All the teams for Round 17 of the Smithy’s VFL.
North Melbourne and Box Hill Hawks have made multiple changes for their top-six clash at Arden Street Oval on Sunday.
The Kangaroos will have at least seven different players to the team that beat Geelong last Sunday night, with Dan Howe, Jackson Archer, Josh Goater and Curtis Taylor all earning AFL recalls, while Louis Butler has concussion and Sam Lowson an ankle niggle.
Hugh Greenwood and Charlie Lazzaro return to the team alongside former AFL players Jarrod Lienert and Nick Stevens, with Jason McCormick and Cooper Smith also included.
The Hawks have five big inclusions, headed by Changkuoth Jiath, who had achilles soreness in his stellar comeback game a fortnight ago, with Harry Morrison and Josh Morris dropping down and Jaylon Thorpe and Clay Tucker returning from injury.
Max Ramsden has been promoted and Jack O’Sullivan rested, while Damian Mascitti is listed in the emergencies but is almost certain to play when the AFL substitute comes out.
Southport has backed its 23 from last week in as it aims to keep its season alive against Richmond at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday.
The Sharks are unchanged and last week’s returning quintet will be better for the run, while the Tigers have made six changes to the team stunned by Sydney, headed by the returns of Judson Clarke, Rhyan Mansell and vice-captain Brad Melville, with Ivan Soldo, Samson Ryan and Hugo Ralphsmith slated to play in the AFL.
Frankston’s horror 2023 injury run has continued with three key players being sidelined for their clash with GWS Giants at Kinetic Stadium.
Breakout midfielder Kai Owens has gone down with an ankle issue and key forwards Bailey Lambert (shoulder) and Josh Butland (ribs) have also succumb to injury.
In much better news, coach Danny Ryan has finally been able to call on one of his marquee recruits in 202cm, 112kg ruckman Tom Roberts, who played seven VFL games for Collingwood last year but was sidelined for the first 13 weeks of this season with a foot injury.
He has played four games back in the Mornington Peninsula league with Somerville, being named in the best the past two weeks to earn his Dolphins debut.
His MPFNL Eagles teammate Jaxsen Shinners will make his VFL debut after kicking five goals against Devon Meadows a fortnight ago. Shinners will add to his one WAFL reserves game for East Perth in 2020 and a Colts game for Peel Thunder in 2017.
Frankston also regains Trent Marotta, Seb Quirk and Pierce Roseby to take on the Giants, with Lachie Riley, Matt Johnson and Justin Davies omitted following last week’s big loss to Gold Coast.
GWS has ventured into country NSW for its latest debutant, with prolific Hume league small forward Nathan Wardius plucked from Rand-Walbundrie-Walla after kicking 139 goals in 49 senior matches despite having only turned 18 late last year.
Wardius, who comes in alongside Allies national championships winner Harvey Thomas, has kicked 37 goals in 11 games this year after booting five on his senior debut as a 14-year-old back in 2019.
Ryan Angwin has been recalled to the Giants’ AFL team, with last week’s debutant Daniel Gauci missing out.
Geelong’s 206cm young ruckman Toby Conway, the No.24 pick in the 2021 NAB AFL National Draft, will make his comeback from a foot injury to play his first game of the season in the Cats’ must-win clash with Essendon at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday.
Conway has recovered sufficiently to play his first game since Round 22 last year, having averaged 11.5 disposals and 19.5 hitouts in 10 matches.
Star mid-forward Ollie Dempsey is also back alongside Irishman Oisin Mullin and small defender Tom Feely, but Brandan Parfitt will miss with a broken hand and big kicking tall Phoenix Foster has been rested.
Ruckman Josh Hotchkin gets another chance for the Bombers after being one of his team’s best players in his most recent outing only to lose his spot to returning AFL-listed big men, with Andrew Phillips’ AFL suspension sending Nick Bryan up and creating the vacancy.
Kaine Baldwin also returns for Essendon, with midfielders Brad Bernacki and Sam Conforti being surprise omissions after the remarkable win over Gold Coast a fortnight ago.
Werribee is unchanged for its home game against Northern Bullants, which has made seven swaps, including debuts for Montmorency’s Jack Chubb, 19, Westmeadows’ Finbar Delbridge, 24, and Deer Park’s Michael Edwards, 24, while impressive midfielder Cam Wild is back from injury alongside Ben Ham, Billy Barnes and Bailey Ryan.
The Bullants have lost ruckman Finnbar Maley, defender Will Sexton, big forward John Roumeliotis and rookie Dan Strnak to injury for the daunting trip to Avalon Airport Oval.
All matches in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website and AFL Live Official App.
Smithy’s VFL broadcast partner, the Seven Network, will show one weekly game live and free on the Seven Network in Victoria and on 7Plus nationally. This week’s game will be Geelong Cats vs Essendon.
SOUTHPORT SHARKS vs RICHMOND
Saturday 15 July, 11:35am, Fankhauser Reserve
Head-to-head: Richmond 1-0. At Fankhauser Reserve: Never Met. Streak: Richmond 1
SOUTHPORT SHARKS
B: J. Foggo (22), M. Spencer (6), M. McGuinness (14)
HB: Z. Molloy (26), D. Charlesworth (23), M. Gahan (32)
C: J. Edwards (21), J. Dawson (3), J. McQueen (29)
HF: M. Manteit (4), T. Fields (11), M. Shannon (16)
F: Z. Foot (2), B. Crossley (20), J. Sexton (28)
R: F. Thurlow (15), J. Joyce (25), B. Woodcock (1)
INT: M. Doran (33), M. Pescud (13), J. Lockhart (12), R. Banks-Smith (24), J. Heron
EMG: B. Finch (35), R. Bowman (31), C. Joyce (34), C. Offermans (30), T. Reeves (38)
No change
RICHMOND
B: L. Teal (66), M. El Nour (57), T. Brindley (61)
HB: J. Trezise (36), T. Brown (30), B. Melville (54)
C: G. McDonagh (53), C. Olden (58), J. Clarke (42)
HF: M. Coulthard (26), S. Green (48), R. Mansell (31)
F: B. Nyuon (47), N. Cumberland (38), K. Bradtke (37)
R: M. Lefau (72), T. Dow (27), T. Sonsie (40)
INT: A. Hicks (52), L. Street (55), A.Johnson (51), W. Bravo (70), M. Yassine (80)*
EMG: J. Nathan (65), M. Faimalo (64), A. May (71)
IN: T. Brindley, J. Clarke, A. Johnson, R. Mansell, B. Melville, M. Yassine
OUT: H. Ralphsmith, S. Ryan, I. Soldo (AFL), H. Broderick, M. Faimalo, J. Nathan
WERRIBEE vs NORTHERN BULLANTS
Saturday 15 July, 2:05pm, Avalon Airport Oval
Head-to-head: Werribee 37-24. At Avalon Airport Oval: Werribee 18-11. Streak: Werribee 4
WERRIBEE
B: W. Lual (12), N. Cooper (18), L. Pinnuck (9)
HB: M. Sodomaco (3), N. Coughlan (5), B. Malual (22)
C: K. Declase (15), T. Gribble (4), S. Clohesy (35)
HF: S. Mannagh (6), H. Garoni (1), N. Lever (28)
F: N. Hayes (7), J. Boyd (10), H. Grintell (16)
R: K. Annand (36), J. Henderson (8), D. Brew (29)
INT: L. Rocci (30), J. Clark (27), S. Paea (32), D. Cassar (33), M. Keast (57)
EMG: M. Selsby (14), B. Henderson (2), Z. Galea (41), A. Johnson (17), E. Ajang (39), C. McLeod (31), C. Byrne (43), A. Deng (54)
No change
NORTHERN BULLANTS
B: D. Laurie (35), D. O'Dwyer (20), P. Gentile (34)
HB: B. Holian (12), J. Newitt (44), S. Johnson (7)
C: M. Edwards (16), J. Velissaris (3), M. King (10)
HF: S. El-Hawli (18), D. Fritsch (12), C. Wild (32)
F: Z. Morris (43), B. Hurley (25), J. Barling (21)
R: F. Delbridge (33), P. Fairlie (8), B. Barnes (42)
INT: T. Kelly (45), J. Chubb (14), B. Ham (48), N. Honey (24), B. Ryan (41)
EMG: J. Buchanan (50), E. Jackson (11), B. Nikolovski (30)
IN: B. Barnes, J. Chubb, F. Delbridge, M. Edwards, B. Ham, B. Ryan, C. Wild
OUT: F. Maley (injured), J. Roumeliotis (concussion), W. Sexton (injured), D. Strnak (injured), J. Buchanan, E. Mantas, M. Tessari
NEW: Jack Chubb, 19, 194cm, 79kg, Montmorency/Northern Knights; Finbar Delbridge, 24, 193cm, Westmeadows/Aspley; Michael Edwards, 24, Deer Park.
NORTH MELBOURNE vs BOX HILL HAWKS
Sunday 16 July, 12:05pm, Arden Street Oval
Head-to-head: Level 2-2. At Arden Street Oval: Level 1-1. Streak: Box Hill Hawks 2
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: A. Bonar (16), K. Dawson (42), B. Davis (50)
HB: J. Lienert (66), A. Hall (43), M. Bergman (27)
C: C. Downie (47), C. Lazzaro (35), K. Turner (28)
HF: R. Hansen (46), J. Watkins (56), H. Greenwood (18)
F: P. Spicer (36), B. Drury (41), J. Edwards (32)
R: T. Goldstein (22), B. Cunnington (10), W. Phillips (29)
INT: N. Stevens (55), C. Smith (53), J. McCormick (84)*, T. Sellers (62), B. Bath (58)
EMG: B. Stevens (52), A. Noblett (57)
IN: B. Bath, H. Greenwood, C. Lazzaro, J. Lienert, J. McCormick, C. Smith, N. Stevens
OUT: J. Archer, J. Goater, D. Howe, C. Taylor (AFL), L. Butler (concussion), S. Lowson (calf), T. O'Sullivan
BOX HILL HAWKS
B: C. Jiath (9), J. Koschitzke (23), B. Macdonald (42)
HB: J. Serong (29), E. Jeka (39), J. Morris (35)
C: H. Hustwaite (44), L. Bramble (16), N. Long (27)
HF: J. Bennetts (41), J. Thorpe (57), S. Butler (30)
F: H. Morrison (1), L. Meek (17), B. Ryan (46)
R: C. Tucker (45), C. Stephens (21), C. Mackenzie (28)
INT: L. Coghlan (74), C. Porter (55), E. Phillips (60), C. Brown (66), D. Murr (67)*
EMG: M. Hall (61), L. Bryce (71), D. Mascitti (50), T. Waack (64)
IN: C. Jiath, J. Morris, H. Morrison, J. Thorpe C. Tucker
OUT: M. Ramsden (AFL), J.O’Sullivan (managed), M. Hall, D. Mascitti, T. Waack
FRANKSTON vs GWS GIANTS
Sunday 16 July, 1:05pm, Kinetic Stadium
Head-to-head: GWS Giants 1-0. At Kinetic Stadium: GWS Giants 1-0. Streak: GWS Giants 1
FRANKSTON
B: T. Barlow (3), J. Smith (25), J. Voss (13)
HB: B. O'Leary (10), T. Marotta (47), J. Lloyd (18)
C: R. Stoddart (15), W. Fordham (7), S. Quirk (11)
HF: L. Reidy (33), T. Mynott (12), P. Roseby (23)
F: C. Nayna (9), M. Williams (4), J. Shinners (35)
R: J. Rendell (16), C. Riley (22), J. Newnes (14)
INT: T. Roberts (44), F. Ryan (28), T. Small (6), M. Szybkowski (2), R. Jacobs (31)
EMG: L. Riley (21), A. McComb (38), M. Johnson (24)
IN: T. Marotta, S. Quirk, T. Roberts, P. Roseby, F. Ryan, J. Shinners
OUT: J. Butland (ribs), B. Lambert (shoulder), K. Owens (ankle), J. Davies, M. Johnson, L. Riley
NEW: Tom Roberts, 23, 202cm, 112kg, Collingwood VFL; Jaxsen Shinners, 23, 178cm, 67kg, Cockburn Lakes/Somerville
GWS GIANTS
B: J. Fahey (34), P. Davis (1), J. Wehr (10)
HB: J. Anderson (51), C. Fleeton (29), L. Aleer (21)
C: J. Gillbee (42), C. Stone (18), D. Edmends (50)
HF: J. Peatling (20), T. McMullin (31), A. Cadman (5)
F: W. Derksen (45), M. Gruzewski (35), W. Shaw (55)
R: M. Flynn (30), B. O'Connor (52), H. Rowston (24)
INT: H. Thomas (62)*, N. Wardius (64), N. Madden (41), J. Pavlidis (48), R. Hebron (47)
EMG: J. Creighton, M. Conn, W. Clark, G. Varagiannis, D. Jones-Hughes, B. Romensky, A. Mathieson, D. Posthuma
IN: H. Thomas, N. Wardius
OUT: R. Angwin, D. Gauci
NEW: Nathan Wardius, 18, 180cm, Rand-Walbundrie-Walla
GEELONG CATS vs ESSENDON
Sunday 16 July, 2:05pm, GMHBA Stadium
Head-to-head: Geelong 28-19-6. At GMHBA Stadium: Geelong 8-1. Streak: Geelong 3
GEELONG CATS
B: M. Cousins (69), B. Van De Heuvel (55), D. Capiron (50)
HB: M. Herbert (62), B. Lloyd (74), O. Mullin (34)
C: M. Knevitt (10), M. Hardie (41), C. Whyte (11)
HF: S. Menegola (27), S. Neale (33), B. Ham (47)
F: O. Dempsey (28), K. Annand (87), M. Chafer (61)
R: T. Conway (6), T. Clohesy (40), J. Chalcraft (57)
INT: H. Gottschling (77)*, T. Feely (68), J. Quick (54), T. Panuccio (64), W. Sheahan (72)
EMG: D. Schilder (51), B. Worme (63), W. Christie (71), J. Evans (65), T. Norton (67), T. Lovell (78)
IN: T. Conway, O. Dempsey, T. Feely, O. Mullin
OUT: B. Parfitt (hand), P. Foster (managed), W. Christie, J. Evans
ESSENDON
B: N. Hind (19), K. Baldwin (26), C. McBride (41)
HB: A. Lord (28), L. Hayes (18), R. Montgomerie (38)
C: M. D'Ambrosio (42), E. Tsatas (5), N. Cox (13)
HF: T. Wanganeen (40), P. Voss (39), A. Davey (33)
F: A. McDonald-Tipungwuti (43), J. Jorgensen (56), A. Munkara (45)
R: J. Hotchkin (64), B. Cootee (57), B. Laguda (62)
INT: T. Phillips (55), J. Fitzgerald (77), C. McCarty (79), J. Brown (63), M. Kiraly (78)*
EMG: W. Madden (66), B. Archard (50), J. Brown (61), A. Harris (71), J. Sutton (69), H. Minton-Connell (76)
IN: K. Baldwin, J. Brown, J. Hotchkin, B. Laguda
OUT: N. Bryan (AFL), B. Bernacki, S. Conforti, W. Madden
UMPIRES
Southport Sharks vs Richmond
FIELD: 3.Oliver Pye, 37.Sam Whetton, 48.Cam Manthey. BOUNDARY: Jacob Hudson, Adrian Pretorius, William Morris. GOAL: Kane Miller, Belinda Stewart.
Werribee vs Northern Bullants
FIELD: 8.Nick Scott, 27.Nick Jankovskis, 34.Joel Clamp. BOUNDARY: Corey Malcolm, Liam Pain, Dom Schiliro. GOAL: Chris Doyle, Matt Edwards.
North Melbourne vs Box Hill Hawks
FIELD: 13.Nick Brown, 24.Tom Bryce, 39.Jordan Fry, 43.James Strybos (all AFL). BOUNDARY: Adam Bell, Josh Blain, James Brayshaw, Lewis Spiker. GOAL: Luke Monea, Adam Steger.
Frankston vs Gws Giants
FIELD: 14.Luke Porter, 18.Jack Howard, 42.Nick McGinniss (AFL). BOUNDARY: John Cooper, Lachlan Higgs, Mitch O’Neill. GOAL: Josh Dudman-Doyle, Jack Stammers.
Geelong Cats vs Essendon
FIELD: 1.Andrew Talbot, 23.Sam Ferguson, 33.Kyle Van Raay. BOUNDARY: Sam Beer, Ben Rofe, Dan Urbans. GOAL: Jake Marnie, James Rizio.
