NORTH Melbourne completed a confidence-boosting undefeated pre-season campaign when it thrashed a previously resurgent Williamstown by 68 points in their final Smithy’s VFL practice match at Arden Street Oval on Saturday.
The Kangaroos finished in the bottom four on the Smithy’s VFL ladder last year but will go into Saturday’s season opener against Port Melbourne with a full head of steam after crushing a Seagulls team that had beaten the Borough, Northern Bullants and Box Hill Hawks before Saturday’s match.
North set up the win with the first seven goals in the second quarter to lead by 43 points at half-time and responded to losing the third quarter with another seven majors in the last term.
Ruck great Todd Goldstein carved his VFL rivals up in a best-on-ground performance.
Dan Howe and Aaron Hall were also a class above, while Coburg recruit Sam Lowson and ruck draftee Hamish Free booted three goals each as the home team added the Seagulls to back-to-back convincing wins over Footscray.
The Bulldogs made a statement of their own ahead of a Round 1 showdown against the same opposition by crushing reigning premier Casey Demons by 71 points at Skinner Reserve.
Robbie McComb’s three goals was the pick of 13 players to hit the scoresheet as the Bulldogs piled on 10 goals to one in the middle two quarters.
No.1 NAB AFL National Draft selection Aaron Cadman continued to thrust his hand up for an early AFL debut by booting six goals as GWS Giants brushed Sydney aside by 43 points at Tom Wills Oval on Sunday.
The haul took Cadman’s tally to 10 majors in two pre-season appearances, while Joel Amartey performed well for the Swans in his first game back from injury.
Carlton charged back from 35 points down at half-time to sink Richmond by five points in front of a big AFL pre-match crowd at Swinburne Centre on Thursday.
The Tigers were well on top in the first half through Judson Clarke, Garrett McDonagh and Sam Banks but had no answer once Paddy Dow took an already good game to another level.
Dow kicked the Blues’ only goal of the first half at the 10-minute mark of the second quarter but was unstoppable after the break, adding three more to put his name up for an AFL recall.
Jack Carroll also starred, while Lachie Plowman and Sam Durdin were pillars of strength in defence and ruck draftee Harry Lemmey kicked three goals.
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Werribee was another team to launch a rollicking comeback, fighting back from 22 points down at half-time to edge out Sandringham by four points at RSEA Park.
The Zebras kicked six goals to none in the second term and looked in total control after trailing by 15 points at the first break.
However, they failed to score in the third as the Tigers poured on 5.6 and then held on in a terrific last term as Jesse Clark, Sam Paea (two goals) and Emmanuel Ajang stood tall.
Collingwood held off a fast-finishing Geelong by six points at AIA Centre on the back of four goals from Ash Johnson.
The Magpies built a 17-point gap turning for home but were forced to fight for the win as Ollie Dempsey, rookie Ted Clohesy and Footscray recruit Bailey van de Heuvel came home hard.
Box Hill Hawks bounced back from last week’s trouncing at the hands of Williamstown to beat Essendon by 15 points at NEC Hangar on Sunday.
The Hawks trailed by eight points at three quarter-time but kicked six goals to two in the last term as last year’s NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft addition Max Ramsden booted three goals as one of 10 players to hit the scoreboard.
Brisbane Lions will go into the season in ominous form after downing grand finalist Southport for the second time in the pre-season, cruising home by 37 points at Brighton Homes Arena.
Jarrod Lyons was again best-on-ground with support from Noah Answerth, Darcy Fort and captain Wylie Buzza, while Category B rookie promotion Shadeau Brain snagged three goals as the Lions held the Sharks to just two goals before three quarter-time.
Max Pescud kicked three goals in the last quarter to add respectability for Southport.
Northern Bullants again showed they will be no pushover this season, easily accounting for Frankston by 30 points at Linen House and Gold Coast hammered former Sydney AFL Premier League team Sydney University by 125 points at Austworld Centre.
Continue below for all the results from the 2023 Smithy's VFL practice matches.
WEEK 1 RESULTS
Geelong 3.5 3.12 6.13 10.22 (82)
Box Hill Hawks 2.3 5.8 10.13 11.14 (80)
Goals: GEELONG: Riccardi, Panuccio 2, Knevitt, Bond, Lewis, Feely, Quick, Chalcraft.
Best: GEELONG: Riccardi, Knevitt, Whyte, Clohesy, Ham, Chalcraft, Eyers. BOX HILL: Agosta, Murr, Mitchell, B. Macdonald, Rule, Brown.
Carlton 3.5 7.6 13.8 16.10 (106)
Collingwood 1.2 3.2 4.4 5.7 (37)
Goals: CARLTON: Brereton, Lefroy, Lemmey, O’Keeffe 2, Binns, Cahill, Dow, Dozzi, Gill, Grant, Ramshaw, Ronke.
Sydney 3.1 6.3 9.6 (60)
Brisbane Lions 4.0 5.2 6.7 (43)
Goals: SYDNEY: Howard 2. LIONS: Tunstill, B. Coleman, L. Rayner.
Best: SYDNEY: Howard, Kirk, Harry Morrison, Owen, Mitchell, Vickery.
Northern Bullants 2.2 5.3 5.6 8.6 11.10 11.10 (76)
Coburg 2.2 5.2 6.3 8.4 10.4 10.5 (65)
Goals: BULLANTS: Stapleton 2, Ryan, Hurley, Parente, Young, Martin, Laurie, Roumeliotis, Brown, Barnes. COBURG: Weightman, D’Intinosante, Lukic, Mason, Owen, Kemp, Quigg, Xenos, Bella, Johnston.
Best: BULLANTS: El-Hawli, Hurley, Mackie, Roumeliotis, Gundry. COBURG: Watson, T. Jepson, Boucher, Nelson, Corigliano.
Williamstown 10.6 (66)
Port Melbourne 7.8 (50)
Best: WILLIAMSTOWN: Weightman, Hore, Preston, Downie, Ebinger, Cox. PORT: Rosman, Walker.
WEEK 2 RESULTS
Box Hill Hawks 2.5 6.8 7.12 10.17 (77)
Collingwood 2.2 4.4 5.4 7.8 (50)
Essendon 0.2 2.5 5.8 9.9 (63)
Sandringham 2.4 2.5 4.6 6.7 (43)
Goals: ESSENDON: Voss 3, Phillips 2, Wanganeen, Sutton, Madden, Conforti. SANDRINGHAM: not submitted.
Best: ESSENDON: Cootee, Conforti, Lord, Wanganeen, Montgomerie, Hind, Hayes, Baldwin, Voss. SANDRINGHAM: not submitted.
Brisbane Lions 3.6 4.6 9.9 12.13 (85)
Southport Sharks 1.1 3.4 5.5 8.6 (54)
Goals: LIONS: Fort, Buzza 2, Lane, B. Coleman, Fullarton, Cockatoo, Brain, Answerth, Derksen, Sharp. SOUTHPORT: Offermans 3, Conroy, Foon, Edwards, Crossley, Bowman.
Best: LIONS: Lyons, Fort, Joyce, Answerth, Buzza, Sharp. SOUTHPORT: not submitted.
GWS GIANTS 2.1 6.5 9.5 12.6 (78)
Gold Coast SUNS 3.2 6.4 9.7 10.8 (68)
Best: GWS: not submitted. GOLD COAST: Tsitas, Uwland, Johnston, Anderson, Oea.
Williamstown 0.2 2.5 4.6 8.7 (55)
Northern Bullants 0.3 2.4 3.8 4.12 (36)
Goals: WILLIAMSTOWN: Gadsby, Ebinger 2, Banch, Ottavi, Walker, Gadsby, Henderson. BULLANTS: Ryan, Brown 2.
Richmond 2.4 2.5 6.8 10.9 (69)
Casey Demons 2.3 6.6 8.6 10.8 (68)
Goals: RICHMOND: White 3, L. Johnson, Mansell, Ryan, Hicks, Tedcastle, Ralphsmith, Brindley. CASEY: not submitted.
Best: RICHMOND: Ryan, Ralphsmith, Hicks, L. Johnson, El Nour, McDonagh, Sonsie, Banks, Mansell, Bradtke, Miller. CASEY: not submitted.
Werribee 1.2 5.4 5.5 8.9 (57)
Frankston 0.2 0.2 1.2 1.3 (9)
Goals: WERRIBEE: Grintell 3, T. Gribble, Selsby, Dahlhaus, Lever, McLeod. FRANKSTON: Voss.
Best: WERRIBEE: Keast, T. Gribble, Lever, Ajang, Brew, Clohesy, Boyd, Grintell. FRANKSTON: Nayna, Szybkowski, L. Riley, Grant.
Port Melbourne 3.4 7.7 10.9 11.9 (75)
Coburg 0.2 0.3 2.3 3.7 (25)
Goals: PORT MELBOURNE: Manton, Gasper 2, Holmes, Curry, Hunter, Signorello, Green, Anastasio, Cusack. COBURG: Clarke 2, Weightman
North Melbourne 2.7 7.11 10.13 12.13 (85)
Footscray Bulldogs 2.2 3.4 5.7 10.8 (68)
Goals: NORTH: Ford 3, Sellers, Greenwood, Spicer, Coleman-Jones, Taylor, Edwards, Harvey, Watkins. FOOTSCRAY: not submitted.
Best: NORTH: Corr, Taylor, Ford, Greenwood, Hall, Drury. FOOTSCRAY: not submitted.
WEEK 3 RESULTS
Port Melbourne 1.4 2.10 3.11 5.13 (43)
Carlton 2.1 2.6 4.7 5.8 (38)
Goals: CARLTON: Honey 2, Brereton, Gill, Martin
Best: CARLTON: McGovern, Pittonet, Martin, Honey, McMahon, Leiu
Southport Sharks 5.0 10.1 15.2 18.3 (111)
Palm Beach-Currumbin 2.1 4.2 5.4 6.6 (42)
Goals: SOUTHPORT: Finch 3, Anderson, Coombes, Bradshaw 2, Law, Reeves, Thurlow, Foggo, Joel Edwards, Hooker
Sandringham 4.1 8.3 10.9 12.14 (86)
Richmond 2.2 6.3 6.4 8.8 (56)
Goals: RICHMOND: L. Johnson 4, Olden 2, Tedcastle
Best: RICHMOND: L. Johnson, El Nour, Faimalo, Bracher, Olden
Williamstown 5.4 6.8 -.- 15.16 (106)
Box Hill Hawks 1.0 2.3 -.- 6.9 (45)
Goals: WILLIAMSTOWN: Ellison 4, Walker, Henderson, Philpot, Ebinger. BOX HILL: Coghlan, Agosta, Wynd
Casey Demons 3.0 7.2 8.4 10.7 (67)
Coburg 1.3 3.7 6.12 7.17 (59)
Goals: CASEY: Muley 3, Sheridan 2, Cross, Peters, Woodhouse, Baldi, Shepherd. COBURG: Mason, D’Intinosante 2, Owen, Clarke, Weightman.
Best: COBURG: Corigliano, Gillard, Kennedy, Walker, Gentile.
Werribee 1.3 2.7 3.8 7.11 (53)
Geelong Cats 1.4 3.4 4.4 5.7 (37)
Goals: WERRIBEE: Paea 2, Brew, Declase, Grintell, Henderson, Selsby
Best: WERRIBEE: Henderson, Declase, T. Gribble, Pinnuck, Clohesy. GEELONG: Bourke, Morrison, Cousins, Lucas.
North Melbourne 3.4 6.8 12.11 15.12 (102)
Footscray 2.5 4.7 7.7 10.12 (72)
Goals: NORTH: Hope 3, Simondson, Ellwood, Bath 2, Thomas, Howe, O’Sullivan, Tucker, McCormick, Barnett
Best: NORTH: Corr, Howe, Taylor, Hall, Keogh, Hope, Ellwood, Thomas, Spicer
Essendon 6.1 7.2 13.5 14.8 (92)
Frankston 2.1 3.4 4.5 6.10 (46)
Goals: FRANKSTON: Fordham 2, Aleixo, McComb, Stone, Butland.
Best: ESSENDON: Guelfi, Bernacki, Baldwin, Conforti, Snelling. FRANKSTON: Mynott, Cuthbert, L. Riley, Szybkowski, Marotta.
WEEK 4 RESULTS
Carlton 0.4 1.6 8.11 12.14 (86)
Richmond 3.3 7.5 9.8 12.9 (81)
Goals: CARLTON: Dow 4, Lemmey 3, Moschetti 2, Pittonet, Crocker, Carroll. RICHMOND: Ryan, L. Johnson, Faimalo, Dow 2, Cumberland, Bradtke, White, Elliot
Best: CARLTON: Dow, Carroll, Plowman, Durdin, Kemp, Maher, Parks. RICHMOND: Clarke, McDonagh, Banks, Nyuon, El Nour
North Melbourne 2.3 9.5 12.8 19.14 (128)
Williamstown 1.4 2.4 6.6 9.6 (60)
Goals: NORTH: Lowson, Free 3, Ford, Downie, Lazzaro 2, Sellers, Watkins, Dawson, Tucker, Hope, Spicer, Stevens
Best: NORTH: Goldstein, Howe, Thomas, Hall, Drury, Stevens, Dawson, Corr, Free
Brisbane Lions 5.2 6.4 10.6 13.7 (85)
Southport Sharks 0.1 1.7 2.10 6.12 (48)
Goals: LIONS: Brain 3, Fletcher, Derksen, Dunkley 2, Lane, Sharp, McDowell-White, Fullarton. SOUTHPORT: Pescud 3, Woodcock, Foggo, Rhook.
Best: LIONS: Lyons, Answerth, Buzza, Fort, Fletcher, Dunkley
Werribee 3.4 3.5 8.11 10.13 (73)
Sandringham 1.1 7.3 7.3 10.9 (69)
Goals: WERRIBEE: Young, Paea 2, Annand, Boyd, Byrne, Garoni, Grintell, Smart
Best: WERRIBEE: Clark, Paea, Ajang, Keast, Clohesy, Annand
Collingwood 4.2 5.3 8.5 10.5 (65)
Geelong 0.2 3.4 5.6 8.11 (59)
Goals: COLLINGWOOD: Johnson 4, Begg, Wilson, Glover, Delaney, Purcell
Best: GEELONG: Dempsey, Clohesy, van de Heuvel, Ham
Northern Bullants 11.15 (81)
Frankston 7.9 (51)
Footscray 3.2 7.6 13.7 18.11 (119)
Casey Demons 3.1 4.1 4.4 7.6 (48)
Goals: FOOTSCRAY: McComb 3, West, Sweet, Garner 2, McNeil, Clarke, Sullivan, Goater, Harris, Macpherson, Patullo, Ballantyne, Young. CASEY: Schache 3, Moniz-Wakefield 2, Jordan, Smith
Gold Coast Suns 21.24 (150)
Sydney University 3.7 (25)
GWS Giants 13.9 (87)
Sydney 6.8 (44)
Box Hill Hawks 2.2 6.4 8.6 14.8 (92)
Essendon 3.2 4.4 9.8 11.11 (77)
Goals: BOX HILL: Ramsden 3, O’Sullivan, Butler 2, Stanley, Thorpe, Lynch, Rule, Brockman, Hall
