FOOTSCRAY 12.12 (84)
SOUTHPORT 13.11 (89)
FOURTEEN points down 24 minutes into the final quarter, playing interstate against last year’s undefeated minor premiers having endured a flight cancellation and a match postponement, all while being without the star full-forward and ruckman.
There were plenty of excuses for Southport to go down to Footscray in their Smithy’s VFL clash at Victoria University Whitten Oval, but the fact the Sharks kicked the last three goals to pinch a heartstopping five-point win should go down as the best of their 13 triumphs since the former NEAFL clubs were integrated into the league at the start of last year.
The Bulldogs, who got out by as much as 22 points early in the last term as they looked to kickstart their own listing start to the year despite also being without several stars from last week including Robbie McComb, skipper Lachie Sullivan, Josh Schache, Stefan Martin and Roarke Smith, still looked home when Jarrod Gilbee put them 14 points clear at the 23-minute mark.
But Sharks back-up ruckman Fraser Thurlow put on a remarkable sidestep and dobbed a long bomb a minute later and Jacob Dawson hit the post with a set shot from a 50m penalty before a Zac Foot snap for his third and a brilliant Tom Fields goal from downtown put them in front on 29 minutes.
There was one more twist when Footscray’s Louis Butler marked 48 metres out near the boundary as the siren sounded, but his shot from outside the arc sailed wide to start the Southport celebrations.
The one-two midfield punch of Dawson (35 disposals, 15 clearances, five inside-50s, 10 tackles) and Boyd Woodcock (27 disposals, nine clearances, six inside-50s, 11 tackles) were again unstoppable for the Sharks, while Thurlow was outstanding filling in for Crossley with 15 touches, five marks, 46 hitouts and two last-quarter goals.
Rhys Clark had 16 and eight rebounds in his 50th Sharks game, Dan Charlesworth had nine and a goal in his 50th State league appearance, Foot took five marks to go with his three goals and Billy Gowers took seven marks and kicked two goals in his first match against his old club.
Dan Orgill turned in one of his best VFL matches to lead the Bulldogs with 24 possessions, five marks, six inside-50s, 14 tackles and a goal, while Nayef Hamad picked up nine touches and a goal in a terrific first term before finishing with 20 possessions and six inside-50s.
Butler was also impressive with 23 and five marks and Ewan Macpherson (22, five marks, eight tackles), draftee Luke Cleary (19, five marks, six rebound-50s) and Cody Raak (18, 10 rebounds) also played their parts.
WERRIBEE 10.14 (74)
CARLTON 14.9 (93)
CARLTON stretched its impressive start to the season to 4-1 after coming from behind to sink Werribee by 19 points at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday.
The Blues suffered a convincing loss to Richmond last week but showed it was merely a blip as they overhauled handy Werribee leads three times to win running away.
The Tigers flew out of the blocks but wasted their opportunity to put the game away by kicking only 3.9 to 1.2 by the four-minute mark of the second term with three quick goals giving the Blues the lead 10 minutes later.
Werribee again kicked clear by three goals during the third quarter and 11 at the 14-minute mark of the last after trailing by a point turning for home but Carlton finished full of running with the last five goals of the game, including two to youngster Josh Cripps.
Gun Carlton recruit Will Hayes continued to put his hand up for the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft with another star turn that featured 32 disposals, 10 marks, five tackles and a goal as he vied for best-afield honours with youngster Jack Carroll (27, six marks, eight inside-50s, two goals) and Liam Stocker (27, seven marks, seven rebounds), while Lochie O’Brien (25, seven marks, one goal) and Alex Cincotta (25) also impressed.
Tom Gribble was in stunning touch as he did his best to arrest Werribee’s second consecutive slow start to a season, picking up a huge 42 disposals, five marks, six clearances and seven inside-50s and Jack Henderson starred again with 32, five marks, six clearances, seven tackles and two goals, while Kye Declase (28, seven marks, seven inside-50s), Ollie Hanrahans (27, seven marks) and Shaun Mannagh (23, six inside-50s, five rebounds, six tackles, two goals) were also good.
GWS 8.11 (59)
SANDRINGHAM 8.11 (59)
SANDRINGHAM went within a whisker of pulling off a major comeback upset of its own before having to settle for the season’s first draw against GWS at Blacktown International Sports Park on Saturday.
The Zebras clung onto the Giants’ coat tails all day in a lowscoring game but looked up against it when they still trailed by 20 points at the final change before kicking 4.4 to 1.2 in the last quarter, with both teams desperately trying to find a winning point before time expired.
St Kilda is flying in the AFL and its increasing depth will only help, with Ryan Byrnes (34 disposals, 11 clearances, five inside-50s, six tackles), Dean Kent (25, six marks, 10 inside-50s, two goals) and Leo Connolly (25, six marks) on fire in the middle, Tom Highmore (30, seven marks, nine rebounds) huge in defence and Jack Bytel (22, five clearances, six tackles, one goal), Jack Peris (21) and Jarryn Geary (20) also performing well.
Second-game VFL rookie Blake Watson went close to topping them all, however, picking up 23 disposals, 10 clearances, nine inside-50s and 11 tackles and would have been the hero if he’d slotted just one of his three behinds.
Josh Fahey was the Giants’ best player with 24 disposals, eight marks and six rebounds, while Bailey Stewart (25, six tackles), Josh Green (21, six inside-50s, one goal), Cooper Hamilton (20, eight marks), Billy Clark (20, five marks) and Jake Riccardi (17, 10 marks, two goals) were also important.
Twitter: @BRhodesVFL
SMITHY’S VFL LADDER, ROUND 5 – click here
SUNDAY: Brisbane Lions v Port Melbourne; Coburg v Box Hill Hawks; Richmond v Casey Demons; Frankston v North Melbourne. MONDAY: Essendon v Collingwood. Bye: Geelong, Gold Coast, Northern Bullants, Sydney, Williamstown.
THIS WEEK
ROUND 6: Saturday, April 30: Coburg v Collingwood (Piranha, 1.05pm); Carlton v North Melbourne (Ikon, 2.05pm). Sunday, May 1: Gold Coast v Werribee (Metricon TO, 11.05am); Western Bulldogs v Essendon (Whitten, 11.35am); Geelong v Williamstown (GMHBA, 12pm); Sydney v Brisbane Lions (SCG, 1.05pm); Northern Bullants v GWS (Preston, 1.35pm); Box Hill Hawks v Casey Demons (Box Hill, 2.05pm); Sandringham v Frankston (Barker, 2.05pm). Bye: Port Melbourne, Richmond, Southport.
NEXT WEEK: ROUND 7: Saturday, May 7: Brisbane Lions v Coburg (Moreton Bay, 12.35pm); Port Melbourne v Richmond (ETU, 12.35pm); Werribee v Sydney (Avalon, 1.05pm); Sandringham v Northern Bullants (Barker, 2.05pm); Williamstown v Gold Coast (Williamstown, 2.05pm); North Melbourne v Geelong (3.05pm, Aegis); Frankston v Carlton (Skybus, 7.05pm). Sunday, May 8: Casey Demons v Southport (Casey, 12.35pm); Essendon v Box Hill Hawks (Windy Hill, 2.10pm). Bye: Collingwood, Footscray, GWS.
THEN: ROUND 8: Saturday, May 14: Collingwood v Footscray (AIA, 2.05pm); Williamstown v Frankston (Williamstown, 7.35pm). Sunday, May 15: North Melbourne v Casey Demons (Aegis, 12pm); Northern Bullants v Port Melbourne (Preston, 1.05pm); Southport v GWS (Fankhauser, 1.35pm); Box Hill Hawks v Richmond (Box Hill, 2.05pm). Bye: Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Coburg, Essendon, Geelong, Gold Coast, Sandringham, Sydney, Werribee.
All VFL matches in 2022 are live-streamed free. The match of the round can be viewed on Channel 7, while all remaining games are streamed live and on demand via the AFL Live and VFL apps. Radio 3WBC is also again broadcasting Box Hill Hawks matches.
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