Troubled Cat stars in VFL return outing

Sandringham is playing as a standalone club for the first time in 26 years, entering the season without any recognised stars.

But predictions the Zebras would struggle to win a game have been proven miles off the mark as they banked a fourth win at the expense of last year’s undisputed best team in the competition, beating Footscray by 11 points on Saturday.

After scores were level at quarter-time, the visitors held the Bulldogs goalless in the second quarter and ground their way to a five-goal lead midway through the third term through sheer willpower and career-best performances from rookie Kyle Cooper (35 disposals) and Nathan Philactides (34), while Darcy Chirgwin (28, one goal) and Jet Peckett (26) were also impressive.

The Bulldogs tried to come back with four of the last five goals as best-and-fairest Billy Crofts (27), Jack Billings (26, one goal), Sam Davidson (26) and Dan Orgill (26) pushed hard, but there was no denying Sandringham.

It was a seesawing contest at Arden St on Saturday with both teams playing like winners at various stages, but North Melbourne and St Kilda settled for a share of the points in their first VFA/VFL meeting since 1896, with the Saints recording their first draw under the goals and behinds scoring system.

North would also have regrets after leading by 13 points when mid-season draftee Ollie Griffin kicked his third goal 25 minutes into the last quarter, with Liam Henry’s third (27 minutes) and Josh Clarke (29) cutting it to a point before Saint Isaac Keeler missed a set shot from 25m out on a 45-degree angle in the dying seconds.

Matt Keast (33 disposals) and Robert Hansen (32) were everywhere for the Kangaroos while tall forward James Tarrant stood up with four goals and Aidan Corr took 12 marks down back, while omitted young Saint Mattaeus Phillipou (28, nine clearances), Paddy Dow (32) and Liam Henry (three goals) were best for the visitors.

Troubled star Tyson Stengle wasted no time reminding fans of his class as he kicked four goals including his 150th at VFL level in Geelong’s crushing 113-point win over Gold Coast at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.

In his first outing for the season, Stengle had 15 disposals and kicked 4.0, capping off the dominance of James Worpel (37, 12 clearances, 10 tackles, two goals) and Jhye Clark (31, one goal), with Tanner Lewis (four) and the returning Jay Polkinghorne (three) also doing as they pleased up forward.

Alex Sexton’s 37 disposals couldn’t stop the Suns slumping to easily their biggest VFL defeat as the Cats recorded their biggest win since 2021.

Coburg moved back into the top 10 with a hard-fought 15-point win over Frankston in a tough battle at Barry Plant Park on Sunday that came down to who made the least errors.

The home team led by 24 points at half-time, but Frankston fought back gallantly to get within two when Harrison Jones goalled at the 13-minute mark of the last term, but Matt Allison proved the difference with his third and fourth goals sealing the deal for Coburg.

Lachie Walker (29, one goal), Jack Bytel (30, seven tackles), Braedyn Gillard (22) and Cooper Keogh (27 hitouts) were also good for the Lions while Trent Mynott (32, one goal), Jackson Voss (28, 10 marks) and Will Hamill (20, 11 marks) won plenty of the ball for the Dolphins.

The highlight of the game was a towering Warwick Capper-style mark from Lion Maison Goodman in the first quarter when he flew over Tyson Milne in the goalsquare and seemed to hang in the air for an age before hauling in the ball – and then kicked the goal while lying flat on his back.

Sydney broke a three-match losing streak with a comfortable 36-point win over an injury-riddled Southport at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday.

Taylor Adams’ luckless run with soft tissue injuries struck again when he reinjured his hamstring inside the first 15 minutes, but the Sharks, already missing nine of their best 23, had lost Brock Aston to his own hamstring in the first minute of the game, and Swans captain Nic Shipley (32, 11 tackles), Billy Cootee (28, one goal) and Peter Ladhams (28, 27 hitouts, one goal) cashed in, despite the best effort of Sharks captain and Liston medallist Jacob Dawson (35, two goals).

Tasmania kept Richmond scoreless from the 23-minute mark of the first term to Zane Peucker’s stunning 80m bomb 18 minutes into the third, with only the Devils’ inaccuracy costing them more than a 63-point victory, with Richmond’s 3.4 (22) its lowest score since 1907 as Jye Menzie relished the rain with 36 disposals and a goal for the hosts.

Werribee climbed to second on the ladder with a hard-fought 26-point win over the Brisbane Lions at Avalon Airport Oval as Anthony Depasquale dazzled with 4.4 from nine shots in his first game of the season and fourth-gamer Zane Keighran, the Tigers’ 1000th debutant, produced a breakout 28-disposal, 13-mark effort, with Sam Marshall and Sam Tilley doing well for the Lions.

Williamstown ended a three-match skid, producing a blistering eight-goal third quarter to turn a 21-point deficit into a 10-point win over GWS at DSV Stadium, with Jake Greiser (29, Jack Toner (29) and Josh D’Intinosante (21, two goals) covering the late withdrawals of Lachie Wilson and Braydon Preuss and the strong form of Jack Ough (31).

Casey Demons marked their Springvale heritage day with an easy 32-point win over Essendon at Casey Fields on the back 31 disposals, nine marks, eight clearances, six tackles and a goal from the brilliant Jack Henderson and five goals for Matt Jefferson, with Xavier O’Neill (30, one goal) and Kayle Gerreyn (three goals) strong for the Bombers.

Just one charge in the competition on the weekend with North Melbourne’s Bailey Scott accepting a reprimand (down from a $300 fine) for careless umpire contact.