A review of all the action from Round 13 of the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season.
A couple of mid-table teams made their move with impressive victories, a grand finalist is teetering on the brink and the Queensland powerhouses made devastating statements on a horror weekend for both versions of red and white in Round 13 of the Smithy’s VFL.
GEELONG CATS vs FRANKSTON
GEELONG CATS 3.3, 5.7, 7.8, 10.12 (72)
FRANKSTON 0.0, 4.3, 8.4, 11.4 (70)
FRANKSTON was left to rue a slow start and a heartbreaking finish as Geelong youngster Ollie Dempsey pinched a thrilling two-point win to lift the Cats to within half a game of the top 10 at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night.
The signs weren’t good for the Dolphins early as Dempsey and youngsters Hamish Lucas and Mace Cousins made their presence felt to help the Cats dominate the first quarter with 3.3 to 0.0, the second time the visitors had been held scoreless to quarter time this year.
Frankston kicked four goals to two in each of the second and third quarters, grabbing a two-point lead turning for home when Jai Florent kicked a wonderful running goal in the 32nd minute.
Kye Annand and Jye Chalcraft twice regained the lead for the Cats, with both majors answered by Matt Johnson and Blake O’Leary in a couldn’t-look-away final quarter. When Johnson ran into an open goal for his third in the 18th minute to put the Dolphins a goal up, they looked like they could go on with it.
But Osca Riccardi kicked a behind before Dempsey took a strong mark 20m out and made himself a hero in the 23rd minute, and although Cooper Whyte couldn’t seal it, the home team hung on.
Dempsey finished with a team-high 25 disposals, plus seven marks and three goals. Lucas (22 disposals, 11 clearances, one goal) played the best game of his debut season, Cousins (16 disposals, seven marks, six rebounds) was just as important in defence and mid-season draftee Mitch Hardie had a strong debut with 21 touches, six marks, six clearances, eight tackles and five inside-50s.
Frankston had the top four ball winners in the ground as Will Fordham rediscovered his best form after a few quiet weeks with 32 touches, six marks, nine clearances, five entries, six rebounds and a goal to be hard to toss for best afield in a losing cause.
Trent Mynott (32 disposals, seven marks, nine clearances, six tackles) wasn’t far behind and the Riley brothers Lachie (28 disposals, five clearances) and Connor (25 disposals, five marks) did a power of work under the packs, with Jackson Voss having 23 and five marks but giving away the crucial 50m to Annand in the final term.
BRISBANE LIONS vs SYDNEY SWANS
BRISBANE LIONS 4.6, 11.9, 16.11, 21.16 (142)
SYDNEY SWANS 0.2, 3.3, 4.5, 4.7 (31)
SYDNEY broke through for its first win of the year in Round 12, and its reward to was a flight to Brighton Homes Arena to take on a Brisbane Lions’ team smarting from its first defeat.
And the Swans found out just how far off the pace they are as the ruthless Lions took out all their anger on their young opponents to deal out a record 111-point pasting – their biggest winning margin in this match-up at State League level, replacing a 71-point win in the 2019 NEAFL semi-final.
The Lions kicked their highest score against the Swans and held the visitors to their lowest to secure a seventh-straight win head-to-head in an emphatic answer to the loss to Box Hill Hawks the week before.
Captain Wylie Buzza marked his 100th NEAFL/VFL game with 16 disposals, eight marks and four goals, while Blake Coleman and Shadeau Brain also booted four and full-forward Tom Fullarton had 21 disposals, eight marks and 2.3.
They Lions forwards’ cashed in on the dominance of Jarryd Lyons (36 disposals, 13 clearances, five tackles, five entries), James Madden (23 disposals, five entries, one goal), Jaxon Prior (25 disposals, six rebounds), Noah Answerth (27 disposals, 11 marks, 11 tackles, one goal), Tahj Abberley (25 disposals, five marks, seven entries) and Kyle Dunkley (25 disposals, five marks).
Sydney’s top level stood up, with Dylan Stephens (31 disposals, seven clearances, seven entries), Ryan Clarke (27 disposals, five clearances), Lachlan McAndrew (48 hitouts) and Corey Warner (21 disposals) putting the pressure on the AFL selectors.
Mid-season draftee Harry Arnold had 18 disposals, six marks and five rebounds against the team he was plucked from two weeks ago, while Jaiden Magor (21 disposals, seven marks, seven rebounds) and Caleb Mitchell (24 disposals) tried hard as their side’s inexperience was brutally exposed.
GWS GIANTS vs SOUTHPORT SHARKS
GWS GIANTS 6.3, 10.8, 16.11, 19.14 (128)
SOUTHPORT SHARKS 3.3, 6.7, 9.10, 11.13 (79)
THE Jekyll and Hyde season of GWS continued as it hit back from a below par performance against North Melbourne last week to thrash Southport by 49 points at VAILO Community Centre.
Needing to break out of a two-game funk to stay in touch with the top six, the Giants took control after a see-sawing start with two goals beyond the half-hour mark of the opening term.
When Tom McCaffrey kicked his second goal early in the second to push the margin beyond three goals, the Sharks were always fighting a battle they couldn’t win, especially given they only laid 32 tackles for the game.
The visitors did get back within 20 points twice in the third quarter, but four late Giants goals put paid to any thoughts of a fightback and left them a game outside the top 10, with all the other contenders around them having games in hand, except Carlton.
James Peatling (37 disposals, nine clearances, five tackles, five entries, one goal) had his own football for GWS, while Isaac Cumming (29 disposals, eight marks, five entries) and Harry Rowston (28 disposals, seven clearances, seven entries, one goal) dominated through the midfield.
Josh Fahey (23 disposals, seven marks, seven rebounds), Cam Fleeton and Leek Aleer gave nothing away in defence and Matthew Flynn lost the hitouts but gave Brayden Crossley and Riley Bowman the run around to win 27 touches, plus 10 marks, six clearances, five entries and a goal.
Up forward the Giants had far too many avenues to goal, with Wade Derksen kicking four majors from nine marks and McCaffrey, Max Gruzewski and James Creighton snagging three apiece among 10 goal kickers.
The injury-hit Southport had few winners, with Jacob Dawson (35 disposals, 16 clearances, five tackles, nine inside-50s) putting in a huge shift as a lone hand in the middle. Jackson Edwards (32 disposals, 12 rebounds) did as much as he could in defence and second-gamer Byron Finch bobbed up in attack with three goals.
RICHMOND vs SANDRINGHAM
RICHMOND 2.2, 7.8, 8.8, 12.15 (87)
SANDRINGHAM 2.7, 3.8, 7.12, 7.13 (55)
RICHMOND made better use of the wind to consolidate its spot in the top 10 with a 32-point victory over Sandringham at Swinburne Centre.
The Zebras wasted their first crack at the breeze in the opening term by kicking 2.7 to 2.2 and the Tigers made them pay with 5.6 to 1.1 in the second to grab a four-goal lead at the main change.
Sandringham hit back to within two points at three quarter-time but despite not conceding in the first 15 minutes of the last, the damage had been done and Richmond banged on the last four goals to run away with the points.
AFL aspirants Sam Banks (27 disposals, six entries, eight rebounds) and Tom Brown (30 disposals, five marks, nine rebounds) were Richmond’s best for the second week in a row, with Cam Olden (25 disposals, seven clearances, seven tackles, two goals) and skipper Lachlan Street (31 disposals, seven clearances, eight entries) also instrumental.
Returning ruckman Ivan Soldo had 13 touches, 29 hitouts and six clearances in an even battle with Tom Campbell (14 disposals, 25 hitouts), while Austin Johnson (23 disposals, six marks, five entries) and Thomson Dow (25 disposals) also did well.
Max Heath put in a terrific performance in the air for the Zebras with 17 possessions, nine marks, five tackles and a goal. Ben Paton took his AFL demotion the right way to star across half back with 35 disposals, six marks and eight rebounds, Jack Bytel had 30 disposals, six clearances, seven entries and a goal and Tyson Milne picked up 25 disposals, seven clearances and seven tackles.
WERRIBEE vs CARLTON
WERRIBEE 3.3, 6.6, 7.9, 11.10 (76)
CARLTON 3.4, 5.7, 10.8, 10.10 (70)
SHAUN “The Mummy” Mannagh was the hero as Werribee came from 17 points down at three quarter-time to edge out Carlton by six points for its eighth-consecutive win and third spot on the ladder.
With his nose swathed in bandages and No. 56 on his back after an earlier knock, Mannagh snapped a brilliant goal from 30m on his left boot to tie the scores entering time-on and repeated the dose with the outside of his right five minutes later to give his team the lead for the first time since half-time as the Tigers booted 4.1 to 0.2 in the last quarter.
Mannagh finished with 28 disposals, five clearances, nine tackles, eight inside-50s and kicked 3.3 in a performance that will be hard to top for three Liston Medal votes, although dual winner Tom Gribble (35 disposals, five marks, six clearances, five tackles, five entries, one goal) may have something to say about that.
Werribee captain Nick Coughlan was huge in defence with 18 touches and 10 rebounds to keep the Blues contained, while Kye Declase (26 disposals, six marks, one goal) and Dom Brew (21 disposals, six clearances, 10 tackles) also continued their fine seasons at Avalon Airport Oval.
Jaxon Binns is making it increasingly hard to deny him an AFL debut after almost lifting the Blues to victory with 32 disposals, seven marks, seven entries and six rebounds, while George Hewett (24 disposals, five marks, nine tackles), Zac Fisher (24 disposals, one goal) and Lewis Young (17 disposals, 11 marks, seven rebounds) also put their hands up.
Jack Carroll (23 disposals, five marks) and Heath Ramshaw (21 disposals, six clearances, one goal) were similarly good, but their side missed a chance to open a gap between themselves and the chasing pack.
WILLIAMSTOWN vs FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS
WILLIAMSTOWN 1.5, 2.5, 6.9, 6.12 (48)
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS 2.2, 5.8, 7.8, 11.12 (78)
FOOTSCRAY resurrected its season, claiming the big scalp it needed to stay in touch with the top 10 and spoiling Jason Pongracic’s 100th VFL game with a convincing 30-point victory at a windy DSV Stadium.
On the back of a masterclass from former Port Adelaide-listed player Joel Garner, the Bulldogs won the game in the first quarter when they kicked 2.2 to 1.5 against a howling gale.
The way they then held out a team that plays those conditions so expertly for the rest of the day will have other teams looking over their shoulders.
Williamstown’s only score of the second quarter was a goal to Noah Gadsby as the siren sounded and it used that momentum to draw within nine points turning for home, but the conditions meant the task always looked too tough and Footscray kicked 4.4 to 0.3 in the last to win by a margin more fitting of its control of the game.
Garner was simply unstoppable with and without the football. He piled up 38 disposals, 12 clearances and 13 inside-50s while also having time to stick 13 tackles for a remarkable quadruple double.
Josh Bruce responded to his AFL omission in style, especially early when the game was won, with his influence much greater than his 16 disposals and six marks would suggest. Hayden Crozier (18 disposals, six tackles, six entries, five rebounds) was similarly effective.
Ewan Macpherson (24 disposals, five marks, one goal) and Lachie Sullivan (30 disposals, six clearances, 12 tackles) won the midfield battle, Jordon Sweet (53 hitouts, eight clearances, 14 disposals, five tackles) lowered the colours of Seagull star Tom Downie despite his 32 hitouts and 10 tackles and Nathan Drummond had a fine first game of the year after injury with 17 disposals.
Jack Toner was back to his best pre-knee injury form for Williamstown, with his overlap run being a feature of the contest on his way to 22 disposals, five marks and six inside-50s.
Marty Hore hit back after a couple of quiet weeks with 26 kicks, 10 marks and 14 rebounds, Jake Greiser had 21 disposals and seven marks and Oscar McDonald 19 disposals, eight marks and 13 rebounds.
But the fact the Seagulls’ clear best four players were defenders shows how they were outplayed in a performance that was unusually flat after five straight wins.
NORTHERN BULLANTS vs GOLD COAST SUNS
NORTHERN BULLANTS 0.2, 1.4, 2.4, 3.6 (24)
GOLD COAST SUNS 8.0, 13.4, 17.10, 22.14 (146)
BRISBANE LIONS laid down the gauntlet on Saturday and Gold Coast took it up on Sunday, responding to their rivals’ thumping win over Sydney with a similar 122-point battering of Northern Bullants at Genis Steel Oval.
The Suns piled on eight straight goals without reply in the first quarter and never looked back to better their 107-point win over Geelong in Round 2 for their biggest VFL victory.
It will be knock you over with a feather stuff if Sam Flanders doesn’t play AFL against Hawthorn this week after he played on a different planet to everyone else in winning 44 disposals, eight marks and 13 clearances, while adding seven tackles, six inside-50s and even two goals.
But that isn’t to say he didn’t have quality offsiders, and on any other day Brandon Ellis would have been best afield with his 37 disposals, 14 marks, six inside-50s and two goals of his own.
Elijah Hollands (34 disposals, five marks, eight entries), James Tsitas (27 disposals, seven marks, five entries, two goals) and Connor Blakely (26 disposals, five clearances, six tackles), also dominated, while Frosty Miller medallist Chris Burgess booted five goals as a second ruckman, Brodie McLaughlin kicked 3.5 and Hewago Oea added 3.3.
Northern Bullants star Jean-Luc Velissaris is already writing his best-and-fairest speech – even more so after a wonderful 38-possessions, 11-mark, nine-clearance, seven-entry performance.
Max Tessari had a breakout game with 26 disposals, skipper Matthew King picked up 24 disposals and five rebounds, Finnbar Maley (18 disposals, 26 hitouts, six clearances) held his own against Ned Moyle and Thomas Kelly had 17 disposals and seven marks in his first VFL game for five years.
COBURG vs NORTH MELBOURNE
COBURG 2.1, 2.3, 7.8, 9.11 (65)
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.5, 6.11, 6.13, 13.17 (95)
NORTH MELBOURNE consolidated its spot in the top six, but only after seeing off a big scare from a gutsy Coburg in winning by 30 points at Piranha Park.
The Kangaroos looked in total command when they led by 32 points at half-time with 17 scores to five, but their wayward 6.11 kept the Lions in the game.
The home side then banged on five unanswered goals in the space of 13 minutes late in the third term to take the lead turning for home.
They held on for a while in the last term, but Lachie Young’s goal at the eight-minute mark finally broke them down and North blasted four goals in five minutes to break the game open.
Darcy Tucker (40 disposals, seven marks, two goals) and Aaron Hall (39 disposals, 10 entries, five rebounds, one goal) were everywhere for the visitors, while captain Jack Watkins (23 disposals, nine entries, two goals) continued his starring season.
Flynn Perez (29 disposals, seven marks, seven rebounds), Ben Cunnington (23 disposals, five clearances, six entries) and Kallan Dawson (24 disposals, six marks) impressed and Tristan Xerri had 16 disposals, 28 hitouts and six clearances in his first game since injuring his ankle in Round 1 of the AFL.
Aaron Clarke’s promise as a key forward was on display as he took five marks and kicked four goals, while Lachlan Walker (31 disposals, five rebounds), Ben Jepson (30 disposals, eight rebounds), Mitch Podhajski (24 disposals, six marks, 12 rebounds), Tom McKenzie (19 disposals, eight marks, one goal) and Ingo Dammersmith (15 disposals, eight marks) were tireless in defence and debutant Luke Bailey slipped in seamlessly with 23 possessions.
BYE: Box Hill Hawks, Casey Demons, Collingwood, Essendon, Port Melbourne.
ROUND 14 FIXTURE
Friday, June 23: Geelong Cats vs Casey Demons (7:05pm, GMHBA Stadium). Saturday, June 24: Collingwood vs Sydney Swans (10:05am, AIA Centre); Sandringham vs Brisbane Lions (11:05am, Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval – VFLW double header); Southport vs Coburg (12:05pm, Fankhauser Reserve). Sunday, June 25: Gold Coast Suns vs Box Hill Hawks (12:55pm, Heritage Bank Stadium – AFL curtain raiser); Port Melbourne vs Essendon (2:05pm, ETU Stadium – VFLW double header). Bye: Carlton, Footscray, Frankston, GWS, North Melbourne, Northern Bullants, Richmond, Werribee, Williamstown.
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.
