VFL R1 Wrap: Father-son Hawk turns heads as Tiger kicks five

Former Adelaide rookie-lister Sam Siggins will always be remembered at the man who kicked the new Tasmania’s first VFL goal – and he actually booted the first two as the Devils delighted a sellout crowd by outlasting Coburg in a high-quality contest at North Hobart Oval on Saturday.

East Fremantle recruit Jed Hagan was the star, however, putting his name firmly on the mid-season draft radar by kicking 4.3 from 18 classy disposals in a performance that also included seven marks and 10 tackles.

Ex-Fremantle, West Coast and Southport key forward Hugh Dixon also kicked four and Zach Adams had 19 touches and eight marks, while Jaxon Artemis and ruckman Max Mapley also turned heads.

Despite being wasteful, former Saint Jack Bytel led Coburg with 36 disposals (17 contested) and 11 clearances, while Donovan Toohey (34 disposals, one goal) again showed he could be capable of taking the next step.

Fresh off his AFL debut a week earlier, Western Bulldogs’ SSP signing Will Lewis proved too powerful for the Casey Demon defence, slamming on 6.3 as Footscray got its premiership defence off to a perfect start with a 37-point win at Whitten Oval.

The Bulldogs’ depth was on show for all to see – Adam Treloar is ready to return after 33 disposals and 10 marks and Nick Coffield plucked 16 marks across half back on his way to 31 touches, while Lachie McNeil (25, two goals), Josh Dolan (25, seven marks, one goal), Jedd Busslinger (25, seven marks), Luke Cleary (23, 10 marks), Ryan Gardner (22, 11 marks) and young ruckman Lachlan Smith (18, two goals, 11 hitouts) all starred as they racked up a huge 454 disposals.

Second-year Richmond forward Jasper Alger put his hand up for a recall to the AFL team with an outstanding five-goal haul as the Tigers stunned grand finalist Southport by 40 points at Kinetic Stadium on Saturday.

Young tall Liam Fawcett (2.4) and SSP signing Tom Burton (1.4) were impressive but wayward while ruckman Ollie Hayes-Brown put himself in the frame for a debut given Toby Nankervis’ hamstring injury with 17 disposals and 15 hitouts against big-bodied Sharks co-captain Brayden Crossley (12 and 40).

Liston medallist Jacob Dawson (37), ex-Port Adelaide rebounder Ryan Burton (32) and former Swan Zac Foot (30) racked them up for the Sharks.

And no, it wasn’t Calsher Dear, but Will McCabe who looked a class above VFL level and Sydney as Box Hill Hawks won the first game for premiership points at the Kennedy Community Centre, beating the Swans by 36 points on Friday.

McCabe looked like getting the footy every time it went near him at centre half-forward, finishing with 20 disposals, nine marks and four goals, while Dear kicked two majors on his return, Finn Maginness compiled 31 and a goal and draftee Jack Dalton showed his class with 27, seven marks, six tackles and a goal.

Taylor Adams (27, six marks, nine tackles, one goal), Harry Cunningham (26, six marks, seven rebounds) and Jesse Dattoli (20, two goals) were most impressive for the Swans, while Peter Ladhams had 21, six clearances and 24 hitouts but is facing a one-game ban for striking Dear.

Sandringham’s first game as a standalone club since 1999 drew a big crowd to Trevor Barker Oval and the Zebras didn’t disappoint despite losing by 14 points to a more experienced and organised Port Melbourne on Sunday.

The Zebras had six debutants among 15 recruits but nipped at the Borough’s heels all day with smooth-moving defenders Ethan Williams (22 disposals, 11 rebounds, eight tackles) and Nathan Philactides (21, six rebounds) showing AFL-quality run and carry.

But Port’s experience told, with Essendon delistee Ben Hobbs (29, 13 contested, eight inside-50s) being best afield (albeit today being offered a two-match suspension for striking), Melbourne discard Ollie Sestan (22 at 100 per cent efficiency) and ex-Bulldogs Charlie Clarke (19, 10 tackles, three goals) and Dom Bedendo (seven marks, three goals) working overtime and taking their chances.

Geelong kicked its highest VFL score against Essendon and recorded its biggest win in an 85-point thrashing, with its young forwards on fire at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night.

Ollie Henry (5.2), Jay Polkinghorne (4.6) and Oli Wiltshire (4.1) did what they liked as the Cats slammed on 24.19 against the hapless Bombers. No. 10 draft pick Jacob Farrow was Essendon's best with a terrific performance of 31 disposals and a goal on debut.

Frankston’s Corey Ellison kicked five goals in his team’s thrilling loss to Williamstown on Friday night, Jack Ough had 36 disposals and two goals as GWS celebrated three-goal captain Ryan Hebron’s 100th VFL game with an easy win over St Kilda and Gold Coast’s Nick Holman piled up 38 touches but the Suns lost at home to Werribee by 15 points.