Cricket
Motorsport
Basketball test
League - Test
Combat Sports
Netball
Football
Young Magpie racks up 40 as Devils close in on finals berth
Brendan Rhodes • August 4th, 2026 5:00 pm
The invincible is beatable, the main challenger is locked into the top two, the premiership defence is over and the Devils fairytale is one step closer to fruition after another epic round of VFL action at the weekend.
The third quarter is known as the premiership quarter for a reason, with some huge numbers racked up out of half-time across the competition.
Last week, there were 10 clubs fighting for six spots with three rounds to go, and only two wins separating them – now we have eight teams going for five with Frankston safe barring a last-round calamity after hitting the magical 10-win mark that has only missed the finals once since Covid.
Here’s what happened in Round 19 of the VFL.
MAGPIES SWOOP ON INDOMITABLE FAVOURITES
It took until Round 19, but Collingwood finally discovered the form we have been waiting for all year to shock the competition with a 28-point win over raging premiership favourite Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Friday.
Considered a flag hope pre-season, the Magpies have long been out of finals contention, but stunned the Cats with eight unanswered goals in the third quarter to turn a 14-point deficit into a 33-point lead and when Brady Grey made it 10 straight majors early in the last there was no doubting the result.
Fresh off his AFL bow, Sam Swadling threw down a demand to win his spot back with a brilliant 40-disposal effort that included nine clearances, five tackles and six inside-50s, while Josh Browne (33, 15 contested) did the grunt work under the packs, Lachlan Sullivan (31, seven entries, one goal) used all his experience and Jakob Ryan (28, seven marks) also laid down another AFL audition.
Collingwood won despite Geelong’s vaunted midfield being on top of its game, led by Jack Bowes’ 41 touches, seven marks, six clearances and 1.2 and George Stevens’ 32 touches, 11 clearances, 12 tackles and 1.1, but the Cats were just far enough off after sealing the minor premiership to see their 12-match winning streak ended – and remarkably both their losses this year have come at the Cattery.
TIGERS SHOW THE WRIGHT STUFF AS FLAG DEFENCE ENDS
It was always going to be a tall order for Footscray to recover from its mid-season malaise to defend its premiership, and so it proved as 2024 premiers Werribee took its undefeated run to 10 matches and stuck a padlock on second spot with a 20-point win over the Bulldogs at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday.
The premiers looked on track when they worked their way to a 14-point lead at the main change but were smacked in the face by Brady Wright, who kicked two goals in 90 seconds to start the third quarter before Sam Donegan struck a minute later to wipe out the deficit in the blink of an eye, and Werribee added six more without reply to seal the deal.
Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal favourite and second-year Tiger Wright was at his dominant best, bringing up his 50th career goal with his first major and banging on 7.2 from nine kicks to take his season tally to 42.16 in 13 matches, while Hawthorn SSP triallist Jack Riding was the standout midfielder with 36 possessions and rookie Zane Keighran pulled in 11 marks in defence.
Norm Goss medallist Cooper Craig-Peters did his best to keep Footscray’s season alive with 28 disposal (14 contested), eight clearances and nine tackles.
DEVILS BARE TEETH TO PLUCK HIGH-FLYING SWANS
Tasmania also produced a devastating third-quarter burst to destroy third-placed Sydney at Tramway Oval, securing a 30-point win that leaves the Devils just one victory away from a remarkable finals appearance in their debut season.
The Swans had won five and drawn one of their previous six matches and had their eye on maybe pinching second spot off Werribee but had no answer when the Devils turned up the heat.
Leading by five points after a tense first-half armwrestle, Tasmania piled on 9.6 to 0.0 in the third quarter including three in three minutes to open the term and another five in time-on to blow it wide open and lead by 65 points turning for home.
Sydney kicked eight goals to three in the last quarter but it was only putting a bandaid on a gunshot wound.
Captain Robbie Fox reminded the Swans of what they let go last year with a best-afield 32 disposals, 10 marks and nine rebounds across half-back, Harry Elmer (27, six marks, one goal) also shone and stars Jed Hagan (five goals) and Jye Menzie (four) ran riot in attack.
Caiden Cleary (32, nine clearances, two goals), and Angus Sheldrick (25, one goal) worked overtime for the Swans with Sam Wicks (23, eight rebounds) making a strong return from injury.
SHARKS MAUL GIANTS TO MAKE IT A THIRD-TERM QUARTET
Nine goals for Tasmania, eight for Collingwood, six for Werribee – all without reply.
While Southport did concede a goal in the third quarter, the Sharks showed why nobody will want to play them if they squeeze into the top 10 after massacring GWS with an 11.4 to 1.1 blitzkrieg to set up a 41-point win that kept those flickering finals hopes alive.
And guess who led the way?
Of course it was the League’s best player in Liston medallist Jacob Dawson, who piled up a stunning 49 disposals (24 kicks, 25 handballs and 20 contested), 15 clearances, six marks, five entries and four rebounds … it is extremely feasible that he tops the count again this year despite being ineligible due to a one-match suspension at the start of the year.
He had plenty of support, with backline star Max Spencer taking a whopping 17 marks on his way to 33 disposals at 91 per cent efficiency and 11 rebounds, while Zac Foot (31, 2.3), Tom Berry (26, 22 contested, 12 clearances, eight tackles, 1.1) and Cooper MacDonald (23, 13 marks) were also untouchable, and 100 State League-gamer Josh Gore and Noah Casalini booted three goals each.
Toby McMullin (23) and Mitch Szybkowski (19, 12 inside-50s) and Hugo Birks (four goals) were the Giants’ best but they have now suffered three heavy defeats in a row and need a huge form turnaround to hold their spot in the 10.
ELSEWHERE …
Frankston outlasted Port Melbourne by 30 points at Frankston Park on Friday night to celebrate Noah Gown’s 100th game in style and all-but lock in a third-straight finals berth.
The Dolphins kicked clear with four goals to one in the third term as Darby Hipwell (27), Tyson Milne (26) and Lachlan Reidy (25, two goals) stepped up to cover injured skipper Trent Mynott, while Ben Hobbs (29, 11 clearances) and Tom Hird (22, 12 tackles) were again best for the Borough.
Gold Coast broke a seven-match losing streak and gave itself a chance of avoiding the wooden spoon with a thrilling nine-point win over Casey Demons at People First Stadium.
The Suns came back from 30 points down in the second quarter and answering every punch the Demons threw in the last as Nick Holman (37, 12 clearances, 10 tackles), Ben Jepson (36, one goal), Alex Davies (32, nine clearances, 12 tackles) got their hands dirty and Caleb Lewis kicked four goals, while Riley Bonner had 34 touches and eight marks for Casey.
Carlton continued its charge to September with a 60-point thrashing of Brisbane Lions at Ikon Park led by 32 disposals and a goal from Ollie Warburton and similarly dominant efforts from Harry Charleson (33, 12 marks), Adam Saad (27, eight marks), Lucas Camporeale (32, 14 marks), Zac Williams (31), Lachie Fogarty (30, 11 marks, one goal), Hudson O’Keeffe (five goals) and Flynn Riley (21, 30 hitouts) that ensured the Blues were +152 in disposals for the day.
Williamstown climbed back into the top 10 after putting Sandringham away by 51 points at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval on the back of another star turn from veteran champ Jake Greiser (33, 10 marks, one goal) in defence and Nathan Colenso (26, 10 marks, one goal) in attack, while Darcy Chirgwin was again outstanding for the Zebras with 24 touches and four goals.
Box Hill Hawks climbed back to third after producing a six-goal-to-one last term see off North Melbourne in an otherwise seesawing contest by 31 points at Box Hill City Oval – there were 14 lead changes as the Hawks eventually wore the Kangaroos down on the back of 25 touches and three goals from Sam Butler, 31 and nine marks for Griff Julian and 28 plus 12 marks for captain Stu Horner, while Thomson Dow (28, one goal) and Robert Hanson (26, one goal) impressed for North.
MRP NEWS
Southport's Noah Gadsby is the only player to have been booked by the VFL MRP at the weekend.
Gadsby has accepted a one-week suspension for striking GWS's Declan Fitzgerald in the last quarter of the Sharks' win at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday, graded intentional conduct, medium impact and body contact.
@JontyTheCaller
