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VFL Round 21: Flurry of last gasp results set up huge Wildcard fixtures
Jaiden Sciberras • August 17th, 2025 7:33 pm
The final round of VFL action has wrapped up, with a number of AFL listed talent putting their names in the mix for senior selection.
Southport have secured a third-place finish with a 22-point come from behind win over North Melbourne.
Boyd Woodcock and Zac Foot dominated the ball, while Josh Gore kicked four including the go-ahead goal in the final term to lock up the result.
VFL listed Kangaroo Darcy Macpherson stuffed the stat sheet with 36 disposals, eight marks, six tackles, six clearances and two goals, while Robert Hansen Jnr impressed with 16 disposals and two goals.
With that result, the Kangaroos finish in 15th place, winning seven and drawing one of their 18 games, while last year’s Grand Finalists Southport finish in third with 13 wins and one draw.
The reigning premiers Werribee knocked off the Northern Bullants by 44 points, however, have not done enough to secure a chance to go back-to-back.
Young gun Jake Smith tore the game apart for Werribee, collecting 34 disposals, 10 marks and four tackles, while ruckman Sam Conway dominated with 17 touches and 62 hit outs.
Despite the win, Werribee could only muster a 16th place finish, winning just seven games. The Northern Bullants finished in last place with just two wins.
Port Melbourne pulled off a major upset win over Collingwood, costing the Magpies a guaranteed finals position with an eight-point win.
Charlie Lazzaro (45 disposals, seven tackles) and Dominic Bedendo (28 disposals, five goals) were absolute standouts, while Mason Cox and Finlay Macrae played out strong games for the Magpies.
Borough’s win was just their sixth for the season, finishing in 17th place, while the Magpies’ loss means they will have to go through the Wildcard Round, finishing seventh with 11 wins.
Essendon knocked off Sandringham rather comfortably, claiming a 61-point win in a bottom three clash.
Bomber Zak Johnson managed 24 disposals and two goals, while VFL listed Xavier O’Neill excelled with 34 and two goals of his own.
Draft hopeful Cooper Duff-Tytler also featured for Essendon, amounting 13 disposals and booting three goals from five scoring shots.
Saint youngster Isaac Keeler was strong for the Zebras with 22 disposals and 12 hit outs, while Jack Carroll finished with 29 disposals and seven clearances.
Essendon finish up in 19th place with just four wins, leaping Sandringham in 20th place, winning just three games and drawing one.
A six-goal final term saw the Suns charge from behind, claiming a 30-point win over the GWS Giants.
Sun Tom Berry cleaned up with 43 disposals, seven tackles and five clearances, while Ned Moyle dominated the ruck battle once again. Gold Coast academy star and 2025 draft prospect Zeke Uwland collected 19 and a goal, while Jed Walter booted three.
Giant Harrison Oliver managed 34 disposals, however the loss leaves the Giants short of a guaranteed place, finishing in ninth with 10 wins. The Suns wrap up the season in 14th place with seven wins and a draw.
Despite managing a crucial 45-point win over Sydney, Geelong just fall short of the top 10.
Ted Clohesy was electric with 28 disposals, eight tackles and two goals, while George Stevens (31 disposals) and Jhye Clark (30 disposals) were also in top nick.
Corey Warner (36 disposals) and Matt Roberts (33 disposals) were standouts for the Swans, who finish the season in 18th place.
As for the Cats, their nine wins see them finish a game short of a Wildcard game, wrapping up in 12th place.
The Footscray Bulldogs have stormed to a minor premiership, claiming a major 115-point smashing over the Blues.
Highlighted by a nine-goal third term, Footscray lit the contest alight in the second half led by returning veteran Adam Treloar. 40 disposals, 10 tackles, nine clearances and a goal, the 2024 All-Australian still has plenty to give at AFL level.
Caleb Poulter also dominated with six goals from his 22 disposals, while Nick Coffield (33 disposals), Michael Sellwood (29 disposals), Taylor Duryea (20 disposals, 10 marks) and Buku Khamis (14 disposals, three goals) all had a day out.
Jordan Boyd managed 27 for the Blues, while Elijah Hollands had 20 and a goal in the loss.
With results permitting, the Bulldogs leap into top spot, winning 15 of their 18 games. The Blues finish short of a finals place, managing eight wins to finish 13th.
In the most shocking result of the round, Casey knocked off the Box Hill Hawks to cost them their minor premiership and to leap into the guaranteed finals places.
Jack Billings and Riley Bonner were unstoppable, combining for 78 disposals, 12 marks, eight tackles and two goals in the win.
Sam Butler, Ned Reeves and Jai Serong all performed for Box Hill, but it wasn’t enough, with the loss seeing them slip into second place after a phenomenal season.
Casey’s win sees them leap into fifth place, locking up a guaranteed spot in September.
Frankston and the Brisbane Lions have drawn at the death, with a goal after the siren confirming a split result for both top four hopefuls.
Will Hamill and Darby Hipwell were best on ground for Frankston, but it was Nick Burke who stole the show with this goal after the siren to confirm the draw and fourth place on the VFL ladder.
For the Lions, academy product Dan Annable was brilliant with 25 touches and seven tackles, while Deven Robertson managed an identical stat-line as the Lions finish in sixth place.
The final game of the round confirmed the Wildcard fixtures, as Williamstown clutched a 21-point win over Richmond to sew up the final spot in the post-season.
Brodie McLaughlin was strong ahead of the ball with another four goals, wrapping up the top goalscorer award with 63 on the season.
Kaleb Smith finished up with 30 disposals for the Tigers, who fall to eighth place and are forced into the Wildcard Round alongside the Seagulls, who sneak into the top 10 at the final time of asking.
The Wildcard Round will see Collingwood host Williamstown, and Richmond host GWS for a place in September football.
