TWO more games were played in NSW as the VFL was able to keep ticking over north of the border while the sabbatical continued for another week in Melbourne, and there were some remarkable achievements once again, with a match-winning goal on the siren and an old-fashioned full-forward shootout at the top of the list.
GWS is back in finals contention, while the situation now looks grim for crosstown rivals Sydney after another home defeat … in Queensland, Gold Coast is still up against it while Aspley is building towards next year.
ROUND NINE ACTION Full match reports from the VFL
Here are the stars of Round nine as we all hope for a full weekend of football in Round 10.
JAKE RICCARDI (GWS GIANTS)
The former Werribee star once again proved himself too good for VFL level with a powerhouse display.
After his 41 disposals and 19 marks in an unfamiliar centre half-back role against Southport in Round 3, Riccardi returned to the goalsquare this time and terrorised the Aspley defence to kick 8.4 – the second-best individual haul of the season – from 14 marks, 18 kicks and six handballs.
JOEL JEFFREY (GOLD COAST)
The talented son of former St Kilda and Brisbane player Russell Jeffrey joined the Suns as a Northern Territory Zone selection this season and has started to find his feet in the past three matches with seven goals.
He kicked two goals in Gold Coast’s epic third-quarter comeback and then was as cool as a cucumber in slotting a set shot on the siren to give the Suns their first VFL away win (after eight losses and a draw) in their 100th NEAFL/VFL away match.
Jeffrey finished the game with 14 disposals, seven marks and three goals and now has 9.7 from six appearances as he builds towards an AFL debut.
MATTHEW HAMMELMANN (ASPLEY)
The big man just keeps dominating the Hornets’ goalsquare, with his third six-goal haul taking him to an accurate 31.14 and a nine-goal lead in the Frosty Miller Medal as he chases his third league leading-goalkicker award in a row.
He kicked 6.2 from 14 disposals and nine marks, and would simply be hoping for some support – apart from Connor Stackelberg (16) and Jack Rolls (7), no other Aspley player has kicked more than four majors.
BRAYDEN FIORINI (GOLD COAST)
There are a few players carving it up at VFL level who must feel as if they can’t do any more to break into the AFL, and Fiorini is one of those.
His season-best performance of 19 kicks, 26 handballs, nine marks, eight clearances and a goal dragged the Suns back into the game against Sydney when all seemed lost and gave him an average of 32.3 disposals and seven marks in six VFL games to surely put himself back into Stuart Dew’s attention.
KIEREN BRIGGS (GWS GIANTS)
The Giants Academy graduate is enjoying a fine season in the ruck and was far too good for Aspley’s James Ivers and fill-in second ruck Isaac Corvo.
Another Pennant Hills product, Briggs had 17 kicks, six handballs, six marks, 28 hitouts, 12 clearances and kicked a goal to give his team a 43-20 domination at the coalface.
He is now averaging 17.6 disposals, 5.6 marks and 28.4 hitouts and has already earned an AFL debut this year – game No.2 won’t be far away on this form.
CALLUM SINCLAIR (SYDNEY)
On the outer at the Swans with the brilliant form of recruit Tom Hickey, Sinclair couldn’t have done much more to put his hand up as a second ruck option should John Longmire choose to employ one in the second half of the season.
He had nine kicks, 11 handballs, six marks, 36 hitouts, four clearances and a goal to outclass young Suns Patrick Murtagh and Ryan Pickering, and it was no responsibility of his that the Swans threw away a 38-point lead approaching half-time.
Twitter: @BRhodesVFL
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