Back-up Swan produces VFL all-timer; Pies combine for nine

A back-up ruckman teed off on a makeshift opponent to produce an all-time great performance, a second iconic standalone left a premiership contender’s season on the brink and the League’s newest club tasted defeat for the first time in another unpredictable weekend of VFL footy.

It has taken just five weeks for every club to win and lose as a remarkable eight clubs share top spot on the ladder.

Check out the latest from the VFL from Round 5.

FOR PETE’S SAKE!

The Western Bulldogs’ lack of ruck depth was laid bare as Peter Ladhams left the footy world talking with a stunning display to lead Sydney to a 59-point thrashing of an injury-hit Footscray that ended the reigning premiers’ 17-match winning streak at Whitten Oval on Friday.

With Tim English sidelined and understudies Louis Emmett and Lachie Smith playing in the AFL, VFL-listed key forward Chan Hargraves had to take on Ladhams, and the experienced Swan responded with 39 disposals (28 contested), five marks, 47 hitouts, 15 clearances, seven inside-50s, four rebounds and a goal.

The Swans struggled with the same injury crisis last year and were in no mood for mercy, kicking 10 goals in the second quarter to blow the game open, with Hayden McLean and draftee Jevan Phillipou (five goals each), Caiden Cleary (37 disposals) and Corey Warner (31, one goal) among those to have a day out.

Norm Goss medallist and mid-season draft contender Cooper Craig-Peters (36, 22 contested) was tireless for the Bulldogs and former AFL player Jack Billings had 31 and a goal, but the Swans’ 22.8 (140) was their highest score in Melbourne in VFA/VFL history and highest against Footscray, while the Bulldogs conceded the highest score on their home deck.

A BOROUGH BASHING

Foundation club Port Melbourne marked 1200th VFL/VFL away matches with a daunting trip to Brisbane and put together one of its best performances since it last made the finals in 2019 to belt the Lions by 45 points at Brighton Homes Arena on Sunday.

Joining Sandringham as standalone clubs to ambush the Lions on their previously impenetrable fortress, Port ground out an 11-point lead at the last change before charging home with six goals to one in the last term as young tall Josh Tovey (five goals) capitalised on the dominance of former Essendon midfielders Ben Hobbs (30) and Tom Hird (28, one goal) and ex-Swan Lachie Rankin (29).

Untried Lion Reece Torrent was outstanding with 27 touches, eight marks, 13 tackles and eight inside-50s, while Darragh Joyce (29, seven marks) was again impressive.

A BLUE EVENING IN TASSIE

The Tasmanian juggernaut continued to gain momentum off the field with an amazing 14,122 people rolling up to Ninja Stadium on Anzac night, only for a star-studded Carlton to spoil the party with a 25-point upset victory.

The Devils kicked the only goal of the first quarter but wasted opportunities all night as a Blues team led by reigning John Nicholls medallist George Hewett (40 disposals, 11 clearances, eight tackles) and young wingman Billy Wilson (41), while Adam Saad (26) and Blake Acres (21, one goal) showed their class and Harry Charleson (29, nine marks), Campbell Chesser (27, one goal), Jordan Boyd (27) and Lachie Fogarty (24, two goals) also had big nights.

Young ruckman Flynn Riley rose up potential mid-season draft boards with 23 disposals, eight marks, 40 hitouts and seven clearances against young Devil and fellow MSD contender Max Mapley.

Zach Adams was the Devils’ best with support from captain and former Swan Robbie Fox (24 each).

MAGPIE FORWARDS IN THE WINGS

Much has been said about Collingwood’s lack of forward depth, but Charlie West and Jack Buller played starring roles to lead the Magpies to a high-scoring 11-point win over Essendon at KGM Centre on Friday.

The Bombers were looking like causing an upset entering time-on, but West snagged back-to-back goals to save the day.

He finished with nine marks and four goals, while Buller pulled in six grabs and kicked five as both put their hands up for a recall against Hawthorn on Thursday night, as did Ed Allan (33, six clearances), who looks most likely with Scott Pendlebury to be rested, although Lachie Sullivan did boot three majors.

Will Setterfield (25), Archie Perkins (24) and Zak Johnson (24) were good for the Bombers, with Hussien El Achkar (four) and Liam McMahon (three) among the goals).

ELSEWHERE…

Casey Demons rebounded from a disappointing home loss the week before to down Richmond by 27 points after trailing by a kick at three quarter-time as 50-gamer Andy Moniz-Wakefield stepped up his return from a knee reconstruction with 31 touches, while Tyler Sonsie (31), Luke Trainor (28, 11 marks) and Oliver Hayes-Brown (27, 19 hitouts) impressed for the Tigers.

Frankston got its season back on track with 33-point home win over Coburg led by Blake O’Leary (five goals), Tyson Milne (29, eight marks) and Jackson Voss (24), spoiling the 100th game of Lion Mitch Podhajski (four goals).

Werribee ended Williamstown’s unbeaten start to the year, cruising home by 25 points in front of a big Anzac night crowd with Hawthorn SSP triallist Jack Riding (26, one goal) and former Test cricket Matt Elliott’s son Will (Elliott) (four goals) on the MSD radar, while in-form Joel Fitzgerald (26, six marks, eight tackles) had another night out for the Seagulls.

Max Gruzewski kicked five goals and Callum Brown four to finish the dominance of Conor Stone (33), Jack Ough (30), Toby McMullin (29) and Kieren Briggs (26, 32 hitouts, one goal) as GWS Giants spanked a disappointing North Melbourne by 63 points in Sydney despite 36 possessions from Cooper Harvey.

Box Hill Hawks stretched its unbeaten run against Sandringham to 18 games and 14 years with a hard-fought 20-point win led by 31 disposals, 11 clearances and 10 tackles from Henry Hustwaite and 29 for Bailey Macdonald while impressive forward Jack Ferraro kicked four goals for the gallant Zebras.

Gold Coast kicked five goals to one in the last quarter to ease away from St Kilda by 35 points at RSEA Park to become the last team to break its 2026 duck, a win led by Alex Davies (31, one goal), Sam Clohesy (28, two goals) and captain Alex Sexton (31, 11 marks), while Angus Hastie (32), Kye Fincher (32) and Jack Macrae (31) had plenty of it for the Saints.

MRP NEWS

The VFL Match Review Panel has offered one-week suspensions (two if they challenge and lose) to three players.

Port Melbourne's Roy George was reported for headbutting Brisbane Lion Tai Hayes, Frankston's Harrison Jones was booked for rough conduct on Coburg's Jack Bytel and Essendon vice-captain Jackson Hately was cited for striking Collingwood's Brady Grey.

@JontyTheCaller