Stars return from injury, Dogs put Lions in thriller

STAT Leagues across the country are underway and we’ll bring you a recap of all the action.

See how your team fared in the VFL, SANFL and WAFL this weekend.

State League Affiliate: Adelaide (SANFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for SANFL finals

State League Affiliate: Brisbane (VFL)
This weekend: Footscray v Brisbane at Whitten Oval, Saturday 31 August, 1.05pm AEST

MATCH CENTER Check out all the stats from Brisbane’s clash

Jack Payne and Bruce Reville successfully returned from injury but the Lions suffered a heartbreaking loss to Footscray in the dying moments of the qualifying final.

Leading by two points with just seconds remaining, the Dogs scored a goal to take the lead and send them straight into a preliminary final. The Lions will meet Williamstown in a semi-final next weekend after the Seagulls beat Box Hill.

Payne, who has not played since Round 18 with a foot injury, had nine disposals and three marks in a promising comeback as he looks to prove his fitness for next Saturday night’s final against Carlton. Reville had six touches in his return from a foot problem.

Veteran Jarryd Lyons continued his superb VFL form with 23 disposals and two goals, while James Tunstill (19 and 10 tackles) and Jaxon Prior (18) were also important.

Ruckman Darcy Fort he was huge with a massive 68 tackles, 18 disposals, seven tackles and 12 clearances.

Harry Sharpwho was a substitute in the AFL’s win over Essendon last round, had 17 touches, while fellow youngsters Shadeau Brain (13 eliminations) and Henry Smith (13, 13 shots and a goal) almost got their team over the line.

Other players listed in the AFL were Deven Robertson (12), Brandon Ryan (nine) and small advance Darcy Cravenwho had eight touches and two goals.

State League Affiliate: Carlton (VFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for VFL finals

State League Affiliate: Collingwood (VFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for VFL finals

State League Affiliate: Essendon (VFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for VFL finals

State League Affiliate: Peel Thunder (WAFL)
This weekend: Peel Thunder v Swan Districts at Lane Group Stadium, Saturday 31 August 2.30pm AWST

MATCH CENTER See all the stats from the Peel Thunder clash

Neil Erasmus and Will Brodie they continued their midfield dominance in the WAFL but their efforts were in vain as Peel Thunder went down in the qualifying final by 17 points.

Erasmus – who has made four appearances for Fremantle this season – collected 28 disposals and eight clearances, while Brodie, who played 29 games for Fremantle after joining from Gold Coast, had 27 touches and six free.

Dominant ruckman Liam Reidy he had a mammoth 66 tackles, 12 disposals and six clearances.

Matt Taberner added three more goals to his season tally.

Karl Worner (26 disposals, six marks, two tackles) and Nathan O’Driscoll (25 disposals, eight tackles, six disposals) were also impressive in the middle.

Other AFL listed players are also included Ethan Hughes (17), Tom Emmett (14 and a goal), Hugh Davies (nine) and Cooper Simpson (five),

State League Affiliate: Geelong (VFL)
This weekend: Werribee v Geelong at Avalon Airport Oval, Saturday 31 August 12pm AEST

MATCH CENTER Check out all the stats from Geelong’s clash

Geelong fell short to minor premiers Werribee by 21 points in Saturday’s qualifying final.

halfback Brandon Parfitt he was relentless, racking up a huge 14 tackles and four clearances to go with his 19 disposals to be among the Cats’ better players.

Sam De Koning (18 disposals, 23 tackles, two marks) came through the game unscathed on his return from a knee injury as he pushes to find his way back into the senior squad for Thursday night’s qualifying final against Port Adelaide.

Defender Mark O’Connor (19 disposals, seven marks, four clearances) also sat out the game in their return from a knee injury.

Recruit Mitch Hardy was the main disposal winner for the Cats, finishing with 24 touches and three disposals, while midfielder Jay Clark kicked a team-high two goals to go with his 14 touches.

Young defender Emerson Jeka (18 disposals, six marks) found plenty of the ball, rookie striker Ted Clohesy (20 disposals, six clearances, one goal) has been busy, while last year’s pick no.11 Connor O’Sullivan (14 dispositions, six marks) was found among the actions.

Irish defender Oisin Mullin (16 disposals, three clearances), Mitch Knevitt (14 disposals, six clearances, five tackles) and Phoenix Foster (eight eliminations, one goal) were also occupied.

Middle young man George Stevens (10 disposals, four tackles), rookie ruckman Joe Furphy (19 hits, four tackles) and Oliver Wiltshire (12 disposals, five tackles) were also in action as a veteran forward Gary Rohan (six disposals) and untried duo James Willis (10) and Oscar Murdoch (three) were quiet.

State League Affiliate: Gold Coast (VFL)
This weekend: Eliminated in the Wildcard round

State League Affiliate: GWS Giants (VFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for VFL finals

State League Affiliate: Box Hill Hawks (VFL)
This weekend: Box Hill v Williamstown at Box Hill City Oval, Saturday 31 August, 3pm AEST

MATCH CENTER Check out all the stats from the Box Hill clash

Finn Maginness looks likely to retain his place in Hawthorn’s squad for next Friday’s AFL elimination final after another excellent performance for Box Hill.

The son of a gun collected 30 disposals, a goal, five tackles and eight clearances in a starring role, but it wasn’t enough as the Hawks were knocked out of the finals by Williamstown.

With Will Day ruled out of the Western Bulldogs clash earlier in the day, Maginness is on the bench to retain his place in the senior squad.

Josh Ward He made his recall chances harmless, however, with 26 touches and a goal as fullback Jai Serong continued his superb season with 29 touches and 10 marks.

Changkuoth Jiath returned from injury after missing the final three games of the home-and-away season with calf tightness, but was relatively quiet with eight shutouts.

Seamus Mitchell (21) and Henry Hustwaite (19) were also industrious while ruck/forward Max Ramsden he hit one goal out of 16 shots.

Ned Reeves had 35 hits with 12 strikeouts.

Other AFL listed players are also included Cooper Stephens (15), Bodie Ryan (14), Will McCabe (14), Bailey Macdonald (11), Ethan Phillips (10) and Denver Grainger-Barras (six) and mid-season pickup Jasper Scaife (five).

Veteran striker Chad Wingard had nine dispositions.

State League Affiliate: Casey Demons (VFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for VFL finals

State League Affiliate: North Melbourne (VFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for VFL finals

State League Affiliate: Port Adelaide Magpies (SANFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for SANFL finals

State League Affiliate: Richmond (VFL)
This weekend: Eliminated in the Wildcard round

State League Affiliate: Sandringham (VFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for VFL finals

State League Affiliate: Sydney (VFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for VFL finals

State League Affiliate: West Coast (WAFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for the WAFL finals

State League Affiliate: Footscray (VFL)
This weekend: Footscray v Brisbane at Whitten Oval, Saturday 31 August, 1.05pm AEST

MATCH CENTER Check out all the stats from Footscray’s clash

Tall Bulldogs Ryan Gardner kicked the match-winning goal with seconds remaining to send his side straight into the preliminary final after a clash with Brisbane.

Gardner, who has played 53 AFL games but none this season, had just nine disposals for the match but his final kick was the most important of all in windy conditions at Whitten Oval.

Buku Khamis switched from his usual defensive role to kick two goals, 16 disposals and nine marks as he looks to push his way back into the senior line-up for next Friday’s AFL elimination final against Hawthorn.

Jason Johannisen (calf) and Rhylee West (jaw) pressed their case after returning from injury with 18 and 12 touches, respectively.

James Harmes He was superb through the middle with 36 disposals, nine tackles and a goal as the youngster sped away Arthur Jones caught three majors in 12 touches.

In a squad full of AFL-listed players, Riley Garcia was among the top ball-winners with 28 disposals and seven disposals, while Caleb Poulter had 24 touches.

Young gun Ryley Sanders added a mammoth 14 tackles to his 21 disposals, while Jedd Busslinger he was also 21.

Luke Cleary (19), Oscar Baker (16 and a goal), Nick Coffield (15) and Anthony Scott (13) they also got their hands dirty.