FRANKSTON moved back into the VFL top eight with a workmanlike 28-point win over a gallant Sydney at Avalon Airport Oval on Sunday night.

The Dolphins wasted plenty of opportunities to put the Swans away early, but ultimately had too much experience on hand and now sit in a finals position after Round 12 for the first time since 2005.

Since then they have won six wooden spoons, lived in the bottom four and only once bettered the five wins they now have in 2021 as they build the confidence to challenge anybody on their day.

Frankston controlled play early but wastefulness from its forwards was saved by unusual avenues – ball magnet Nathan Freeman kicked just his 11th career goal in 53 games, while youngster Harry Loughnan and Jackson Voss hit the scoreboard for the first time in their careers.

Four unanswered goals either side of quarter-time to Ryan Clarke, Lewis Taylor and Hayden McLean (two) gave Sydney the lead as the Dolphins struggled to find a way past stand-in captain Colin O’Riordan, who put together a remarkable first half with 20 disposals and nine marks before finishing with 34 and 11.

The Dolphins edged back in front through Billy Mackay and Blake O’Leary. Jack Mentha bounced through a long-range goal on the half-time siren for a 12-point lead and they dominated the second half.

Freeman again caught leather poisoning to finish with 45 disposals, 15 marks and seven inside-50s, Will Arthurson played his best VFL game with 25 touches and 11 marks to challenge for best-on-ground honours, Josh Newman and Anthony Brolic also shone, while Mentha was lively around the ball.

James Rendell has a nervous wait after being reported for an incident with Kyle Skene late in the game.

O’Riordan should be in the votes for his outstanding performance, but he had plenty of mates as the Swans battled hard – usual stars Lewis Taylor (35), Dylan Stephens (32) and Ryan Clarke (39) had their own football, while Callum Sinclair rucked almost unchanged all night to have 17 disposals and 30 hitouts despite finishing under duress with an ankle problem.

Key defenders Will Gould – who took two huge marks – and Kaiden Brand were also terrific and a key reason why Frankston didn’t win by more.

On-loan Coburg player Josh Guthrie put in a great Lions audition on the wing with 27 disposals and seven tackles, while NAB League top-ups Sam Witherden, Fraser Marris and Logan Young – who has played for North Melbourne this year – all impressed.

Collingwood kept itself in touch with the top four after outlasting Sandringham by 18 points at the Holden Centre.

The Zebras kicked four goals to one in the opening term as they chased a fourth-straight win, but the Magpies took control with six to one in the second and held their opponents at bay throughout the second half despite their own profligacy.

Collingwood had 26 scoring shots to 13 and the top nine ballwinners as it racked up a whopping 415 disposals to 296, 113 marks to 80 and 52 inside-50s to 36.

First-year rookie Jack Ginnivan was the difference with a lively display up forward with 4.1, while Brayden Sier (30) continued his fine season alongside Callum Brown, Tom Wilson, Jay Rantall and Callan Wellings, while ruckman Max Lynch had the better of Paul Hunter and Sam Alabakis.

Darragh Joyce (22) was the only Sandringham player to reach 20 disposals, while skipper Dan Coffield, Oscar Lewis, Cooper Sharman and Oscar Clavarino all worked hard.

Footscray was forced to fight all the way to stay unbeaten and move to the top of the ladder, edging North Melbourne by 11 points at Whitten Oval.

There was nothing between the teams all day as the Kangaroos continued their remarkable development, fighting back from conceding six goals in the second term to get within three points in the last before the Bulldogs steadied.

Hayden Crozier was outstanding for Footscray with 28 disposals and 10 marks, while Lachlan McNeil (22, one goal), Robbie McComb (28, one goal) and Lewis Butler (22, two goals) were others to impress.

Charlie Lazzaro was North Melbourne’s best player, relishing a move into the middle with 29 touches and a goal, and skipper Flynn Appleby wasn’t far behind at full back, enjoying 23 disposals and 11 marks while keeping Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to one goal from six possessions.

Ex-Hawk Harry Jones (34, one goal) led the stats sheet in another fine outing and Tom Campbell again dominated the ruck with 26 disposals, 48 hitouts and a goal.

Jed Anderson made a solid return for the Kangaroos after three months out with an ankle injury, having nine disposals in 40 minutes of game time, while Jared Polec had 30 and a major in his second game back, but mid-season draftee Charlie Ham finished the match early with his own ankle problem.

Twitter: @BRhodesVFL

SUNDAY, JULY 4

Collingwood 11.15 (81) def Sandringham 10.3 (63) (Match Centre)
Footscray 10.7 (67) def North Melbourne 8.8 (56) (Match Centre)
Sydney 6.8 (44) lost to Frankston 9.18 (72) (Match Centre)

SATURDAY, JULY 3

Box Hill Hawks 15.21 (111) def Gold Coast 5.9 (39) (Match Centre)
Coburg 15.9 (99) def Carlton 9.8 (62) (Match Centre)
Northern Bullants 8.7 (55) def Richmond 5.12 (42) (Match Centre)
Casey Demons 7.12 (54) lost to GWS Giants 8.7 (55) (Match Centre)

FRIDAY, JULY 2

Geelong 16.6 (102) def Essendon 3.9 27 (Match Centre)

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