THE VFL competition is alive and well with two big upsets, a thrilling finish and a magical 10-goal haul highlighting a stunning Saturday afternoon on the east coast.

Starting with Southport full-forward Mitchell Johnson piling on 10 straight goals in the Sharks’ 109-point smacking of Aspley, the day only got more remarkable as Coburg broke a long drought against Port Melbourne, winless Sandringham stunned unbeaten Williamstown and Casey Demons pipped Geelong in a top-of-the-table thriller.

Coburg had lost 13 of its past 14 matches against Port Melbourne, but controlled the match for a convincing 36-point triumph at ETU Stadium.

The Lions took control from the start as Marcus Lentini had 19 disposals in the first quarter on his way to 38, but didn’t get reward for their efforts in kicking 3.7 to lead by 17 points.

The Borough cut the margin to three at the main break on the back of Eli Templeton (37 disposals, eight tackles) and Tom O’Sullivan (25), while Corey Wagner had 21 in his 50th VFL game, but their 12-man injury list proved too long to overcome.

Coburg edged to a nine-point lead at the final change and finally broke Port with a five-goal last term. Luke Bunker was best on ground with 34 disposals and 12 tackles, co-captain Peter McEvoy (four goals) proving hard to stop and Charlie Thompson continuing his fine form with 29 touches.

Sandringham upset Williamstown in this corresponding fixture at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval in 2019 and repeated the dose by nine points.

After a free-flowing first quarter produced four goals each, the Zebras broke the game open with five unanswered goals to start the second term and led by 23 at half-time.

And, unlike the fade-out against the Box Hill Hawks two weeks ago, Sandringham held firm despite Williamstown getting within five points at the 14-minute mark of the last term as Nick Ebinger kicked four goals.

St Kilda captain Jarryn Geary had 18 disposals in his first match back from January’s broken leg, while ruckman Paul Hunter (16 touches, 31 hitouts and a goal) dominated around the ground, Luke Dunstan again starred with 36 disposals, 10 marks and two goals and Mason Wood had 29 touches, eight marks and two goals in his 50th VFL appearance.

Johnson’s 10.0 blast for Southport at Graham Road is the best VFL return since Ben Warren slotted 11 for Werribee in 2013.

There was little sign of the carnage to come with the Sharks holding a nine-point lead at quarter-time, but they got better as the day went on and exploded with 10.5 to 0.2 in the last quarter as Johnson, who kicked 112 goals in 43 NEAFL matches, lifted his team into the top four.

Casey Demons celebrated Majak Daw’s 100th VFL game and moved to the top of the ladder with a thrilling one-point win over Geelong at Casey Fields.

The Demons lost Sam Weideman to AFL duty but found a dominant replacement in Mitch Brown, who kicked 4.3 in the second half of his first game of the year.

Daw (one goal) plucked some strong marks up forward as Austin Bradtke held his own against Rhys Stanley and Darcy Fort in the ruck, Tom Sparrow was important with 30, Neville Jetta (22) provided plenty of run and carry and Jay Lockhart produced a strong return from injury.

Charlie Constable (32, one goal) was his team’s best player but was quieter after the main break as Cory Stockdale locked down, while Irishman Stefan Okunbor (22, eight marks) was another to shine.

Ryan Clarke was unstoppable with 40 disposals and 3.2, and Dylan Stephens had 37 touches as Sydney outlasted Collingwood by 33 points at the SCG.

Swans ruckman Sam Naismith played the second half in his comeback from a knee reconstruction and had nine disposals and 19 hitouts.

Callum Coleman-Jones kicked five goals and debutant Cam Olden three while Josh Caddy had 32 touches and kicked two goals as Richmond blasted GWS by 97 points at the Swinburne Centre.

SATURDAY, MAY 15

Aspley 7.5 (47) lost to Southport 23.18 (156)

Port Melbourne 7.11 (53) lost to Coburg 12.17 (89)

Casey Demons 7.15 (57) def Geelong 8.8 (56)

Sandringham 13.9 (87) def Williamstown 11.12 (78)

Richmond 19.9 (123) def GWS Giants 3.8 (26)

Sydney 12.14 (86) def Collingwood 8.5 (53)

THURSDAY, MAY 13

Gold Coast 8.13 (61) lost to Brisbane Lions 19.7 (121)