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Back to attack for SSP Blue?; 'Fighting' Viking banned
Brendan Rhodes • May 12th, 2026 1:33 pm
Carlton may have found its key forward back-up in a thumping win, St Kilda lost two players to suspension in a bruising divorce settlement, Coburg roared the loudest it has in years and two standalone clubs couldn’t be separated in an intriguing weekend of VFL action.
Mid-season draft fancies fired and AFL recall hopefuls dominated as we take a look at the latest in the VFL from Round 7.
DERK RETURNS HOME
Could SSP recruit Wade Derksen be the back-up key forward option Carlton is looking for?
It’s obviously too early to say, but after his dominant performance in the Blues’ 122-point disintegration of a woeful Casey Demons at Casey Fields on Saturday, it is food for thought.
Derksen was picked up by GWS in the 2022 mid-season draft as a forward and kicked 45 goals in his first 27 games before being sent back in 2024, but has returned to attack at the Blues and his five-goal haul gives him eight in four games.
Carlton moved into the VFL top four with its fourth-straight win, booting 10 goals in the last quarter to go within one point of its biggest VFA/VFL win and just seven of its highest score in its 499th game as Casey battled to a paltry 3.17 (35).
Blake Acres (31 disposals, two goals), Lachie Fogarty (22, 10 marks, two goals) and VFL-listed livewire Darcy Hogg (28, three goals) all did as they pleased, while No.1 draft pick contender Cody Walker (24, nine marks) again shone.
Trent Rivers (29, six marks) made a successful return for Casey, with Tom McDonald (21, seven marks) and former Power and Saints defender Riley Bonner (30, seven marks) also trying hard.
LIONS ROAR IN STUNNING ROAD WIN
Coburg produced one of its most complete performances in many years to belt a shellshocked Southport by 43 points at Fankhauser Reserve.
The Lions fell three heartbreaking points short of the Sharks last year, and the confidence they took from that game propelled them this time in emphatic fashion as they kicked eight first-quarter goals and never let the premiership contenders back within arm’s reach.
Jaidyn Stephenson was central to the win, kicking three goals in the first term and four for the game, while star full-forward Mitch Podhajski added three, but it was the dominance of Jack Bytel (41 disposals, one goal) and the return of midfielder star Flynn Gentile (29, seven marks) from a calf injury for his first game of the year that made all the difference.
Southport stars Boyd Woodcock (32, six clearances) and Jacob Dawson (29, 10 clearances) again led from the front for the Sharks.
SAINTS PAIR BANNED AFTER SPITEFUL DERBY
Sandringham and St Kilda were alignment partners for 17 seasons, but there was no love between them after their acrimonious divorce last year when the Saints won a fierce battle for the Trevor Barker Cup by 15 points on Sunday, only to have three players cited.
Alix Tauru took a two-week suspension (down from three) with an early plea for throwing two punches at Zebra Jhett Haeata on the final siren after also copping a reprimand (from one) for a massive bump on Ben Stephenson; Irish recruit Eamonn Armstrong also got two weeks for a high bump on Brodie Atkins and NGA product Kye Fincher received a reprimand ($500 fine) for striking Andreas Stefanakis.
Spotfires broke out all day in an enthralling battle as the Saints just had enough in reserve in their 250th VFA/VFL game, holding a wasteful Sandringham off, led by best afield Angus Hastie (31, seven marks) and ruckman Alex Dodson (15, 51 hitouts), while key forward Billy Richardson impressed hitting up the ground.
Darcy Chirgwin (28), Daniel Pinter (21, 27 hitouts against Dodson) and debutant Callum Smith – the grandson of the great Kevin Bartlett (20, one goal) impressed for the Zebras, while Stefanakis kicked three goals.
WHO WINS A FIGHT BETWEEN A TIGER AND A DEVIL?
The answer is neither after Tasmania came from behind to split the points with Werribee in a classic at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday.
The Devils led by 12 points after a six-goal opening quarter, but a three-goal burst just before half-time gave the Tigers the upper hand and they looked winners for most of the day, still holding a 15-point break entering time-on of the last quarter.
But Tasmania dominated red time with goals to 50th-game former Swan Caleb Mitchell and mid-season draft fancy Jaxon Artemis either side of a rushed behind setting up a big finish, and Sam Siggins missed two chances to steal the victory.
Experienced Tigers Dom Brew (29, 17 clearances, eight tackles), Louis Pinnuck (28, eight marks) and Charlie Lazzaro (27) starred for Werribee, while Artemis (26, one goal), Jack Callinan (22, two goals) and Hugh Dixon (four goals) were terrific for Tasmania.
ELSEWHERE…
Geelong crushed a disappointing Collingwood by 61 points at Victoria Park, led by 35 touches and two goals from George Stevens, 30 and a goal for youngster Jack Costello and 30 for MSD hope Marcus Herbert, while Sam Swadling (33) put himself in line for an AFL debut for Collingwood with support from Ed Allan (32) and Charlie West (four goals), but Bobby Hill was held goalless from six touches.
Corey Warner put on a masterclass for Sydney with 36 disposals and four goals and Caiden Cleary racked up another 37 possessions, but it wasn’t enough as North Melbourne upset the Swans by 12 points at Arden St on the back of 38 disposals from Cooper Harvey and 27 for Riley Hardeman.
Damon Hollow kicked five goals and Joel Fitzgerald had 37 touches to lead Williamstown to a 37-point win over Richmond at DSV Stadium, with Harry Scott (26, 11 tackles), son of 19-game Tiger Allister, and MSD chance Sam Toner (three goals) starring for the Tigers.
Essendon thrashed an undermanned GWS by 51 points at Tom Wills Oval with Jade Gresham kicking four goals and Hussien El Achkar three, Elijah Tsatas having 35 disposals and dumped defender Ben McKay picking up 15 and five marks, while Jack Ough had 35 for the Giants.
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The only charge outside the Saints trio was Werribee’s Jack Riding, who was given a reprimand for careless contact with an umpire.
