FOOTBALL

AFL EXPORTS

By TOM HAYES

 

MANY Gippsland footballers made their mark during Round 3 action of the 2025 AFL season, while Latrobe Valley exports were also in the thick of it.

 

Melbourne 8.14 (62) def by Gold Coast 18.12 (120)

THE early afternoon fixture on Saturday, March 29, between Melbourne and Gold Coast at the MCG saw the Suns break a 12-game losing streak to the Demons.

It’s not every day that Gold Coast take to the MCG’s hallowed turf, but on this rare occasion they appeared to make the most of it, smashing the luckless Demons 18.12 (120) to 8.14 (62).

The four-goal to one opening term set the tone for the Suns. Moe’s Bailey Humphrey put the exclamation mark on the quarter, kicking 1.1 to close out the term 19 points ahead.

Souring the first quarter even more for the Demons was the fact that star rookie and former Gippsland Power captain Xavier Lindsay (Leongatha) went down with a knee injury, forcing him to be subbed out of the game in the opening minutes.

Humphrey finished with 23 disposals (second-most in career), a goal, two goal assists, six tackles, and four clearances as he gets used to more midfield minutes.

Flanders was handy as ever in his return from a back injury, collecting 25 disposals, a goal, and six clearances. He replaced Morwell’s Ben Ainsworth in the squad, after he was excluded with a quad complaint.

Since the match, Lindsay was cleared of any major damage to his knee, however the Demons have stated that it is unlikely he will take part in Melbourne’s upcoming fixture against Geelong (Friday, April 4).

 

Hawthorn 10.16 (76) def GWS 9.10 (64)

LATER that night in windy Tasmania, Hawthorn moved to 3-0 after defeating GWS 10.16 (76) to 9.10 (64).

A strong wind blew across Launceston’s University of Tasmania Stadium, which appeared to give either side quite the advantage in the opening half.

The Giants kicked with the wind first, registering 12 scoring shots (5.7) to two (0.2), to open a 35-point quarter time lead. Yet the Hawks looked unfazed by the deficit, only going on to create more chances (14) to the Giants’ two, to grab a seven-point lead at the major break.

Hawthorn remained ahead during the third term, kicking four goals to two, giving them a 20-point lead into the final term, with the wind behind their backs.

Despite this advantage, GWS won the final quarter, keeping the Hawks goalless in fact. Nevertheless, the Hawks got home safely with the four points.

Morwell’s Changkuoth Jiath was solid in the Hawks’ defence with 14 disposals and four marks across half back.

 

NOTABLE performances were made across the weekend from other Gippsland exports, as many hope to start their seasons on the right foot.

During Thursday night’s clash between Essendon and Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium, Foster’s Xavier Duursma played his best game in Bombers colours, and potentially the best game of his career, racking up 29 disposals in the two-goal win.

Duursma stuffed the stat sheet as the highest-rated player on the field, with eight marks, four clearances, and three tackles to go with his career-best disposals.

Former Maffra and Sale City player Sam Davidson proved that the glimpse he showed in pre-season was not a fluke, picking up a game-high 31 disposals in the Western Bulldogs win over Carlton on Friday night at Marvel Stadium.

Davidson also collected 10 marks, three tackles, and two clearances as he doubled his previous career best disposals of 15, recorded the weekend prior.

Davidson underwent placement in Sale while studying a medical degree, which led to him lining up for Maffra and Sale City.

Lastly, Warragul’s Caleb Serong equalled former Fremantle player Paul Hasleby for the most Glendinning-Allan medals, picking up his fourth as Fremantle defeated West Coast in the 60th Western Derby.

Serong put up big numbers as the Dockers picked up their first win of the season against the winless Eagles, collecting 35 disposals and 10 clearances.

His performance won him his fourth Glendinning-Allan medal (Western Derby best on ground), bringing him equal with Hasleby, who won it in 2002, 03, 04, and 09.

Serong previously won the medal in 2021, 23, and 24. Fremantle and West Coast are set to meet again in Round 20, later this season.

The loss to the Eagles means that Traralgon’s Andrew McQualter remains winless as the coach of West Coast. With GWS and Carlton in the next fortnight, most would suggest that he may have to wait for his first win as coach.

 

TRARALGON’S Tim Membrey, Morwell’s Tew Jiath and their Collingwood teammates had the bye in Round 3, as did Sydney.

The local Magpies will be back in as early as tomorrow (Thursday, April 3), when Collingwood hosts Carlton at the MCG.

Jiath inked a fresh two-year extension, which will see him at the club until the end of the 2027 season. Although he isn’t getting games at the minute, the ageing Collingwood list plays into his favour for the future.