A review of all the action from Round 16 of the 2024 Smithy’s VFL season.
SYDNEY SWANS vs NORTH MELBOURNE
SYDNEY SWANS 1.3 2.4 7.5 12.7 (79)
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.1 5.4 9.5 13.6 (84)
NORTH Melbourne put itself back within percentage of the Smithy’s VFL top 10 after a late Cooper Harvey goal saw the Kangaroos claim a character-building five-point win over Sydney in a thrilling finish at Tramway Oval on Saturday.
The Kangaroos had led all day but were headed late by a long Aaron Francis behind before Harvey put himself in the right place at the right time, getting on the end of one last push forward to run onto the ball in the goal square and reclaim the lead.
The visitors still had some nervous moments when Jake Bartholomaeus marked for Sydney on the 50 seconds before the siren, but his kick to win the game sailed out on the full as the inconsistent Swans fell to a fourth-consecutive loss in their home state to miss the chance to move back into a Wildcard position.
North Melbourne jumped the Swans in the first quarter, dominating general play to take a 16-point lead at the opening break with Zac Fisher on fire off half-back, Hugh Greenwood powerful around the stoppages and Jack Watkins, Charlie Lazzaro and Will Phillips showing the home team a clean pair of heels.
The Kangaroos extended the margin to as much as 30 points when Tyler Sellers kicked his second goals at the 12-minute mark of the third term before Sydney woke up, kicking the next four goals.
Zane Duursma bobbed up with his second and third goal to seemingly seal the deal for the visiting side.
But the Swans kept coming, taking the lead on the back of strong form from Francis, who had 22 disposals and took eight marks but gave away a 100m penalty in a moment of ill-discipline in the second quarter that proved to be crucial in the final wash-up.
Sam Reid (19 disposals, six marks, two goals), Tom Hanily (14 disposals, three goals) and Jaiden Magor were also good.
SOUTHPORT SHARKS vs BOX HILL HAWKS
SOUTHPORT SHARKS 5.3 8.7 10.11 16.11 (107)
BOX HILL HAWKS 1.1 3.4 6.7 7.12 (54)
SOUTHPORT climbed back into the top four with an ominous 53-point thrashing of fellow contender Box Hill Hawks at Fankhauser Reserve.
The Sharks booted four goals inside the first 10 minutes and never looked back, getting out by 40 points early in the second term before the Hawks worked hard to minimise the damage, cutting the deficit to 20 points late in the third term.
Matt Shannon kicked a crucial goal late to establish a 27-point break for the Shark turning for home and that sparked the second surge as the home team banged on another six goals to one in the last quarter to seal a big win with four matches remaining until the finals.
Southport controlled possession, taking a whopping 153 marks to 88 headed by big numbers for midfielders Boyd Woodcock (28 disposals, 11 marks) and Jacob Dawson (32 disposals, 10 marks) and defenders Matt McGuinness (16 disposals, 11 marks) and Rhys Clark (17 disposals, 10 marks), with 18 players remarkably taking at least five.
Jacob Heron (25 disposals, seven marks, two goals), Hugh Dixon (three goals) and Brayden Crossley (30 hitouts, nine tackles, one goal) were also important, but Jacob Townsend’s comeback match was unfortunately cut short when he was forced off with concussion in the second term.
Box Hill’s defeat, meanwhile, left it hanging onto a top six berth by percentage but still a comfortable two games and percentage inside the 10.
Hawthorn trio Finn Maginness (28 disposals), Henry Hustwaite (25 disposals, eight clearances) and Jai Serong (23 disposals, seven marks, nine rebounds) put up their hands for AFL recalls, while skipper Cal Porter (20 disposals, 10 tackles, one goal) again worked hard as he nears his 100th VFL game.
COLLINGWOOD vs GEELONG CATS
COLLINGWOOD 4.2 7.3 8.5 11.8 (74)
GEELONG CATS 3.2 6.5 10.9 15.13 (103)
GEELONG stepped it up a notch in the second half to overrun Collingwood by 29 points and regain its spot in the top four while sending the Magpies spiralling to an 11th consecutive defeat at AIA Vitality Centre.
In a match moved from Victoria Park a day prior to the first bounce, the Magpies threatened an upset early when comeback star Dan McStay kicked the opening goal, sparking a run that saw them open a 19-point lead midway through the second term.
But the Cats gradually started to take control, kicking four goals either side of half-time before seeing off a Pies rally as George Stevens provided the straw that broke the camel’s back with a goal the stroke of three quarter-time.
The first two majors of the last term secured the points and although Collingwood was able to keep the margin from blowing out, the Cats always had an answer, eventually racking up 405 disposals to 330 and finishing with 21 more inside-50s.
Geelong’s abundance of midfield riches was on full display as it took over, with Ted Clohesy (31 disposals, two goals), Brandan Parfitt (36 disposals, nine clearances), Stevens (30 disposals, one goal) and Mitch Hardie (27 disposals, two goals) all starring underneath veteran ruckman Rhys Stanley (23 disposals, six marks, 32 hitouts, one goal).
Sam Glover (28 disposals, nine marks, 10 rebounds) was again Collingwood’s best with an assured performance in defence, with Jack Bytel (33 disposals, nine entries, one goal) and Campbell Lane (25 disposals, six marks, six rebounds) again providing strong support.
Ben Crocker (three goals) returned to form and McStay had seven touches and one goal in a half of game time.
WERRIBEE vs COBURG
WERRIBEE 5.4 8.7 14.13 19.16 (130)
COBURG 3.2 4.3 4.5 7.9 (51)
WERRIBEE celebrated club stalwart Louis Pinnuck’s 100th VFL game in style, cruising past a committed but outclassed Coburg by 79 points at Avalon Airport Oval.
Pinnuck had his guernsey presented to him by Test great Merv Hughes, who played 93 games in the No.9 before turning his sole attention to cricket and he turned in another consistent display of 16 disposals and seven marks off half-back.
The Tigers took a while to shake the Lions, with the teams going goal for goal in the first 25 minutes before late majors to Angus Hicks and Hudson Garoni broke the game open and the home side took full control in the third quarter in particular, with 6.6 to 0.2.
Riley Bice was a clear best afield for Werribee, taking 10 marks in the first half and finishing with 14 grabs and 29 disposals, while Dom Brew (27 disposals, 12 clearances, 11 tackles, two goals) was again dominant.
Jack Henderson (25 disposals, one goal) and Jack Riding (26 disposals, one goal) performed well, Harry Grintell (20 disposals) impressed on the wing and Daly Andrews had 14 touches and five marks in his 50th game.
Garoni (12 marks, four goals) was simply too strong for a Lions defence that lost Rhys Galvin to a hamstring injury in the first half and small forward Zac Banch turned in a breakout performance, booting 4.2 from 17 disposals.
The only downside for Werribee was its own hamstring injury to captain Nick Coughlan, which with Nathan Cooper (ankle) also out will put pressure on the vaunted backline.
Flynn Gentile worked overtime to break a tag and gather 29 disposals, eight clearances and seven inside-50s to be Coburg’s best, just ahead of ruckman Cooper Keogh, who marked his return to the team with a powerful 52-hitout, 21-disposal display.
That gave Gentile, Joel Trudgeon (24 disposals, eight clearances, eight tackles, one goal), Lachlan Walker (24 disposals), Donovan Toohey (30 disposals) and Braedyn Gillard (22 disposals, one goal) plenty of opportunities.
NORTHERN BULLANTS vs FRANKSTON
NORTHERN BULLANTS 1.1 2.3 7.3 10.4 (64)
FRANKSTON 3.5 8.9 10.12 13.14 (92)
MATT Johnson snagged a career-best six goals and Frankston recorded seven wins in a season for the first time since its last finals appearance in 2008 after cruising past the Northern Bullants by 28 points at Genis Steel Oval.
The Dolphins’ fifth-straight win over the Bullants came on the back of a dominant first half where they booted eight goals to two to lead by 42 points at the main change before the home team gamely fought back to kick five majors in the third term and break even in the last.
Johnson only kicked one snag in the first half effort but stepped up after the main break to add all five of Frankston’s goals after half time to finish with 6.1 from 15 disposals in an outstanding display of goalkicking from all areas.
His efforts capped off a strong midfield showing from the usual suspects of Trent Mynott, who had 32 disposals, took 13 marks and kicked the 50th goal of his VFL career, Seb Quirk (31 disposals, seven clearances) and Tom Murphy (31 disposals, six clearances).
Blake O’Leary (25 disposals, one goal) impressed on the wing and Jackson Voss (24 disposals), Tyson Milne (23 disposals) and the returning George Grey (21 disposals, eight marks) provided great rebound from defence.
Liam Mackie (34 disposals, seven clearances), Jean-Luc Velissaris (32 disposals), Patrick Fairlie (29 disposals) and Matt King (27 disposals) were excellent as always for the Bullants, with Ethan Mantas (19 disposals, six rebounds) and Felix Dreher (23 disposals, 11 rebounds) also contributing.
WILLIAMSTOWN vs SANDRINGHAM
WILLIAMSTOWN 2.3 6.9 9.10 12.11 (83)
SANDRINGHAM 2.2 4.2 7.6 9.9 (63)
WILLIAMSTOWN recorded the 1400th victory in its storied history and climbed within percentage of the top six with a hard-fought 20-point win over Sandringham at DSV Stadium.
The Seagulls hadn’t defeated the Zebras since the infamous monsoon game in 2018 and desperately needed a win after four defeats in their past five games saw them crash from second spot to ninth, but they led almost all day.
The Seagulls moved ahead by 30 points early in the third before Sandringham edged back within nine when Matt Allison booted his fifth goal five minutes into the last, but the Seagulls had the answers with Brodie McLaughlin completing his own handful as they slammed on the next three majors.
McLaughlin had a field day for Williamstown, taking 11 marks on his way 18 disposals, and he could have had a career day considering he kicked 5.6, capping off the performances of Joel Fitzgerald, who returned from suspension to have 29 disposals, six inside-50s and seven rebounds.
Will Fordham (25 disposals, seven marks, one goal), James Cousins (24 disposals, six marks) and the recalled Jack McHale (23 disposals) impressed through the middle, Luke Parks and Jake Greiser again led the defence and Oscar Sasalu kicked a goal on debut as a late inclusion for Corey Ellison, with Noah Gadsby having eight touches in his 50th appearance.
Allison was averaging 7.7 disposals and had only managed seven goals in nine matches, but rediscovered his best with 19 disposals, six marks and 5.2, and Sandringham needs more of that to break a four-game losing run that has cost it a spot in the top 10 for the first time since Round 7.
Max Heath (15 disposals, six marks, 21 hitouts, two goals) and Tom Campbell (18, 35 hitouts, one goal) wore down Tom Downie, Darby Hipwell had 28 possessions, 10 clearances and seven tackles in a sparkling 50th game, Liam Stocker bounced back with 25 touches, eight marks and nine rebounds, Seb Ross (21 possessions, 14 tackles, one goal) got his hands dirty and Olli Hotton (26 possessions) made his presence felt.
RICHMOND vs GOLD COAST SUNS
RICHMOND 4.2 6.3 12.4 15.6 (96)
GOLD COAST SUNS 3.0 6.0 8.0 11.4 (70)
RICHMOND sunk the reigning premier for the second time this year to put itself on the brink of securing a finals berth, outplaying Gold Coast from start to finish to win by 26 points at Swinburne Centre on Sunday.
The Tigers made an early statement when they ruined the Suns’ flag unfurling celebrations in Round 1 and proved it was no fluke to convincingly win the game despite the visitors being flawless in front of goal for three quarters.
Despite a horror injury list, Richmond took control with a blast of four goals in six minutes in the third quarter and then held the premiers at bay to move within percentage of the top six while dropping the Suns a game behind and in danger of falling from the 10.
The Tigers won comfortably despite losing the inside-50 count 55-37, with Lachlan Wilson (25 disposals, nine clearances, 10 tackles, two goals) producing the best game of his career.
Austin Johnson (23 disposals, two goals) roamed far and wide, developing ruckman Oliver Hayes-Brown dominating the air with a massive 63 hitouts and Kaleb Smith (22 disposals, nine tackles, seven rebounds) performed well in defence, while Jacob Bauer returned from injury to kick three majors from limited opportunities.
Gold Coast’s prime movers won plenty of the ball, led by Brayden Fiorini (35 disposals) and Thomas Berry (34 disposals, one goal), while Rory Atkins (32 disposals, 12 marks, one goal), James Tsitas (31 disposals, nine clearances, nine tackles) and Jack Mahony (28 disposals nine tackles, one goal) were also prolific and Academy prospect Lachlan Gulbin booted three goals.
However, the Suns could have more issues with first-year player Will Rowlands offered a four-match suspension for rough conduct following a bump on Chad Harris.
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS vs CARLTON
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS 2.4 4.7 9.9 13.10 (88)
CARLTON 3.0 5.3 7.4 12.7 (79)
FOOTSCRAY moved a game clear in second spot on the ladder, but it was not without plenty of nervy moments as it held off a plucky Carlton by nine points at Mission Whitten Oval.
George Hewett put on a football masterclass as the 19th-placed but strengthened Blues outfit took it right up to the second-placed Bulldogs, leading at quarter time and half time and still being nine points in front when Harry Lemmey kicked his second goal in the 14th minute of the third term.
But the Bulldogs made the decisive break, kicking four goals in 11 minutes to end the quarter with a 17-point advantage before answering every challenge Carlton threw at them in a thrilling final term that had fans of both teams on the edge of their seats as Riley Garcia and Anthony Scott proved impossible to contain.
Garcia (34 disposals, 10 clearances, 17 tackles, two goals) was unbelievable and it is hard to see how he doesn’t get back in the AFL team despite the Bulldogs’ great win at that level, while Scott (33 disposals, 10 clearances) and Caleb Daniel (29 disposals, seven clearances, nine tackles) put similar pressure on the selection committee.
Hewett (34 disposals, 10 clearances, 12 tackles, one goal) should be impossible to keep out of a Carlton AFL team that has lost its past two games, while Jack Carroll overcame an injury scare to have 30 touches, while Will Hayes continued his remarkable comeback with another 29 possessions.
Liam McMahon kicked three goals to close within two of Billy Gowers in the Frosty Miller Medal race but faces at least one match on the sidelines after being cited for rough conduct on Jedd Busslinger.
CASEY DEMONS vs ESSENDON
CASEY DEMONS 4.4 7.5 10.11 13.12 (90)
ESSENDON 0.1 4.4 7.6 10.8 (68)
CASEY Demons stretched their dominance over Essendon to 10 matches over nine years with a 22-point victory at Casey Fields.
The Demons haven’t lost to the Bombers since the 2015 elimination final and it looked apparent that run would not break when they kicked four unanswered goals to lead by 27 points at quarter-time.
The Bombers fired a couple of shots, getting within eight midway through the second term and five when Jye Menzie kicked his third goal in the 10th minute of the last term, but Casey steadied with the last three goals to seal the deal.
Bailey Laurie and Jack Billings were a class above as they racked up 32 disposals and kicked two goals each, with Laurie adding 11 tackles, eight clearances and eight inside-50s and Billings taking nine marks and winning seven clearances.
Blake Howes (25 disposals, nine marks), Adam Tomlinson (23 disposals, six marks) and Tom Fullarton (21 disposals, one goal) were also important.
Young guns Elijah Tsatas (34 disposals, 14 clearances), Ben Hobbs (30 disposals, 11 tackles) and Archie Roberts (25 disposals, seven rebounds) starred for the Bombers, with skipper Xavier O’Neill (24 disposals, six marks) and vice-captain Jackson Hately (23 disposals) also putting in good shifts, while small forwards Menzie and Jayden Davey booted three goals each.