Bomber puts on a show with big VFL bag

Nik Cox had kicked 14 goals in 15 VFL matches and just 21 in 60 at the top level before Essendon took on Coburg at Windy Hill on Sunday.

Cox’s seven goals came from 19 disposals and six marks, while ball magnet Elijah Tsatas (36, six marks, five inside-50s, two goals) was also unstoppable and Zak Johnson (30, six tackles, eight inside-50s, five rebounds) also racked them up.

Darcy Parish (22 at 91 per cent efficiency and 12 contested, nine tackles, 10 entries) showed his class, with Will Setterfield providing the grunt work and Saad El-Hawli roaming far and wide.

Coburg was best served by Ingo Dammersmith (23, 11 marks), Seb Murphy (three goals), Flynn Gentile, Jack Bytel and Joel Trudgeon, but will need to bounce back quickly to keep the chasing Bombers at bay.

Frankston (and all VFL) fans were wondering where Kade Foster had been hiding after he pulled out a debut for the ages and became an instant cult hero for the Pod in booting six to help the Dolphins destroy third-placed GWS by 64 points at Kinetic Stadium.

Corey Ellison kicked three early goals as Frankston piled on 8.3 to 1.1 in its best first quarter for 13 years and finished with five to take the lead in the Frosty Miller Medal with 43 majors, while Bailey Lambert added three.

Jackson Voss’ reputation continues to climb after another 30-disposal, six-mark, seven-clearance, two-goal masterclass since moving onto the ball, while skipper Trent Mynott (34, 11 marks, six clearances, one goal), Tyson Milne and Seb Quirk all had days out.

VFL champion Harvey Hooper (27, eight marks, one goal) was clearly the Giants’ best, with their day going from bad to worse when star midfielder James Bell suffered what appeared to be a serious lower leg injury in the third quarter.

Angus Seivers put the disappointment of missing the winning goal against Sydney last week to take his chance as Williamstown stunned a wayward Tasmania by six points at DSV Stadium on Saturday.

They Seagulls led for the first three quarters as the Devils struggled to hit the target in spraying 11.20, but the visitors hit the front when Zach Adams kicked truly in the shadows of the last change and got out by 12 points before the late rally.

Toby Triffett (37, 22 contested, 10 clearances, 10 tackles) was brutal in the contest for Williamstown and Jack Toner, Jake Greiser and Nathan Colenso (three goals) also starred, while the in-form Bailey Boag (29, 19 contested, 10 tackles, six entries), Robbie Fox, Hugh Dixon and Brandon Leary were best for Tasmania.

Sandringham put Southport on the brink of elimination after coming back from 26 points down in the last quarter for a draw at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday – and the Zebras probably should have won.

The Sharks looked home after nailing five unanswered goals either side of three quarter-time, but the home team kicked four goals in a row, including Owen Bater’s first at VFL level from a 100m penalty when he was flattened by an injured Sam Day, getting within two points when Noah Yze slotted his third in the 28th minute.

Best-and-fairest favourite Darcy Chirgwin (30 disposals, 2.2) had two chances to win it with long-range set shots but missed both.

Second-gamer Ricky Theodoropoulos was brilliant with three goals from 20 disposals, while Nathan Philactides, Will Johnson and Kynan Brown also starred, with Yze (20 touches, 3.4) again impressing in attack.

But the best two on the ground were again Southport superstars Jacob Dawson, the reigning Liston medallist, who had 38 disposals (26 contested) and 18 clearances, and Zac Foot, who had it 33 times to go with nine marks, 11 entries and a goal.

Jay Dahlhaus booted five goals and Anthony Depasquale four as Werribee made it 8½ wins in nine games after beating Port Melbourne by 38 points, with Dom Brew and Jaelen Pavlidis leading the way up the field to hold off Kaine Baldwin (four goals) and Ben Hobbs.

Billy Cootee was brilliant with and without the ball in the Sydney rain, kicking five goals and laying 14 tackles as the Swans outlasted the Brisbane Lions by 16 points to move into the top four, while Harry Kyle and Jesse Dattoli (three goals) provided support to stop Sam Tilley, Sam Marshall and Dan Annable landing an upset.

Casey Demons’ 31-point win over North Melbourne left the Kangaroos needing to win out to keep their season alive, with Paddy Cross (24, three goals) and Christian Salem brilliant for the Demons and small forwards__ Lachy Dovaston__ (four goals) and Jacob Konstanty (three) doing their best to keep the home team in it.

St Kilda gave Geelong its sternest challenge for several weeks, led by Angus Hastie and Hugh Boxshall’s 21 tackles between them, but the Cats eased away in the second half on the back of Jack Bowes, Mitch Knevitt and Hunter Holmes to record their 11th win in a row by 26 points and all-but end the Saints’ finals hopes.

Richmond put the wind up Box Hill Hawks at Box Hill City Oval for the second time this season, but the Hawks won by 12 points thanks to 35 possessions and 10 marks from Finn Maginness plus 28 touches, 11 marks and a goal for Sam Butler, with AFL omission Zane Peucker (three goals), Tyler Sonsie and Olli Hotton going well for the Tigers.

Footscray held Gold Coast goalless until the 17th minute of the third quarter, winning by 28 points to keep its premiership defence flickering as Norm Goss medallist Cooper Craig-Peters (32, 18 contested, 12 clearances, nine tackles, two goals) dominated and Tristan Maple had one of the best days of his career to deny Sam Clohesy (35, eight marks, nine rebounds).

Another busy week for the VFL MRP but not the tribunal, with all reported players accepting their penalties for this week, including Southport's Sam Day, who took a three-match suspension (down from four) and a $150 fine (down from a week) for twice striking Sandringham’s Owen Bater.

Port Melbourne defender Tom Graham is out for a game (down from two) for striking Werribee's Jack Riding.

Tiger Jaelen Pavlidis will pay a $150 fine for striking Port's Ned Hawkins in the last quarter of that match after electing not to risk a one-match suspension.

Frankston's Darby Hipwell and GWS's Harvey Hooper received reprimands for careless umpire contact.