VFL Match Report: Round 21 vs Werribee

17/08/2026

We travelled down the highway to Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday afternoon for our final game of the 2026 Smithy's VFL season, taking on Werribee in Round 21.

Werribee proved too strong across the afternoon, running out 59-point winners, 23.10 (148) to 13.11 (89), but there were plenty of positive moments throughout the game, including a well-earned club debut for Hamish Murphy.

We started the afternoon with plenty of composure and pressure, creating opportunities inside 50 but struggling to make the most of them early.

A huge tackle from Ethan Williams helped force a turnover and spark a promising passage of play, with the ball eventually finding Josh Hutchings on the boundary. Hutchings worked it across to Darcy Chirgwin, who finished the move to kick our first goal of the afternoon.

Williams was involved again soon after, while Kynan Brown also produced a strong tackle to win the ball back and get it to captain Blake Watson. Lach Riley then marked and received a 50-metre penalty, bringing him into range to kick our second.

Riley was involved again shortly after, launching a huge kick from just outside 50. Noah Yze broke away from the pack, faked the kick before taking the extra space, and finished to give us our third.

Another 50-metre penalty was awarded following a hard hit on Andreas Stefanakis, giving him an uncontested opportunity to kick from close range.

Despite a positive opening term, Werribee were able to answer on the scoreboard, and we headed into quarter time 11 points behind.

We came out strongly in the second term, finding the scoreboard in the opening minute.

Daniel Pinter kicked the ball off the ground and found Charlie Harrop, who quickly moved it on to Hutchings. Hutchings finished the passage to kick his second goal of the afternoon, all within the opening minute of the quarter.

Pinter was heavily involved throughout the term, winning plenty of contests in the ruck. He took a strong mark inside forward 50 and later produced a big tackle to stop the ball from making its way into Werribee's forward 50. He finished the afternoon with 31 hitouts, playing an important role around the stoppages.

With Werribee starting to build some separation, Stefanakis stepped up to keep us in the contest.

Ben Hopkins sent the ball inside 50, where Stefanakis won a contested mark before converting the set shot for his second.

Another passage followed when William Johnson found Brown, who spotted Stefanakis and backed his pace to break away from his opponent and kick his third.

Werribee finished the term strongly, however, and we went into the main break 29 points down.

We again started the third term with intent, with Nathan Philactides winning a big hitout to Kyle Cooper, who found Blake Watson. Watson was awarded a free kick for a push in the back, with the resulting kick ending in a rushed behind.

A turnover soon found Johnson, sparking another quick passage forward. Brown did well to dodge several tackles before finding Yze, who finished the opportunity for his third goal of the afternoon.

There was plenty of pressure around the ground throughout the term, with Owen Bater, Jett Peckett and Noah Sutherland all producing strong tackles.

Debutant Hamish Murphy also made his mark, taking an important goal-saving mark to deny Werribee another scoring opportunity.

Werribee continued to extend their lead, and we went into the final term 42 points behind.

The final term was a frustrating one in front of goal as we created opportunities but struggled to convert, finishing the quarter with three goals and four behinds.

Nathan Philactides, Jett Peckett and Ricky Theodoropoulos all scored in the final term, but Werribee maintained their advantage until the final siren.

Werribee ran out 59-point winners, bringing our 2026 season to a close. While the result wasn't what we were after, the afternoon provided a chance to finish the season with several strong individual performances.

Scores

Sandringham: 5.3, 8.4, 10.7, 13.11 (89)

Werribee: 7.2, 13.3, 17.7, 23.10 (148)

Disposals: Brown (35), Johnson (24), Chirgwin (23), Philactides (22), Watson (21)

Goals: Stefanakis (4), Yze (3), Chirgwin, Theodoropoulos, Peckett, Hutchings, Riley, Philactides

Visit the VFL/VFLW website for the full stats.