All the teams for the Smithy’s VFL qualifying and elimination finals.

The big boys are coming out to play on a Super Saturday of Smithy’s VFL finals action, with a host of AFL stars named to return from injury or lay down another bid for AFL finals selection.

Geelong full back Sam de Koning and 200-gamer Gary Rohan, Western Bulldogs stars Jason Johannisen and Rhylee West, Brisbane Lions key defender Jack Payne and Hawthorn dynamo Changkuoth Jiath headline a who’s who of inclusions for a massive day of finals footy.

They aren’t the only big inclusions among this week’s team selections, with gun Werribee defender Nathan Cooper set to return from an ankle injury to take on the Cats, who also named Mark O’Connor, Mitch Knevitt, Ted Clohesy and Oisin Mullin.

Southport has regained key forward Wylie Buzza to meet Frankston at Fankhauser Reserve in a match that doubles as champion mid-forward Boyd Woodcock’s 100th State League match.

Caleb Poulter and Buku Khamis have been named alongside Johannisen and West for Footscray, while Lions’ star Payne is joined in the inclusions by Deven Robertson, Bruce Reville, Shadeau Brain, Brandon Ryan, James Tunstill, Harry Sharp and Henry Smith.

Meanwhile, Jiath has Chad Wingard, Ned Reeves, Bailey Macdonald, Jai Serong and Ed Phillips coming in alongside him as the Box Hill Hawks aim to celebrate the 100th VFL appearance of captain Cal Porter in the right way.

Cooper’s return for Werribee at Avalon Airport Oval comes at the expense of mid-season recruit Jay Rantall, who has been ruled out for three weeks with a hamstring injury.

Geelong has lost only one AFL-lister from its Round 21 team in Jed Bews, who was promoted last week, with Tanner Lovell and Hamish Lucas among the unlucky omissions.

The Tigers also have Nick Coughlan, Angus Hicks and Stefan Radovanovic on their injury list compared to the Cats’ Bailey van der Heuvel, Tanner Lewis and Jamieson Ballantyne.

Buzza, who missed Southport’s win over North Melbourne with illness, returns to stretch a Frankston defence that might have extra work to do after star midfielder Tom Murphy was ruled out for the season with an ankle injury sustained in last week’s remarkable upset of Gold Coast.

It is a significant blow for the Dolphins, with Murphy likely to have lined up on either Woodcock or Jacob Dawson.

Ryan Jacobs gets his chance for the Dolphins, who are also missing Max Williams and Tomo Owens, while Zach Molloy was the unlucky Shark to make way, joining Max Pescud and Jacob Townsend in the stands.

Kelsey Rypstra’s season is over for Footscray after a serious hamstring injury against Sydney in Round 21, with Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal nominee Josh Kellett among those to lose their spots in the team.

The Lions have rested Conor McKenna and Noah Answerth, with Will Martyn dropped alongside a handful of Academy prospects.

The Bulldogs and Lions will each field 18 AFL-listed players, with names such as Dan Orgill, Cooper Craig-Peters and Cam Owen (Footscray) and Kyle Dunkley, Ewan Macpherson, Tahj Abberley and Jack Manly boosting the quality of the contest even further.

Williamstown has lost brilliant interceptor Luke Parks for the season with a broken leg and wingman Max Philpot to injury, recalling backman Harry Minton-Connell and forward Jovan Petric in their place.

For the Hawks, Christian Moraes returns to the Eastern Ranges and AFL-listed ruckman Clay Tucker heads an impressive list of Box Hill omissions that also features Andreas Stefanakis and Daniel Wood.

The Hawks have both Brown brothers on the unavailable list alongside Ben Cavarra and James Parsons, but the Seagulls’ list of absentees is longer, with Parks and Philpot joining Fin O’Dwyer, Mitch Cox, Noah Gadsby and Darby Henderson in the stands.

All matches in the 2024 Smithy’s VFL and VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website, AFL Live Official App and VFL App.

Smithy’s VFL broadcast partner, the Seven Network, will broadcast select matches live and free on the Seven Network in Victoria and on 7plus nationally. This week’s broadcast matches will be Werribee vs Geelong Cats and Box Hill Hawks vs Williamstown.

The Bulldogs vs Lions clash will be broadcast on Casey Radio and the Hawks vs Seagulls also on 3WBC.

WERRIBEE vs GEELONG CATS

First Qualifying Final, Saturday 31 August, 12:00pm, Avalon Airport Oval

WERRIBEE
B: C. Whyte (4), S. Azzi (19), N. Cooper (18)
HB: L. Pinnuck (9), J. Clark (27), R. Bice (26)
C: N. Hayes (7), D. Brew (29), H. Grintell (16)
HF: J. Dahlhaus (24), A. Johnson (17), J. Riding (33)
F: K. Annand (10), H. Garoni (1), S. Paea (32)
R: S. Conway (50), J. Henderson (8), J. Smith (35)
INT: M. Keast (15), F. Young (20), Z. Banch (36), C. Thar (45), B. Malual (22)
EMG: M. Selsby (14), C. McLeod (31), C. Byrne (43)

IN: N. Cooper
OUT: J. Rantall (hamstring)

GEELONG CATS
B: O. Wiltshire (21), M. O'Connor (42), O. Murdoch (31)
HB: C. O'Sullivan (14), E. Jeka (43), M. Knevitt (10)
C: G. Stevens (15), G. Rohan (23), M. Hardie (41)
HF: S. De Koning (16), D. Capiron (50), J. Willis (20)
F: T. Clohesy (40), P. Foster (19), J. Clark (13)
R: J. Furphy (37), B. Parfitt (3), O. Mullin (34)
INT: K. Chalcraft (58), K. Bradtke (48), P. Hughes (64), M. Herbert (62), L. Antonac (79)
EMG: J. Sarcevic (52), T. Murray (61), T. White (63), D. Edmends (53), R. Eyers (75), T. Lovell (78), H. Lucas (82), J. Pike (84)

IN: T. Clohesy, S. De Koning, M. Knevitt, O. Mullin, M. O'Connor, G. Rohan
OUT: J. Bews (AFL), J. Pike (Geelong Falcons), E. Borys, T. Lovell, H. Lucas, J. Sarcevic

MATCH INFO
Head-to-Head: Geelong 21-13
At Avalon Airport Oval: Werribee 7-6
Streak: Werribee 1
This Season: Round 1: Geelong 7.8 (50) def by Werribee 16.7 (103) at GMHBA Stadium
Finals Head-to-Head: Geelong 2-2
Finals Record: Werribee 23-31, Geelong 16-11

SOUTHPORT SHARKS vs FRANKSTON

First Elimination Final, Saturday 31 August, 12:05pm, Fankhauser Reserve

SOUTHPORT SHARKS
B: B. Jepson (11), N. Williams (30), M. Spencer (6)
HB: M. Willis (10), W. Sexton (27), J. Joyce (25)
C: M. Manteit (4), M. Shannon (16), M. McGuinness (14)
HF: W. Buzza (15), Z. Foot (2), J. Edwards (21)
F: J. Sexton (28), H. Dixon (29), J. Dawson (3)
R: B. Crossley (20), J. Heron (5), B. Woodcock (1)
INT: C. Lake (33), J. Lockhart (12), K. Gray (17), R. Clark (18), B. Aston (32)
EMG: Z. Molloy (8), R. Bowman (7), E. Reardon (26), W. Derrington (39), A. Hall (31), R. Banks-Smith (24), J. Morgan (36), C. Webster (38)

IN: W. Buzza
OUT: Z. Molloy

FRANKSTON
B: T. Milne (15), K. Stainthorpe (29), T. Barlow (3)
HB: J. Lloyd (18), J. Smith (25), B. O'Leary (10)
C: G. Grey (6), J. Newnes (14), N. Burke (17)
HF: R. Jacobs (23), N. Gown (1), T. Mynott (12)
F: J. Butland (8), J. Davies (35), M. Johnson (24)
R: A. Grant (19), L. Riley (21), S. Quirk (11)
INT: J. Stern (33), O. Moran (28), J. Voss (13), T. Campbell-Farrell (26), L. Reidy (2)
EMG: A. McComb (20), J. Burton (40), M. Nelson (32), J. Mounter (38)

IN: R. Jacobs
OUT: T. Murphy (ankle)

MATCH INFO
Head-to-Head: Southport 3-0
At Fankhauser Reserve: Southport 2-0
Streak: Southport 3
This Season: Round 9: Southport 16.9 (105) def Frankston 8.9 (57) at Fankhauser Reserve
Finals Head-to-Head: Never met
Finals Record: Southport 7-7, Frankston 12-25

FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS vs BRISBANE LIONS

Second Qualifying Final, Saturday 31 August, 1:05pm, Mission Whitten Oval

FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS
B: R. Gardner (43), L. Smith (40), C. Clarke (8)
HB: D. Bedendo (26), A. Scott (28), R. Garcia (38)
C: J. Johannisen (39), L. Cleary (36), R. West (14)
HF: C. Poulter (25), N. Coffield (17), B. Khamis (24)
F: J. Harmes (22), J. Busslinger (5), R. Sanders (9)
R: A. Keath (42), O. Baker (13), A. Jones (32)
INT: C. Owen (62), C. Craig-Peters (61), D. Orgill (50), J. Gilbee (69), D. Moloney (75)*
EMG: J. Kellett (57), T. Bianco (58), E. Hunt (56), P. Spicer (63), C. Hargraves (72)

IN: J. Johannisen, B. Khamis, C. Poulter, R. West
OUT: K. Rypstra (hamstring), C. Hargraves, E. Hunt, J. Kellett

BRISBANE LIONS
B: L. Beecken (47), J. Payne (40), Z. Zakostelsky (21)
HB: J. Prior (20), S. Brain (34), J. Madden (14)
C: D. Robertson (2), J. Tunstill (29), B. Reville (38)
HF: J. Lyons (17), B. Ryan (24), L. Lloyd (19)
F: W. McLachlan (42), H. Smith (25), D. Craven (50)
R: D. Fort (32), H. Sharp (22), R. Torrent (36)
INT: T. Abberley (48), K. Dunkley (52), E. Macpherson (54), L. Hude (59)*, J. Manly (62)
EMG: W. Martyn (55), W. Greenaway (53), B. McDonald (66), D. Lloyd (65)

IN: S. Brain, J. Payne, B. Reville, D. Robertson, B. Ryan, H. Sharp, H. Smith, J. Tunstill
OUT: N. Answerth, C. McKenna (managed), W. Greenaway, W. Martyn, B. McDonald, B. Richardson, B. Reeves, B. Thomas

MATCH INFO
Head-to-Head: Brisbane Lions 3-0
At Mission Whitten Oval: Brisbane Lions 1-0
Streak: Brisbane Lions 3
This Season: Round 11: Footscray Bulldogs 14.11 (95) def by Brisbane Lions 17.11 (113) at Mission Whitten Oval
Finals Head-to-Head: Never met
Finals Record: Footscray 25-21-2, Brisbane Lions 13-5

BOX HILL HAWKS vs WILLIAMSTOWN

Second Elimination Final, Saturday 31 August, 3:00pm, Box Hill City Oval

BOX HILL HAWKS
B: W. McCabe (27), Et. Phillips (37), S. Mitchell (40)
HB: J. Serong (29), B. Macdonald (42), B. Ryan (26)
C: C. Jiath (9), H. Hustwaite (44), Ed. Phillips (60)
HF: C. Stephens (21), C. Porter (55), J. Scaife (39)
F: C. Wingard (20), M. Ramsden (38), J. O'Sullivan (43)
R: N. Reeves (7), F. Maginness (32), J. Ward (25)
INT: J. Thorpe (57), S. Horner (62), D. Grainger-Barras (24), J. Arundell (61), N. Philactides (51)*
EMG: D. Wood (68), S. Amoroso (73), C. Tucker (45), B. De Bolfo (77), A. Stefanakis (65), J. Rule (59), A. Mathieson (72), K. Agosta (78)

IN: C. Jiath, B. Macdonald, Ed. Phillips, N. Reeves, J. Serong, C. Wingard
OUT: C. Moraes (Eastern Ranges), K. Agosta, A. Mathieson, A. Stefanakis, C. Tucker, D. Wood

WILLIAMSTOWN
B: C. Polson (5), A. Bonar (25), J. Greiser (18)
HB: L. Conway (34), J. Petric (24), R. Stoddart (15)
C: B. Coleman (27), J. Toner (14), J. McHale (32)
HF: T. Triffett (23), C. Ellison (1), B. McLaughlin (6)
F: N. Ebinger (26), R. Collier-Dawkins (9), J. Brown (28)
R: T. Downie (11), J. Cousins (10), W. Fordham (7)
INT: H. Minton-Connell (16), N. Colenso (35), J. Fitzgerald (8), C. Rich (3), L. Impey (45)
EMG: M. Ktona (33), B. Andrews (29), L. Grego (40), D. Weeks (46), J. Browne (12), O. Sasalu (37)

IN: H. Minton-Connell, J. Petric
OUT: L. Parks (leg), M. Philpot (injured)

MATCH INFO
Head-to-Head: Williamstown 61-33-3
At Box Hill City Oval: Williamstown 29-18-1
Streak: Box Hill Hawks 1
This Season: Round 18: Box Hill Hawks 13.12 (90) def Williamstown 10.8 (68) at Box Hill City Oval
Finals Head-to-Head: Williamstown 8-4
Finals Record: Box Hill Hawks 36-29, Williamstown 81-63-1

UMPIRES

WERRIBEE vs GEELONG CATS
FIELD: 4. Sam Whetton, 14. Luke Porter, 18. Jack Howard, emg: 12. Connor Hawes. BOUNDARY: Trent Bowes, Anthony Laughton, Mitch O’Neill, Lachlan Perdon. GOAL: Nick Ford, James Rizio, emg: Brad Kellett

SOUTHPORT SHARKS vs FRANKSTON
FIELD: 8. Nick Scott, 19. Cam Williams, 23. Sam Ferguson, emg: 11. Cam Manthey. BOUNDARY: Harry Bell, Ben Duce, Corey Malcolm, Adrian Pretorius. GOAL: Kane Miller, John Varker, emg: Darcie Rehbein.

FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS vs BRISBANE LIONS
FIELD: 16. Joe O’Brien, 26. Jordyn Pearson, 34. Joel Clamp, emg: 44. Sam Hurford. BOUNDARY: Sam Button Mitch Dorling, Ryan Hickey, Lachlan Menara. GOAL: Matt Edwards, Jack Stammers, emg: Josh Dudman-Doyle.

BOX HILL HAWKS vs WILLIAMSTOWN
FIELD: 1. Andrew Talbot, 2. Lachlan Coyne, 32. Michael Willcox, emg: 33. Kyle van Raay. BOUNDARY: John Cooper, Harry Hansford, Zach Mousaco, Dom Schiliro. GOAL: Luke Monea, Adam Steger, emg: Josh Hickman.