 disposals, eight clearances, nine entries), Harry Jones (27 disposals, six marks, five clearances), skipper Cam Polson (25 disposals, five tackles, seven entries) and Noah Gadsby (21 disposals, six tackles, seven entries), while Toby Triffett stuck 14 tackles to keep the pressure on.
Nathan Colenso arrived as a VFL player to kick three goals from 16 disposals, Fin O’Dwyer (19 disposals, 10 marks) led the defence and Jake Greiser (24 disposals, eight marks, five entries) was in vintage line-breaking touch.
Perhaps one of the most impressive performances was the debut of Will Jury, who earned his first game out of Jolley’s home club at Strathmore and honoured the great man with a 21-touch, five-clearance, five-entry display that looked like he’d played 50 games.
Breakout star Jean-Luc Velissaris continues to relish his new role as the No.1 man for the Bullants and turned it on again with a clear game-high 36 possessions to go with eight clearances, five tackles and seven inside-50s, with West Adelaide recruit Patrick Fairlie putting in a huge effort down back with 30 disposals, eight marks, five clearances, six tackles and 10 rebounds.
Spencer Johnson (25 disposals, six marks, 10 rebounds) also fought hard, Cam Wild gathered 21 handballs alongside six kicks in a distributor role and Nathan Honey was dangerous whenever he went near the ball and kicked two goals.
NORTH MELBOURNE vs GWS GIANTS
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.4, 9.5, 12.10, 14.12 (96)
GWS GIANTS 0.0, 2.3, 3.5, 6.8 (44)
NORTH Melbourne’s stocks continued to rise as it climbed into sixth spot with a 52-point thrashing of fellow finals contenders GWS Giants at Arden Street Oval on Sunday.
The Kangaroos shut an opponent out of the first quarter for the second time at their spiritual home this season, kicking 4.4 to 0.0 to have the game in their keeping and continued the same trajectory, adding two more goals before the Giants finally got on the board in the ninth minute of the second term.
The Roos got out by as much as 72 points midway through the last quarter, franking a dominance that saw them win the disposal count by a whopping 127, before the disappointing visitors kicked three late goals to save some blushes.
Dan Howe was the man who set it all up, booting three of those first six goals and going to win 26 disposals and seven marks while still having time to lay nine tackles before Charlie Lazzaro took over to stuff the stats sheet with 39 disposals, seven tackles, six inside-50s and a goal.
Flynn Perez (29 disposals, seven marks, seven rebounds) starred in defence alongside Kallan Dawson (25 disposals, 10 marks), Louis Butler (28 disposals, 12 marks, six rebounds) and assistant coach Jarrod Lienert (24 disposals, eight marks, one goal).
Jack Watkins (32 disposals, six marks, five tackles) is relishing the captaincy responsibility, Adelaide recruit Ben Davis (32 disposals, 12 marks) is back to his best after a shoulder injury and Sam Lowson ran riot in attack with 21 disposals, eight marks, seven entries and 2.3.
Giants ruckman Matt Flynn (31 hitouts, five marks, five clearances, one goal) was the best big man on the ground but his team couldn’t take advantage, with Barry O’Connor (29 disposals, five clearances, six tackles, seven rebounds) and Will Shaw (24 disposals, six marks, nine rebounds) the only Giants in the top 12 ball winners on the ground, while skipper Ryan Hebron (17 disposals, six marks, seven rebounds) also tried hard.
CASEY DEMONS vs COLLINGWOOD
CASEY DEMONS 5.4, 5.6, 6.10, 8.11 (59)
COLLINGWOOD 1.2, 6.3, 9.3, 11.7 (73)
COLLINGWOOD resurrected its finals hopes with a stunning 14-point upset of reigning premier Casey Demons at Casey Fields – the first time the Magpies have sunk the Demons since 2016.
The Magpies’ second-straight win was their finest of the season and came after conceding the first five goals to a powerhouse opponent at one of the biggest graveyards for opposition teams in the VFL.
Despite the return of spiritual leader and talisman Jimmy Munro from a long-term calf injury and Luke Dunstan from a six-week hamstring, the Demons slipped out of the top six with a second home loss in three games after previously enjoying 13 wins in a row.
Trailing 33-1 when Andy Moniz-Wakefield kicked the Demons’ fifth goal in the 22nd minute of the opening term, Collingwood launched a stunning rally, booting the next seven majors and only conceding another three for the game.
Nathan Kreuger was the hero for the Magpies, booting five goals from 14 disposals and five marks to make count the efforts of a stingy defence led by Trey Ruscoe (22 disposals, seven marks, five rebounds), Trent Bianco (23 disposals, nine marks, seven rebounds) and Neville Jetta (20 disposals, eight marks).
Ruckmen Aiden Begg (17 disposals, 27 hitouts, seven clearances, five tackles, six inside-50s) and Oscar Steene (19 disposals, 19 hitouts, five clearances, six tackles, five entries) enjoyed a more suitable ruck match-up for their level of experience.
Munro didn’t miss a beat in his first game since Round 3, picking up 27 disposals, six clearances, six inside-50s and his trademark 10 tackles, while skipper Mitch White (22 disposals, six clearances, two goals) was also in everything.
Blake Howes (31, six marks, eight rebounds) was terrific in defence, Roan Steele had 22 disposals and five tackles, Dunstan’s return brought 19 touches, Andy Moniz-Wakefield created headaches with 18 disposals, six marks, five tackles and a goal and Matt Jefferson booted three goals.
RICHMOND vs WERRIBEE
RICHMOND 0.5, 3.10, 4.13, 4.13 (37)
WERRIBEE 4.5, 5.9, 8.11, 11.16 (82)
WERRIBEE steamed to its seventh-consecutive win and put itself in the box seat for a top-four berth, outclassing Richmond by 45 points in the Tiger Tussle at Swinburne Centre.
In a match where the ground skills and pressure of both teams was on full display (but so too was their horrible set-shot kicking for goal), the Bees earned more scoring opportunities and took many more to build a handy lead and hold off a second-quarter fightback to win running away.
Goal kicking wastefulness was on full display all day, but more so from the time Richmond kicked two quick goals to get within 10 points in the 18th minute of the second quarter until Werribee’s Nick Hayes slotted a long bomb in the 20th minute of the last.
That half a game brought a combined 4.15, most of them simple scoring opportunities. It came a week after the Tigers almost blew victory against GWS and remembering the Bees threw a win away against Geelong (5.17 to 9.6) in Round 4 – the last time they were beaten.
In fact, there’s an argument that Werribee could be undefeated, with its two losses being to the Cats and a one-point away defeat to Brisbane Lions in Round 1 when they led by four goals at half time.
Given they will start strong favourites in at least seven of their last eight games, a top-two position could even be on the cards if they don’t donate any more wins to their opponents with their goal kicking.
The Bees’ dominance was shown by +109 disposal and +50 mark counts as Tom Gribble’s claims to becoming the first man to win three consecutive Liston Medals gathered steam with another untouchable performance, gathering 37 disposals, nine marks, 10 clearances, and seven inside-50s.
Louis Pinnuck also had claims to the three votes with a stunning 18 marks for his 24 disposals and five inside-50s, while Shaun Mannagh (29 disposals, eight entries, two goals) and Jack Henderson (28 disposals, eight marks) were everywhere, Dom Brew bullocked his way to 29 disposals and Nick Coughlan (27 disposals, five marks, 11 rebounds) dominated down back.
Youngster Sam Clohesy was another to shine in the last line with 17 disposals, six marks and six rebounds, Hayes presented well all day and was rewarded with two late goals, Bior Malual was better than his 16 disposals suggested and Noah Lever had 18 touches, laid 10 tackles and kicked two goals, but burned a third when his knee got in the way of his boot from the goal line.
Tom Brown made a terrific return from injury for the Tigers to finish with 22 disposals and eight rebounds, Sam Banks was assured around the ground for 24 possessions, five rebounds and a goal, skipper Lachlan Street had 21, seven clearances and five tackles in his 50th game and Tom Brindley (15 disposals, eight marks) attacked the aerial contests hard.
CARLTON vs ESSENDON
CARLTON 3.4, 6.6, 10.10, 14.15 (99)
ESSENDON 2.2, 6.4, 8.6, 10.8 (68)
CARLTON moved back ahead of the ledger and climbed to eighth spot after running away from Essendon in the second half to win by 31 points at IKON Park.
While the Blues held sway on the scoreboard all day, it wasn’t until they landed back-to-back blows through Hayden Gill and four-goal hero Liam McMahon in time-on of the third term that they managed to break the Bombers’ resolve.
Heath Ramshaw (33 disposals, eight marks, seven entries, one goal) was best-on-ground with a wonderful breakout display, while fellow VFL-listed youngsters Archie Stevens (31 disposals, five tackles, five entries) and Patrick Dozzi (28 disposals, five marks, six entries) also starred.
Of the AFL-listed Blues to stake a claim, Lachie Fogarty (29 disposals, eight marks, five clearances, six entries) and David Cuningham (26 disposals, seven tackles, seven entries, two goals) got up the ground, Zac Fisher (29 disposals, five rebounds) mopped up down back and Lachie Cowan (25 disposals, eight marks) also impressed.
Essendon ruckman Nick Bryan dominated young Blues pair Hudson O’Keeffe and Harry Lemmey with 25 possessions, nine marks, 31 hitouts, five clearances, five inside-50s and a goal.
No.6 pick Elijah Tsatas had a strong second game with 25 disposals and seven clearances, mid-season draftee Jaiden Hunter took nine marks and booted four goals, Kaine Baldwin had 20 disposals, six marks and 10 rebounds and Brad Bernacki ground out 24 disposals.
BYE: Coburg, Geelong Cats, Gold Coast Suns
ROUND 13 FIXTURE
Friday, June 16: Geelong Cats vs Frankston (7:35pm, GMHBA Stadium). Saturday, June 17: Brisbane Lions vs Sydney Swans (11:05am, Brighton Homes Arena); GWS Giants vs Southport Sharks (12:05pm, Giants Stadium – AFL curtain raiser); Richmond vs Sandringham (1:05pm, Swinburne Centre); Werribee vs Carlton (2:05pm, Avalon Airport Oval); Williamstown vs Footscray Bulldogs (3:05pm, DSV Stadium – VFLW double header). Sunday, June 18: Northern Bullants vs Gold Coast Suns (12:05pm, Genis Steel Oval); Coburg vs North Melbourne (1:05pm, Piranha Park). Bye: Box Hill Hawks, Casey Demons, Collingwood, Essendon, Port Melbourne.
Click here to view full fixture and ladder.
Broadcast and streaming: All matches in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website (AFL.com.au) and AFL Live Official App. Smithy’s VFL broadcast partner, the Seven Network, will continue to show one weekly game live and free on the Seven Network in Victoria and on 7Plus nationally. Casey Radio 97.7FM and 3WBC 94.1FM are also broadcasting matches.
Live scoring and stats: Live scoring and stats will be available via both the AFL Live Official App and VFL App. Download the VFL App from the Apple or Google Play stores.
Ticketing: Where Smithy’s VFL matches are ticketed, entry is $10 for adults, $5 for concession holders and kids under 15 are free. Some venues don't charge for entry. AFL ticketing prices will apply for VFL matches played as curtain-raisers and curtain-closers to AFL matches at AFL venues.
