With a five-day lockdown announced by the Victorian State Government this afternoon the AFL has advised all VFL and VFLW clubs that this weekend’s scheduled matches have been called off.

As a result, our Round 14 match against Port Melbourne, along with two WFC functions will not proceed this weekend. We are hopeful that this latest snap lockdown ends quickly, and football can return next week. In the meantime, stay safe and keep update via our website and social channels.

AFL STATEMENT

The AFL has today advised all VFL and VFLW Clubs that this weekend’s scheduled matches will not proceed as planned as a result of the five-day lockdown announced by the Victorian State Government this afternoon.

The health and safety of the community remains the highest priority and we acknowledge the role the VFL and VFLW plays in keeping our community safe.

Outdoor physical recreation and sport will be closed across Victoria during the five-day lockdown which commences from 11.59pm AEST Thursday July 15 and affects all VFL and VFLW matches scheduled for this weekend.

The community sport restrictions apply to the VFL and rebel VFLW competitions in Victoria.

The AFL has made the decision to fixture a VFL competition bye for all clubs this weekend to provide balance and equality in the remaining fixtured games. VFL games will not proceed in Queensland as scheduled.

The rebel VFLW Preliminary Final between Essendon and Geelong will be postponed on Saturday with implications on the 2021 rebel VFLW Grand Final to be worked through and further details confirmed shortly. The AFL is committed to working through the final two games and awarding a 2021 rebel VFLW Premier.

With both professional and grassroots sports cancelled this weekend, the TAC and AFL Victoria Road Safety Round has been postponed. When sport is back, we'll band together for safer roads.

The fixture will continue to be a week-by-week proposition and the AFL will continue to work with the Victorian Government and Health Officials on finding solutions for these competitions.

The AFL has prepared for this situation and has worked through this challenge before. The inclusion of byes for all VFL clubs provides flexibility with the fixture and allows for adjustments to be made to play the remaining games.

The AFL will continue to meet with all parties and review this decision based on the changing circumstances and advice from government and relevant health departments and medical experts. We will communicate any updates and provide advice in a timely manner.

The AFL would like to thank the VFL and VFLW communities, each club, players and families and all football fans for their continued patience and understanding as we continue to navigate through this pandemic together.

We acknowledge this remains a complicated and rapidly evolving situation but as a football industry we will band together to support each other. This is a reminder that we are all part of a broader society with a responsibility to make sure our community remains safe.

There were more good performances at local level last week with a number of players producing some of their best football for their community clubs while others are having an immediate impact as they return from injury and get back to full fitness.

GEELONG GFOOTBALL LEAGUE

A couple of Werribee players were a part of massive wins as the Geelong Football League resumed after a bye. Darcy Chirgwin was involved in the biggest triumph of the round as St Mary’s disposed of St Albans by 183 points. After returning from injury through the reserves two weeks ago Chirgwin had a strong outing in his first match back with the senior side accumulating 28 disposals and a goal.

Aiden Domic featured in the best for Bell Park who triumphed by 160 points over Grovedale. Domic again played predominately as a midfielder and is settling into his role at stoppages going head-to-head with the best opposition mid. He finished with 25 touches, two goals and five tackles.

Tyler Watts starred for Geelong West who came from behind to defeat Lara by 22 points. The 198cm big-man was influential when moved into the ruck helping flip the momentum in favour of the Giants. Watts took some good contested marks and should have kicked a goal or two, missing three.

Similarly, Phil Moi Moi went goalless after missing a couple of chances for the Giants, however, his tackle pressure was again elite playing forward while having the occasion burst on-ball.

In the same game Lachie Taylor showed more good progress and was among the best players. Taylor continues to play his role well on the outside and show a willingness to support the defence. Emmanuel Ajang also had a solid day starting in the midfield before moving to halfback. He again used the ball well.

Jay Dahlhaus returned for St Mary’s via the reserves on Saturday and was clearly above the level gathering plenty of football while adding a goal in the Saints’ 129-point win over St Albans.

WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Liam Holt-Fitz and Archi Manton both had good outings for Yarrviile Seddon however their efforts were in vain as the Eagle suffered a narrow two-point loss to St Albans. Holt-Fitz played his best game since moving down to Melbourne form the Norther Territory which earnt him Local Player of the Week honours. Holt-Fitz found plenty of football and utilised his pace to impact the contest.

Manton had another good day in front of goal with four majors. Manton’s current run of form has seen him kick 16 goals over the past four weeks moving him into third on the goal kicking tally with 29 for the season. James Edmonds was also a steady contributor for the Eagles who have produced some much-improved performances after losing six of their first seven games, many by big margins.

Dan Nielson wasn’t as prominent for Werribee Districts as he has been in recent weeks, but he still managed two goals and several more chances in a 10-point loss to Spotswood. Nielson had a good battle with his direct opponent and competed fiercely every time extra numbers dropped back.

BALLARAT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Matt Brett was Darley’s best in one of the Devils ‘better showings this season, a 17-point loss to Redan. Having often been used as a key defender Brett played an attacking role on Saturday and did so to great effect. He set up plenty of play, made good decisions and also got forward to kick a goal.

For Melton South Ryan Pendlebury had his typically strong game splitting time between the midfield and down back against East Point. The Panthers were well-beaten but Pendlebury came out on top against his direct opponent, backing his judgement and reading of the play while using the ball well.

OVENS & MURRAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Aiden Johnson spent more time in the ruck for Lavington on the weekend after finding the going tough early on at centre half-forward. He provided a good contest in the middle and finished with one goal while also dishing out a couple of handballs to players in space that resulted in goals.

GOLD COAST VFL

Logan Wagener lined up for Gold Coast’s VFL outfit for the second straight week after playing well for the Suns in Round 12. Wagener was quieter this week but collected 13 disposals and had six tackles in a loss to GWS.

Werribee suffered it's second straight loss on Saturday going down to Casey by 59 points in Round 13. Back in front of fans at Avalon Aiport Oval the Big W trailed all day but got within seven points early in the second half before Casey ran away with the match as the home side played the majority of the match two men down.

Werribee: 1.2 2.6 4.10 7.15 (57)
Casey: 3.0 5.5 13.8 17.14 (116)

GOALS
Werribee: C. Thar 2, R. Kemp 2, W. Buzza 1, B. Malual 1, L. Pinnuck 1
Casey: C. Ellison 6, S. Weideman 3, K. Chandler 2, T. Bedford 1, K. Declase 1, J. Melksham 1, J. Munro 1, G. Grey 1, S. Sparrow 1

BEST
Werribee: M. Sodomaco, H. Garoni, C. Thar, L. Pinnuck, T. Gribble, J. Henderson
Casey: A. Vandenburg, C. Ellison, J. Lockhart, J. Melksham, S. Weideman, K. Declase

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both sides failed to make much progress early in the match and eventually Casey were the first team on the aboard. Their first goal came seven minutes in and led to two more majors before Werribee finally got its first goal courtesy of Louis Pinnuck who kicked truly from beyond 50 at the 20-minute mark. The Big W began the second term two men down having lost key defenders Nick Coughlan and Nathan Cooper to respective concussion and hamstring injuries in the opening quarter. After an early Casey goal Wylie Buzza kicked what would be Werribee’s only major of the second to remain in touch with the Demons. Werribee’s defence, now led by Max Spencer and Jesse Clark along with Nick Hayes who swung back, held firm for more than 25 minutes before Sam Weideman converted late to see the visitors go into halftime with a 17-point buffer.

After battling hard for just two goals in the first half Werribee doubled its tally in the first eight minutes of the third through majors to Ryan Kemp and Connor Thar, and soon trailed by just seven point after missing a couple of other gettable chances. However, Casey responded with five unanswered goals in the space of seven minutes, completely dominating from the centre to jump out to their biggest lead of the match. Kemp added another for Werribee with 10 minutes to go but with Werribee’s limited rotations starting to show, Corey Ellison kicked his second and third to give Casey a commanding 46-point lead at the end of the three quarters. The final terms saw some wayward kicking from both sides with eight behinds and a single Casey goal scored in the first 14 minutes. Bior Malual and Thar kicked majors for Werribee either side of consecutive Casey goals before Ellison snared his sixth just before the final siren. After back-to-back losses Werribee now heads to Port Melbourne to face the Borough.

KEY PLAYERS
Tom Gribble: 25 disposals, 12 contested possession, 8 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 tackles
Louis Pinnuck: 25 disposals (18 kicks), 9 marks (1 contested), 9 rebound 50s, 1 goal
Joe Maishman: 25 disposals, 10 handball receives, 4 clearances, 5 inside 50ss, 3 rebound 50s
Michael Sodomaco: 21 disposals at 90% efficiency, 3 clearances, 4 rebound 50s, 5 tackles,
Hudson Garoni: 15 disposals, (10 kicks) 8 marks (4 contested), 8 scores involvements,
Connor Thar: 10 disposals (9 kicks), 3 inside 50s, 2 tackles, 2 goals, 2 score assists

NEXT MATCH
Werribee vs Port Melbourne
Saturday July 17
2pm at North Port Oval