As home and away seasons draw to a close and finals get underway in competitions across the state, see who all the top performers were and who enjoyed wins with their community clubs last weekend. 

WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Saad El-Hawli – Altona
Played in the midfield for most of the day and used his speed and spread well. Had 25 disposals (6 clearances) at 84% efficiency to be one of Vikings’ best in a big win over Yarraville Seddon.

Spencer Johnson – Altona
Was back to some of his best football in the final round victory against the Eagles. Used the ball well tallying 28 disposals at 82% efficiency to go with eight marks and three tackles.

Akol Deng – Yarraville Seddon
Had another strong day in the ruck and did some good things around the ground with 13 disposals and four tackles in the Round 18 contest at Altona.

Lochie Smart – Deer Park (Local Player of the Week)
Kicked a season-high six goals to help lead the Lions to a 43-point win over Spotswood. Finished the match with 18 disposals and three tackles with Deer Park holding on to third spot on the ladder.

Harrison White – Werribee Districts
Played all around the centre square and provided good run while delivering the ball inside 50 on 11 occasions in a 59-point win over St Albans. Had 20 disposals and four tackles on the day.

Sam Clifford – Hoppers Crossing
Looked lively when rebound opportunities presented early against Caroline Springs but was unable to see out the game due to hamstring tightness as the Warriors lost by 40 points.

GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Sam Clohesy – St Joseph’s
Best on ground in a come from behind win over minor premiers St Mary’s. Was outstanding aerially but also working tirelessly and held his width offensively to provide an outlet. Collected 20 disposals alongside eight marks and two goals.

Joe Maishman – St Mary’s
Played his best football early to help the Saints jump out of the blocks against St Joesph’s. Ended the game with 23 disposals as the minor premiers were overrun late in a two-point loss.

ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Reuben William - Airport West
Helped his side through to this year’s Division 1 grand final contributing a goal in a comfortable win over Tullamarine. Will play the winner of Tullamarine and West Coburg in the decider next week.

VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Harry Stubbings – Old Scotch
Among the best as the Cardinals secured an 11-point win over Old Trinity in their penultimate home and away match. Influential with his 16 disposals while also adding three tackles and a goal.

EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Tom McCaffrey - Balwyn
Part of a final round loss to minor premiers Rowville. Had 14 disposals in a low scoring affair which saw the Tigers downed by four goals.

OVENS AND MURRAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Daniel Sharrock – Wangaratta Magpies
Really good below his knees while his skills stood out along with some good defensive efforts in a 41-point triumph over Lavington. One of the best for the Magpies with 19 disposals and seven tackles.

Jack Driscoll – Lavington
Struggled in the ruck against the Magpies but found some football at ground level gathering 15 disposals with seven marks and a goal.

BENDIGO FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Brady Rowles – Eaglehawk
Ended the season with a strong game against Gisborne. Tallied 29 disposals including 24 kicks, as well as nine marks in an 80-point loss to the minor premiers.

Four Werribee players are in contention for VFL Team of the Year honours, the joint most of any club.

Nick Coughlan, Kye Declase, Tom Gribble and Shaun Mannagh have all been selected in the initial squad of 40 players. 

The final team will be named on Monday September 12, as part of the 2022 VFL and VFLW Awards. Unlike in previous seasons, AFL-listed players are eligible for selection in the Team of the Year in 2022.

Gribble and Coughlan were both Team of the Year members in 2019 and the pair were again outstanding for Werribee this season.

Werribee co-captain Gribble averaged a career high 33.2 disposals per game in 2022, while key defender Coughlan enjoyed arguably his best year despite missing the first six games of the season.

Declase and Mannagh are both hoping to earn selection in the VFL Team of the Year, for the first time.

Declase was again one of the competition's best wingmen while the exciting Mannagh had another brilliant campaign playing a key role as both a forward and onballer for the Big W.

The full list of club representation is – Box Hill Hawks (four), Brisbane Lions (two), Carlton (three), Casey Demons (four), Coburg (one), Collingwood (two), Essendon (nil), Footscray (one), Frankston (two), Geelong Cats (nil), Gold Coast Suns (two), GWS Giants (nil), North Melbourne (one), Northern Bullants (one), Port Melbourne (three), Richmond (one), Sandringham (one), Southport Sharks (three), Sydney Swans (three), Werribee (four) and Williamstown (two).

Nick Coughlan
12 matches
Averages per game: 19.0 disposals, 6.7 marks, 1.3 contested marks, 6.7 rebound 50s, 1.3 tackles.

Kye Declase
18 matches
Averages per game: 22.3 disposals, 7.6 marks, 4.1 insides 50s, 2.3 rebound 50s and 1.2 goals.

Tom Gribble
18 matches
Averages per game: 33.2 disposals, 13.8 contested possessions, 7.3 clearances, 4.3 tackles and 5.6 inside 50s.

Shaun Mannagh
18 matches
Averages per game: 19.6 disposals, 4.3 marks, 5.7 tackles and 5.1 inside 50s and 1.5 goals.

See the full 40-man squad HERE

Werribee wrapped up its 2022 campaign with a record win over the Northern Bullants at Avalon Airport Oval in Round 22. 

The hosts booted 29 majors while the Bullants went goalless as Werribee completed victory by 181 points. It was the club's biggest win in the VFL and the fourth biggest winning margin in league history. 

FINAL SCORE
Werribee: 5.7 9.9 18.14 29.17 (191)
Northern Bullants: 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.10 (10)

GOALS
Werribee: S. Mannagh 6, K. Declase 5, H. Garoni 5, S. Paea 3, N. Hayes 2, T. Gribble 2, F. Young 2, J. Henderson, C. Ham, J. Porter, M. Sodomaco.
Northern Bullants:

BEST
Werribee: K. Declase, S. Mannagh, H. Garoni, J. Henderson, E. Ajang, S. Paea.
Northern Bullants:

HOW IT HAPPENED
Three goals in the opening six minutes set the tone for Werribee’s big finish to the 2022 season. Nick Hayes, Sam Paea and Shaun Mannagh were all on target early as Werribee jumped out to an 18-point lead in little time. Hudson Garoni joined the party in the 17th minute making no mistake with his second shot of the day before Sam Paea became the first multiple goal kicker with a simple set shot conversion with four minutes left in the term.

A goalless eight minutes to start the second term was ended by debutant Flynn Young who couldn’t have imagined an easier first goal with the exciting forward lining up in the square after being awarded a 50-metre penalty following a mark at the top of the arc. A burst of three goals in eight minutes courtesy of Mannagh, co-captain Tom Gribble and Garoni stretched Werribee’s advantage to 59 points at the 20-minute mark of quarter and the difference remained that at the main break.

The goals came quick to start the second half with Michael Sodomaco on target from long range two minutes in before Paea added his third just a couple of moments later. Josh Porter and Charlie Ham joined the growing list of goal scorers during the term, with Ham’s effort his first of the season. A Kye Declase snap 20 minutes in raised triple figures for Werribee with three further majors seeing the hosts take a 116-point lead into the last.

Werribee booted 11 goals in the final quarter, four of those from the boot of Declase while Garoni and Mannagh each bagged three to finish with hauls of five and six respectively. The home team ended the match +153 in disposals, +15 in clearances and led the inside 50 count 70-27.

KEY PLAYERS
Ollie Hanrahan: 32 disposal (14 K), 7 marks, 7 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 14 score involvements, 2 tackles.
Tom Gribble: 29 disposals (19 K), 14 contested possessions, 8 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 12 score involvements, 2 goals.
Kye Declase: 26 disposals (17 K) at 81% efficiency, 14 marks (4 CM), 11 score involvements, 5 goals.
Jack Henderson: 27 disposals (16 K), 14 handball receives, 6 inside 50s, 17 score involvements, 5 tackles.
Shaun Mannagh: 25 disposals (18 K), 14 contested possessions, 7 marks (2 CM), 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 15 score involvements, 6 goals.
Emmanuel Ajang: 25 disposals (13 K), 16 contested possessions, 7 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 10 score involvements, 4 tackles.
Hudson Garoni: 13 disposals (9 K), 6 marks (4 CM), 10 score involvements, 5 goals.
Flynn Young: 9 disposals (8 K), 4 marks, 3 tackles, 5 score involvements, 2 goals.

ROUND 22 IMAGE GALLERY

Several players continue to push their case for VFL selection with strong displays at local level. See who all the top performers were and who enjoyed wins with their community clubs last weekend.

WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Harrison White – Werribee Districts
Not a high possession game but highly effective with his touches in a big win over Sunshine. Played all over the ground and provided plenty of dash. Had 15 disposals, including five clearances, five tackles and two running goals.

Saad El-Hawli – Altona
Started at halfback and ended the day locking down deep in defence. Played his role well in both situations and defended some good forward play. Also added a goal in a 39-point Vikings victory.

Spencer Johnson – Altona
Played his role and used the ball well when he had his opportunities against Deer Park.

Sam Clifford – Hoppers Crossing
Took another step forward with his play in a 57-point victory over Spotswood. Read the footy well and provided some good rebound from defence.

Akol Deng – Yarraville Seddon
One of the better performers for the Eagles in a nine-point loss to St Albans totalling 10 disposals and 36 hit-outs.

GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Joe Maishman – St Mary’s
Had a quality outing highlighted by his decision making and effectiveness by foot which helped the Saints defeat Grovedale by 48 points. Finished with 24 disposals at 88% efficiency and five tackles.

Flynn Young – Grovedale
Went goalless in the loss to St Mary’s but was amongst he best for the Tigers with his defensive pressure on the day. Forced turnovers and had great intensity to try and win the ball back.

Emmanuel Ajang – Geelong West (Local Player of the Week)
A good showing in a huge final round win over St Albans. Gathered 24 disposals with five clearances and six tackles from three quarters of footy.

Sam Clohesy – St Joseph’s
After missing two weeks got some important game time in a 33-point victory over Lara, ahead of the opening round of finals.

Logan Wagener – Leopold
Had a solid influence in a 59-point triumph over North Shore with 23 disposals, eight clearances and a goal.

Sam Witherden – North Shore
Played both key back and key forward finishing the season with 18 disposals and a goal against Leopold.

Toby Mahoney – Bell Park
Kicked two goals in a 16 possession and 11 mark performance for the Dragons who lost to South Barwon.

Gennaro Bove – Newtown & Chilwell
Again played as an inside midfielder but found the going tough against a strong Colac on-ball brigade as the Eagles went down by three goals.

ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Sam Paea - Aberfeldie
Game against Greenvale was called off due to lightning.

Reuben William - Airport West
Finished in the best in a 57-point win over Hillside with the Eagles completing the home and away season with a 16-1-1 record and the minor premiership.

EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Tom McCaffrey - Balwyn
Used the ball well in time and space and tackled well in close as the Tigers downed Vermont by 26 points.

OVENS AND MURRAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Jack Driscoll – Lavington
Split his time evenly between the ruck and the forward line in a 13-point triumph over Albury. Had some good moments including a big contested mark and goal in the final quarter.

Daniel Sharrock – Wangaratta Magpies
Was back to his best in a 98-point defeat of Wodonga Raiders. Led all Magpies players with 32 disposals and three goals to be one of the top two on the ground for the victors.

Tom Boyd – Wangaratta Rovers
Solid in defence with not a lot to do in a low scoring 17-point victory away to Corowa-Rutherglen.

BENDIGO FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Brady Rowles – Eaglehawk
In the best few for the Two Blues in a 40-point win over Castlemaine.