VFL R2 Wrap: Top-10 Bomber on the runway for AFL debut

Tasmania remains undefeated after holding off Port Melbourne by eight points at UTAS Stadium on Saturday.

Tasmania booted four unanswered goals in the second term before luckless former Essendon player Kaine Baldwin took a screamer and ex-Bulldog Charlie Clarke kicked three in a row to keep the game in the balance.

But with ex-Bomber and acting captain Jye Menzie slamming on four goals including the sealer and young draft hopeful Max Roney (25) also impressive, the Devils did enough.

In-form ruckman Sam Grant’s stocks continued to rise after 18 touches, seven marks and 41 hitouts for Port Melbourne and ex-Hawk Connor Downie had 28 touches, 11 marks and two goals.

Geelong’s midfield stocks are in rude health if Jack Bowes can’t get a game on Easter Monday after he carved up the Box Hill Hawks at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night.

James Worpel (28, nine clearances, seven tackles), George Stevens and Rhys Stanley were also a class above, but captain and regular defender Dan Capiron, who had kicked just 15 goals in 115 previous matches, was the one who set the scene with four majors in the first 16 minutes and five for the half to set the tone in his 99th outing for the Cats.

Dual Frosty Miller Brodie McLaughlin made a surprise club debut for the Hawks after a broken leg in the first week of his Hawthorn SSP trial and impressed with three goals.

No. 9 draft pick Sullivan Robey announced himself to Bomber fans with a brilliant display as Essendon outlasted North Melbourne by 19 points at The Hangar on Saturday.

Robey was brilliant with 22 disposals (10 contested), six marks, five entries and four goals, while last year’s SSP signing Tom Edwards starred in his first game back from a knee reconstruction with five goals and Elijah Tsatas had 34 possessions and 10 clearances.

Dumped veteran Jack Darling was among the Kangaroos’ best with 18 disposals, eight marks and three goals and captain Darcy Macpherson had 30, eight marks and a goal.

Sandringham recruit Nathan Philactides continues to put himself on the potential mid-season draft radar helping the Zebras secure a remarkable comeback over Werribee at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday.

The Tigers led by 34 points at half-time having conceded just two majors and with former Kangaroo Charlie Lazzaro (27, two goals) on fire, but Philactides (28, five clearances, six tackles, five entries, one goal) led an amazing fightback for a first Standalone success since 1999 as the fancied visitors were held to just four behinds in the second half.

Richmond hadn’t lost to Coburg since 2016 and hadn’t been beaten at Beaconsfield’s Holm Park since a five-point reverse in its first game there in 2017, but the Lions responded from their round one loss to Tasmania with a 23-point victory on Saturday.

Former Saint Jack Bytel starred for Coburg with 38 disposals, 13 inside-50s and a goal alongside key forward Mitch Podhajski (four goals) and Rising Star winner Jaidyn Stephenson (3.5), while Kaleb Smith (27, five rebounds) and draftee Zane Peucker (three goals) impressed for the Tigers.

Collingwood piled on seven goals in the first quarter and led by 22 points at the last change as Ed Allan had 31 disposals against GWS Giants, but the Giants launched a similar burst in the last term to win by 16 behind Conor Stone’s 22 disposals and two goals.

Frankston escaped with an eight-point win over a St Kilda team inspired by 32 disposals, nine marks, five tackles and 12 rebounds from Angus Hastie plus five goals from former Essendon player Jayden Davey.

Southport downed the Brisbane Lions by 21 points in a Queensland shootout dominated by Jacob Dawson’s 42 disposals (21 contested), 16 clearances and a goal and Boyd Woodcock’s 39 touches and 11 marks, with premiership Lion Sam Marshall putting his hand up with 26 possessions and two goals.

Williamstown saw off a late shot from Carlton’s Ashton Moir to hang on for a five-point win at Ikon Park, the Seagulls’ second straight victory by under a kick.

Joel Fitzgerald (35) and Hugo Hall-Kahan (34) starred for the Seagulls, but it was Nic Newman’s return from a knee injury with 23 disposals that warmed the hearts of Blues fans.