With Werribee closing out the 2026 home-and-away season with a big win over Sandringham, attention now turns to finals, both at VFL level and across local football.

As Werribee prepares for its VFL finals campaign after finishing second on the Smithy's VFL ladder for 2026, attention is also turning to the pointy end of local competitions, with Nash King's Wallan beginning its finals campaign this weekend and most other sides entering the final round of their regular seasons.

The weekend was highlighted by another huge performance from Tom Webster, Luke Preece starring in Drysdale's final game of the season, Nash King returning to Wallan with 37 disposals and Emerson Jeka making his return from injury after a month on the sidelines.

Read how all 21 Werribee-listed players performed in this week's edition of the Weekly Local Player Report.

Bellarine Football Netball League:

Tom Webster - Newcomb
Webster backed up his career-best eight-goal haul with another massive performance as Newcomb defeated Barwon Heads by 102 points. The key forward finished with 27 disposals, 13 marks, including 11 inside 50, 16 score involvements and five goals in another performance that saw him named in the best. Webster has now kicked 39 goals this season despite spending the first half of the year as a key defender. The victory saw Newcomb leapfrog Barwon Heads into fourth spot with one round remaining.

Luke Preece - Drysdale
Preece finished his season with another best-on-ground performance as Drysdale held on for a thrilling one-point win over Anglesea. The defender collected 33 disposals at 85% efficiency, 12 marks, including four intercept marks, nine intercept possessions and 14 rebound 50s. Preece was again outstanding in the air and provided plenty of run and carry from defence before being swung forward late as Drysdale searched for the winning score. With Drysdale having the bye in the final round and missing finals, the game brought Preece's season to a close. Later that night, he finished third in Drysdale's Best and Fairest despite playing just 11 games for the season.

Archer Hanegraaf - Geelong Amateur
Hanegraaf continued his outstanding season as Geelong Amateur defeated Portarlington by 42 points. The 19-year-old midfielder collected 31 disposals, including 15 contested possessions, along with nine intercept possessions, nine tackles, seven clearances and seven inside 50s. Hanegraaf again produced big numbers around the contest and continued to establish himself as one of the competition's breakout young players this season. The win leaves Geelong Amateur second on the ladder with one round remaining before finals.

Western Football Netball League:

Josh Kellett - Werribee Districts
Kellett continued to build strongly since returning from injury as Werribee Districts defeated Spotswood by 76 points. Playing across half back, he collected 20 disposals at 80% efficiency, seven intercept possessions, three marks and four tackles. Kellett grew into the game and provided plenty of drive from defence while also defending strongly and applying good pressure. The victory moved Werribee Districts to the top of the ladder ahead of a final-round clash with Yarraville Seddon that will decide the minor premiership.

Rani Pavlidis - Werribee Districts
Pavlidis produced a strong second half in his first game in a month as Werribee Districts defeated Spotswood. After a quieter opening half, he became increasingly involved after the main break and finished with 14 disposals, six contested possessions, six tackles and two goals. Playing higher up the ground at times in the third quarter, Pavlidis worked his way into the game before finishing strongly with two goals in the final term.

Wil Kliszewski - Yarraville Seddon
Kliszewski spent plenty of time in the ruck in his second game back from a wrist injury as Yarraville Seddon fell to Newport by 20 points. He finished with 14 disposals, nine contested possessions, five marks and 23 hitouts, with his work rate around the ground a strong feature of his performance. Kliszewski's efforts earned him a place in the best despite the defeat, which saw Yarraville Seddon drop from first to second after sitting on top for much of the season. They will face Werribee Districts in the final round with the minor premiership on the line.

Emerson Jeka - Altona
Jeka returned from injury for his first game in a month as Altona fell to Point Cook Centrals by 12 points. Playing around 50% game time as he worked his way back into football, Jeka collected 16 disposals and six marks. The game provided an important return to action for Jeka, although the result saw Altona hand Point Cook Centrals their first win of the season.

Ovens & Murray Football Netball League:

Cooper Hall - Lavington
Hall produced his best game of the season as Lavington defeated Corowa Rutherglen by 17 points. The midfielder recorded a senior career-high 26 disposals, including 10 contested possessions, along with five clearances, five score involvements, four inside 50s and a goal. Hall started the game strongly and maintained his influence throughout the afternoon, with his team-first approach a standout feature as he was named best on ground.

Nick Newton - Lavington
Newton continued his excellent month of football alongside Hall in Lavington's win over Corowa Rutherglen. The defender collected 32 disposals, seven marks, including four intercept marks, eight intercept possessions, five inside 50s and five rebound 50s. Newton again provided plenty of drive from defence and used the ball well throughout another consistent performance and was named in the best for the fourth time in the past five weeks.

Foster Gardiner - North Albury
Gardiner was named in the best players despite a narrow five-point loss to Wangaratta. The defender collected 18 disposals at an excellent 89% efficiency, along with six marks, including three intercept marks, and seven contested possessions. Gardiner defended strongly while providing good run from the back half, with his clean work at ground level and ball use also features of his performance.

Geelong Football Netball League:

Liam Kershaw - St Joseph's
Kershaw continued his outstanding run of form as St Joseph's recorded an impressive 47-point win over ladder leaders St Mary's. The defender collected 28 disposals at 79% efficiency, seven intercept possessions, five marks and 11 rebound 50s. Kershaw played with authority across the back half, running hard to create while consistently competing strongly defensively. His performance marked the fifth consecutive week he has featured in the best, with the victory moving his side into fourth spot with two rounds remaining.

Josh Sanders - St Mary's
Sanders was busy in defence as St Mary's suffered just their second loss of the season, going down to Kershaw's St Joseph's by 47 points in their first defeat since Round 12. The defender finished with 18 disposals at 72% efficiency, seven marks and seven intercept possessions. Despite the result, St Mary's remain two games clear on top of the ladder with two matches remaining before finals.

Noah Tullio - Newtown & Chilwell
Tullio made an impact in just his second local game of the season as Newtown & Chilwell defeated Leopold by 40 points. Splitting his time between half forward and the midfield, he collected 24 disposals, including 10 contested possessions, four marks, nine score involvements and two goals. Tullio became increasingly dangerous as the game progressed, using his speed to push forward and impact the scoreboard. The victory leaves Newtown & Chilwell third with two rounds remaining.

Riddell District Football Netball League:

Nash King - Wallan
King made an outstanding return to Wallan in his first game for the club in six weeks, helping the Magpies defeat Melton Centrals by 110 points. Playing predominantly through the midfield, King collected 37 disposals, including 15 contested possessions, along with eight marks, seven inside 50s, five clearances and 11 score involvements. The victory capped a dominant regular season for Wallan, who finished on top of the ladder with just one loss. Finals begin this weekend, with King and Wallan set to face Diggers Rest in a qualifying final.

Victorian Amateur Football Association:

Mitch Lloyd - University Blues
Lloyd stood up under plenty of pressure in defence as University Blues suffered a 12-point loss to St Bernard's. In a game where the Blues' defence was regularly under fire, Lloyd collected 20 disposals at 80% efficiency, including 10 contested possessions, along with 13 intercept possessions and six marks, five of which were intercept marks. He held his own in his one-on-one contests and remained composed under pressure. Despite the loss, University Blues remain on top of the ladder with two rounds remaining, level on points with Old Xaverians.

Essendon District Football League:

Tom Cappellari - Essendon Doutta Stars
Cappellari produced a strong performance on the wing as Essendon Doutta Stars defeated Pascoe Vale by nine points. He collected 25 disposals at 76% efficiency, nine marks and four tackles, with his running ability proving an asset throughout the afternoon. Cappellari continues to accumulate, and his ball use was a key factor in the win. The victory leaves the Doutta Stars fifth with one game remaining in the regular season.

Massimo Raso - Deer Park
Raso produced another solid performance as Deer Park defeated Airport West by eight points. Playing as a midfielder and forward, he collected 19 disposals at a very high 89% efficiency, eight marks, five inside 50s and two clearances while also kicking a goal. His clean ball use and ability to contribute both through the midfield and forward of the ball were features of his performance.

Hampden Football Netball League:

Myles McCluggage - South Warrnambool
McCluggage produced another excellent performance as South Warrnambool defeated Portland by 38 points. Splitting his time between the midfield and half back, he collected 25 disposals, including 10 contested possessions, along with seven clearances, nine tackles and seven inside 50s. His decision-making and ability to generate forward movement were standout features against a strong Portland side. The victory saw South Warrnambool leapfrog Portland into fourth spot with one round remaining.

Tylar Watts - Portland
Watts again stuffed the stat sheet despite Portland's loss to McCluggage's South Warrnambool. The ruckman finished with 21 disposals, including 12 contested possessions, 44 hitouts, seven clearances, 11 tackles, six marks and a goal. Watts dominated his ruck contests and continued his excellent recent form with his second efforts and impact around the ground. Another strong performance saw Watts feature in the best, continuing an impressive back end to his season.

Goulburn Valley Football Netball League:

Reuben Rode - Kyabram
Rode returned to action as Kyabram fell to Shepparton by 41 points. Playing predominantly forward with some time through the midfield, he collected 11 disposals, including eight contested possessions, four inside 50s and four tackles. Rode looked lively at stages, as the game marked another important step in his return after recently coming back from a broken leg before a minor injury kept him out for the past couple of weeks.

Wimmera Football Netball League:

Cody Bryan - Horsham Saints
Bryan's afternoon was unfortunately cut short by a hamstring injury in Horsham Saints' dominant 151-point win over Dimboola. He recorded three disposals and six hitouts before leaving the game during the opening quarter and taking no further part. Despite the disappointing end to Bryan's afternoon, the victory leaves Horsham Saints second with one round remaining and level on points with ladder leaders Ararat. Fittingly, the two sides will meet in the final round with top spot on the line.