VFL Games 2026

[dejavoodoo44]

Hey, we're in front. Nice snap from Phillipou.

[dejavoodoo44]

Marginally the better side in that quarter. Good that we didn't fall in a heap, after being dominated in the second. Hamling was very good.

[bandwagon]

3QT: 9.14 v 9.10
Much more even quarter, unfortunately most of our chances were under pressure or from tight angles. Small & Hamling both excellent in defence, Snell with 9 intercepts Hamling with 7.

[bandwagon]

Marginally the better side in that quarter. Good that we didn't fall in a heap, after being dominated in the second. Hamling was very good.

Yes our determination to stay in it was admirable.

[Dow]

was good to see Warner up against some quality players and he was a little disappointing and probably reflects where is game really at, JD has surprised me super quiet last few weeks a better game today and on A good opponent

[dejavoodoo44]

Yes our determination to stay in it was admirable.

And we were possibly the better team in the second half, but a lack of composure in front of goals, meant that we weren't really able to apply scoreboard pressure.

I thought Hamling was probably our best, while Snell won pretty well all of his contests. Perhaps Chamberlain was the best of our young draftees today? Although I don't really think that he's currently pushing for a debut. Phillipou looked quite dangerous when the ball was in his area. Cootee was pretty sharp.

I found it interesting that Dattoli spent most of the game in the middle. I suspect that they're trying to build his tank, which I don't think is quite there yet. I wouldn't say that he won his position, but he had a pretty good game and got plenty of contested possessions. Kyle was handy, but had the occasional sloppy possession trying to rebound.

Strangely, Cunningham was also a bit sloppy, but he did get plenty of it. I also thought Warner had a good second half.

A couple of the younger academy graduates showed that at least they're up to VFL standard: Andreacchio and Gibbs.

Overall, I thought that the team acquitted themselves pretty well, in what was always going to be a tough task.

[bandwagon]

was good to see Warner up against some quality players and he was a little disappointing and probably reflects where is game really at, JD has surprised me super quiet last few weeks a better game today and on A good opponent

That was a really good opportunity to measure ourselves against a superior team. Clearly there is still a gap, but we have massively improved compared to last year. With a little more composure at the end we might have drawn even closer. Kicking 3.13 after halftime did not help.

[bandwagon]

And we were possibly the better team in the second half, but a lack of composure in front of goals, meant that we weren't really able to apply scoreboard pressure.

I thought Hamling was probably our best, while Snell won pretty well all of his contests. Perhaps Chamberlain was the best of our young draftees today? Although I don't really think that he's currently pushing for a debut. Phillipou looked quite dangerous when the ball was in his area. Cootee was pretty sharp.

I found it interesting that Dattoli spent most of the game in the middle. I suspect that they're trying to build his tank, which I don't think is quite there yet. I wouldn't say that he won his position, but he had a pretty good game and got plenty of contested possessions. Kyle was handy, but had the occasional sloppy possession trying to rebound.

Strangely, Cunningham was also a bit sloppy, but he did get plenty of it. I also thought Warner had a good second half.

A couple of the younger academy graduates showed that at least they're up to VFL standard: Andreacchio and Gibbs.

Overall, I thought that the team acquitted themselves pretty well, in what was always going to be a tough task.

Pretty much agree with all of this. FWIW 3 votes - Hamling, 2 - Snell, 1 - Ladhams
Chamberlain I thought had a very balanced game, involved in contests as well as spread, he is developing nicely and I imagine they will give him another year.

[Dow]

That was a really good opportunity to measure ourselves against a superior team. Clearly there is still a gap, but we have massively improved compared to last year. With a little more composure at the end we might have drawn even closer. Kicking 3.13 after halftime did not help.

agreed we appear a far better side than last year

[Dow]

And we were possibly the better team in the second half, but a lack of composure in front of goals, meant that we weren't really able to apply scoreboard pressure.

I thought Hamling was probably our best, while Snell won pretty well all of his contests. Perhaps Chamberlain was the best of our young draftees today? Although I don't really think that he's currently pushing for a debut. Phillipou looked quite dangerous when the ball was in his area. Cootee was pretty sharp.

I found it interesting that Dattoli spent most of the game in the middle. I suspect that they're trying to build his tank, which I don't think is quite there yet. I wouldn't say that he won his position, but he had a pretty good game and got plenty of contested possessions. Kyle was handy, but had the occasional sloppy possession trying to rebound.

Strangely, Cunningham was also a bit sloppy, but he did get plenty of it. I also thought Warner had a good second half.

A couple of the younger academy graduates showed that at least they're up to VFL standard: Andreacchio and Gibbs.

Overall, I thought that the team acquitted themselves pretty well, in what was always going to be a tough task.

all great points, some upside for the kids to play some very good AFL players - Warner was the biggest disappointment today, chance to show he belongs and sort went just ok. - Kyle has a long way to go but does show signs

[imuninformedtwo]

Spot on re Dattoli and his tank. He’s getting there but still lacks AFL level running power, particularly defensively. It’s fine. He’ll get there. I also don’t mind him up there anyway as he has beautiful clean hands and over time at seniors level, will eventually spend time rotating through the midfield anyway.

[crackedactor 01]

I think the most pleasing aspect for me is the academy lads seem to be getting better every week. Yes Chamberlain and Kyle made some sloppy errors but they also did some nice things.

[BRS328]

And we were possibly the better team in the second half, but a lack of composure in front of goals, meant that we weren't really able to apply scoreboard pressure.

I thought Hamling was probably our best, while Snell won pretty well all of his contests. Perhaps Chamberlain was the best of our young draftees today? Although I don't really think that he's currently pushing for a debut. Phillipou looked quite dangerous when the ball was in his area. Cootee was pretty sharp.

I found it interesting that Dattoli spent most of the game in the middle. I suspect that they're trying to build his tank, which I don't think is quite there yet. I wouldn't say that he won his position, but he had a pretty good game and got plenty of contested possessions. Kyle was handy, but had the occasional sloppy possession trying to rebound.

Strangely, Cunningham was also a bit sloppy, but he did get plenty of it. I also thought Warner had a good second half.

A couple of the younger academy graduates showed that at least they're up to VFL standard: Andreacchio and Gibbs.

Overall, I thought that the team acquitted themselves pretty well, in what was always going to be a tough task.

Thanks for sharing this.
You make some great points about younger academy graduates showing they are up to VFL standard, and hopefully this will stem the flow of these young players to the SANFL and WAFL in order to develop their game and pursue an AFL career.
The club this year appears to have made an effort to add some experience to the VFL squad with the addition of players like Coogee and Meliss for example, and this clearly benefits the younger players through their development.
I have often thought playing under 19 draftees to early is a huge risk exposing them to injury. You only have to look at the current injury lists at Richmond, Essendon, West Coast, and in recent times North Melbourne.
Even closer to home you only have to look at Dattoli, Phillipou, Bowen, King, Hetherington etc who are going through the same situation. Very few are ready to step up immediately. There are exceptions such as Gulden, but they are the exception rather than the rule.

[dejavoodoo44]

Thanks for sharing this.
You make some great points about younger academy graduates showing they are up to VFL standard, and hopefully this will stem the flow of these young players to the SANFL and WAFL in order to develop their game and pursue an AFL career.
The club this year appears to have made an effort to add some experience to the VFL squad with the addition of players like Coogee and Meliss for example, and this clearly benefits the younger players through their development.
I have often thought playing under 19 draftees to early is a huge risk exposing them to injury. You only have to look at the current injury lists at Richmond, Essendon, West Coast, and in recent times North Melbourne.
Even closer to home you only have to look at Dattoli, Phillipou, Bowen, King, Hetherington etc who are going through the same situation. Very few are ready to step up immediately. There are exceptions such as Gulden, but they are the exception rather than the rule.

Yes, probably haven't done a great job of developing academy players through the VFL, but I think that the wages that can be paid are very much part time wages. I've no idea what sort of money is paid in the SANFL, but it seems to be a more attractive option.

I was a bit surprised that nobody picked Mellis last night, but that is good news for our VFL side, especially with our growing injury list.

[dejavoodoo44]

Hamling was our only player to get votes this week. Personally, I thought that Snell was worth a vote or two.

8 Oliver Wiltshire (GEEL)
7 Jack Bowes (GEEL)
7 James Worpel (GEEL)
6 Joel Hamling (SYD)
1 Marcus Herbert (GEEL)
1 Mitch Knevitt (GEEL)